CBFA pauses Bantam Hilltoppers for 2024 season

The Calgary Bantam Football Association has passed a motion to pause the Bantam Hilltoppers for the 2024 season.

"The CBFA Executive met with the Hilltopper and Rebel Team Leadership on Saturday, and it was clear the Hilltoppers did not expect to be able to produce a viable team this year. The Rebels would register a team, but it would not be remotely competitive and player safety would be a major concern. Despite our support for recruiting initiatives, it would be another season of struggle for both programs which would further impede recruiting efforts.
In a board meeting Sunday, we passed a motion that will see the Bantam Hilltopper Program pause for the 2024 season. Based on everyone’s input from Saturday and Sunday, we concluded it is in the best interests of the Players in NE Calgary and the future of the CBFA that the teams be merged.

The resulting team will operate as the Bantam Rebels and players from the current Hilltopper area will be directed to that program for the 2024 season. The team will be led by Head Coach Amos Dunstan and General Manager Krystyn Broadhead with the installation of a mentor coach to assist the team during this transition.

Finally, this policy will only be valid through the 2024 season and re-evaluated for the 2025 and future seasons. This impacts only the Bantam League, and we expect other leagues will operate as usual. It has also been made clear that this is a temporary policy and once the boundary is remarked we do not expect any “sunset clause” for players to not return to play within their newly designated boundary.

We admire the effort of the Bantam Hilltopper Coaching staff and encourage them to inquire about opportunities to coach with Amos and Krystan with the Rebels."

- Bill Monks, President, Calgary Bantam Football Association.

CBFA Rebels Hilltopper Merge Policy

Effective February 25, 2024

The League believes it is in the best interests of the Players in NE Calgary and the future of the CBFA that:

1. These teams be merged for the 2024 season. The resulting team will be called the “CBFA Rebels” and operate as the Bantam Rebels usually operate. The League is open to working in a cooperative way with either or both associations, but the newly merged team will be entirely independent from either of the current Associations that commonly support the Hilltopper and Rebel teams. Financial support will be accessible through the CBFA.  
2. The teams will play in the Rebels jersey.
3. The team will be led by Head Coach Amos Dunstan and General Manager Krystyn Broadhead. The installation of a “mentor coach” (TBA) will be accessible to assist the team during this transition. 
4. This resolution will only be valid through the 2024 season and re-evaluated for the 2025 and future seasons.