TORONTO – The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, among the many CFL’s prime groups final season, have earned the excellence of being its finest franchise off the sphere.
Hamilton, which completed atop the East Division in 2025, acquired 5 As and 5 Bs within the CFL Gamers’ Affiliation’s second annual staff report playing cards, which have been launched Wednesday.
The highest grades got here in soccer operations, amenities/gear, energy and conditioning, staff journey and coaching camp whereas Bs have been for teaching workers, possession/enterprise operations, remedy/medical workers, vitamin/weight loss program and therapy of households.
“My membership ranked extremely final yr and nonetheless elected to make enhancements,” a participant remarked anonymously in regards to the Ticats. “This membership is the category of the CFL and goes past the decision of responsibility.
“They even hosted Thanksgiving dinner for the gamers AND their households.”
The Gray Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders additionally earned 5 As (teaching workers, soccer operations, energy and conditioning, staff journey and coaching camp). They acquired Bs for all however therapy of households, securing a C, whereas additionally incomes criticism for neighborhood appearances.
“Points with neighborhood look cash,” one participant remarked. “Appearances weren’t supplied on the charge anticipated, very sluggish.
“Nice enhancements in vitamin, teaching, household occasions, energy coaching, so many enhancements. Power and conditioning workers actually levelled up.”
Associated Movies
The CFLPA distributed its 78-question survey on-line to all gamers on CFL rosters (energetic and follow rosters and injured record), with 381 sharing their experiences. Final yr, 495 participated within the analysis, which consisted of 58 questions.
Get breaking Nationwide information
For information impacting Canada and around the globe, join breaking information alerts delivered on to you once they occur.
The survey included a number of selection, score, and open-ended questions in every class. Scores have been averaged with grades incorporating numerous elements of office situations, together with the standard of staff amenities and companies supplied.
Solely two Fs got, to the B.C. Lions (vitamin/weight loss program) and Montreal Alouettes (therapy of household).
“The general vitamin of our staff could be very beneath par and what it needs to be for knowledgeable soccer staff,” a participant commented in regards to the Lions. “This wants main enchancment.
“Vitamin is 99 per cent on the gamers right here.”
One other stated that in Montreal, “Household help and therapy on gameday is non existent and for my part wants probably the most enchancment of any class.”
Final yr, the Edmonton Elks acquired the lone two Fs for each vitamin/weight loss program in addition to coaching camp. This time round, the franchise earned C-minus and C-plus grades for the respective classes in addition to two As (A-minus for amenities, A-plus for staff journey) and no failing marks general.
However the Elks nonetheless confronted criticism.
“Horrible rehab planning and very inconsistent,” one participant commented. “Lack of helpful suggestions so as to progress from being injured.
“Lack of therapy to each injured and non injured gamers. Meals earlier than and after follow was the most effective it’s been in years however it’s important to pay for it.”
And lodging in Edmonton for visiting gamers was probably the most commented situation within the survey, with a participant saying: “The lodge in Edmonton is unacceptable.”
Additionally receiving As have been Montreal (A-minus, teaching workers) and the Toronto Argonauts (A for remedy/medical workers and staff journey, A-minus for energy and conditioning).
However Montreal earned Ds for possession/enterprise operations and amenities/gear. The Calgary Stampeders additionally acquired two Ds (remedy/medical workers, therapy of households).
“Not sufficient trainers and a focus to element,” a participant commented in regards to the Alouettes. “Lack of machines that work and are updated.
“Tubs are persistently damaged and never on the proper temperatures or maintained for a complete staff use. Coaching room wants plenty of work to maintain skilled normal.”
Toronto (teaching workers), B.C. (therapy of households) and Ottawa (energy and conditioning) additionally earned Ds. The Redblacks additionally drew condemnation for his or her coaching camp at Queen’s College in Kingston, Ont., final yr.
“The ability and lunch room have been too far to stroll to out of your dorm room,” a participant stated. “The shuttles that they had working weren’t handy in any respect and never at all times accessible.
“That added a lot stress to elements of coaching camp that wasn’t fully vital.”
The CFLPA once more collaborated with Dr. Desmond McEwen, an assistant professor in sport psychology on the College of British Columbia. The union stated the survey’s main objectives are to spotlight groups which might be setting optimistic examples and determine areas the place enchancment is required.
The CFLPA is following within the footsteps of the NFL Gamers’ Affiliation, which launched its first staff report playing cards in 2023.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 7, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
