Future of Prince George junior football team in jeopardy after coach fired, players quit

Does junior football have a future in Prince George?

That question hangs over the Prince George Kodiaks ahead of their annual general meeting Wednesday night, amid leadership upheaval, financial pressures and questions whether the team can field a roster this season.

“This is going to be a hard recovery for the team,” former team linebacker Caiden Crow told CBC's Daybreak North ahead of the March 25 meeting.

The junior football franchise has been in turmoil since it fired its head coach and director of football operations, Jamie Boreham, in late February.

Boreham, a former CFL player, was let go months after he led the Kodiaks to their first-ever playoff berth and was named national coach of the year.

Fallout after firing

The decision triggered a public outcry and a series of board resignations, including the team’s president, vice president and treasurer.

"The decisions made were not taken lightly and were guided by a responsibility to protect the long-term future of the program, our athletes, and the community we serve," the team said in a statement announcing the decision.

An online petition has been circulating to reinstate Boreham.

Ryan Bellamy, who was on Boreham’s coaching staff and is now the team’s interim general manager, said the Kodiaks rely on sponsorships and community support as a non-profit organization.

It’s been tough economic times for local businesses, he said, and the board’s motion to dismiss Boreham was carried by a majority vote in a silent ballot.

“There was some financial shortcomings that weren’t expected for the team last season,” Bellamy said.

“Their choice at that point in time was what they had in front of them.”

High cost to run team

The Kodiaks play in the B.C. Football Conference and have the highest travel costs in the seven-team league, on top of paying staff salaries and other equipment and facility expenses.

The team’s closest opponent is six hours away in Kamloops, and they play against teams in Kelowna, Chilliwack, Langley, Victoria and Nanaimo.

Bellamy said Boreham was responsible for the team’s community youth programs and other off-season duties as director of football operations, on top of his coaching duties.

While Bellamy wasn’t able to say how much the Kodiaks saved by cutting Boreham’s salary, he said the league doesn’t mandate teams to have a director of football operations.

League president Tyler McLaren said the Kodiaks had a budget of around $500,000 last season.

Roster in flux

Five of the Kodiaks’ key players have since signed on with university programs instead of sticking around in Prince George.

Crow, who planned to return for a fourth season, has signed with St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia.

“I know many of the players stand with Boreham and ride with Boreham, and quite honestly it could be tough to field a roster next season,” Crow said.

“Coaches, players, family members, everyone in this community looks up to Jamie and has a lot of respect for him.”

Boreham declined to comment as he is seeking legal advice about his dismissal.

However, Bellamy says Boreham has been contacted about potentially staying with the team, depending on the direction the new board decides to go in.

McLaren says the league wants to see the Kodiaks on the field next season.

“We’re here to obviously support and help, but ultimately they have to prove to the conference, and our member clubs, that they are going to be a viable entity in order to play in 2026,” McLaren said.

“Given the timelines, that’s the challenge that the group has. So far, there seems to be confidence and people are working through a lot of the challenges, so that gives us hope.”

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