TEAM PROFILE

The Essex County Ravens are an independent varsity football club which is a member of the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL).  We are select players and coaches from various high schools in the Windsor-Essex County and Kent County regions who compete with other all-star clubs from across Ontario during an eight week summer schedule.

The league is designed to enhance high school football by allowing the player to compete in at least eight more game situations over and above the usual eight game high school season.  For the serious player, it provides an opportunity to experience sixteen head-to-head situations "under fire" a year, and doubles pre-college game-time.

The Varsity OVFL player is 16 to 19 years old, and is often college-minded and looking for exposure.  Many Canadian and U.S. universities as well as scouting agencies visit league games because of the higher level of play and concentrated talent.  All home games are broadcast live by COGECO Cable television and replayed twice the following week, usually Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The Jr. Varsity player is 16 and under.  Jr. Varsity teams in the OJVFL can best be described as farm system used to teach and familiarize new players with their club's Varsity program.  The league is an entry-level introduction to the higher competition of the OVFL.

The All-Star Pee Wee player is 14 and under.  This new league is a grass-roots introduction to football fundamentals and supplements the fall minor football leagues in the area.

The OVFL plays a 4-down American-Style game but follows Canadian rules and field size.

PROFESSIONALS:  The Ravens are very fortunate to have highly skilled professionals on staff who have taken this organization to a level unheard of in junior sport:

We are proud of the fact that we have the services of a skilled physician on our sideline, Dr. B. Gibb, who services our players as well as those of our opponents in all varsity games.

SCHEDULES:  Both Varsity and Jr. Varsity teams play separate schedules except for home games.  At home, the Jr. Varsity games are played at 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays followed by the Varsity game at 7:00 p.m.  Two greyhound buses are booked for away games.

CLUB NAME:  The Essex County Ravens are located in the town of Essex, which is situated in the geographic center of Essex County, a hub that is a 20 minute drive from all points surrounding.  The town is historically overrun by thousands of crows in the winter, hence the name "Ravens".  A year after our first season, the Essex Minor Hockey organization also adopted the Raven name.

TEAM COLORS:  The team colors are Teal and Black with white as the accent color.  Home game uniforms are black-on-black jerseys/white numbers with black pants.  White jerseys/ teal numbers and black pants are worn for away games.  Helmets are black with black face-masks with the Raven Mascot decal in white.