# Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup

The Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup, known as the Johnson Insurance Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the premier senior men's soccer league in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The competition is held annually from May until September and is governed and organized by the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association. It is a tier 5 league in the Canadian soccer pyramid, and as a result the winning club qualifies to compete for the Challenge Trophy as the representative for Newfoundland and Labrador in October of each year. The St. Lawrence Laurentians and Holy Cross have traditionally dominated the competition, having won a combined total of 49 Cups out of the 58 times that it has been contested.

## Competition format

The Newfoundland Challenge Cup consists of Newfoundland and Labrador-based men's senior amateur soccer clubs. The teams first compete to qualify for a playoff round in a league format, usually a quadruple- or hextuple-round robin system, depending on the number of clubs competing. Normally teams play around 20 league matches in a single season. At the end of the league phase the 4 clubs with the most points qualify for the playoffs (3 points are awarded for a win, 1 point is awarded for a draw, and none for a loss). Clubs are ranked by total points, then head-to-head record, then goal differential and then goals scored. If two clubs are still tied for a playoff position then a penalty kick competition at a venue decided by the league will determine the ranking. If three or more clubs are still tied the ranking will be determined by the drawing of lots.
The playoff round of the NLCC uses a Page playoff format, which was reinstituted in 2015 after the league switched to a more typical two round format in 2011. The competition takes place at one location over Labour Day weekend each year. The winner of the final qualifies for the Canadian National Challenge Cup as the representative for Newfoundland and Labrador.

## Champions

Source:

## Titles

Clubs in bold currently compete in the Challenge Cup.
| Club | Wins | Winning seasons |
| St. Lawrence Laurentians | 29 | 1951, 1952, 1955, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2016 |
| Holy Cross FC | 23 | 1950, 1973, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024 |
| St. John's Guards | 4 | 1957, 1958, 1959, 1965 |
| Grand Bank GeeBees | 4 | 1960, 1964, 1970, 1974 |
| Feildians AA | 3 | 1969, 2021, 2023 |
| Corner Brook Royals | 2 | 1961, 1962 |
| Burin Eagles | 2 | 1990, 1991 |
| St. John's All-Stars | 1 | 1953 |
| Corner Brook All-Stars | 1 | 1954 |
| Corner Brook | 1 | 1956 |
| St. John's St. Pat's | 1 | 1963 |
| Lawn Shamrocks | 1 | 1987 |
| Mount Pearl FC | 1 | 2003 |
| Marystown United | 1 | 2004 |

## Recent seasons
### 2017
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | St. Lawrence Laurentians (Q) | 23 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 47 | 12 | +35 | 51 | 2017 NLCC Playoffs |
| 2 | Holy Cross (Q) | 23 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 50 | 26 | +24 | 44 | 2017 NLCC Playoffs |
| 3 | Mount Pearl (Q) | 23 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 41 | 27 | +14 | 40 | 2017 NLCC Playoffs |
| 4 | Feildians (Q) | 23 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 32 | 27 | +5 | 33 | 2017 NLCC Playoffs |
| 5 | Conception Bay Strikers | 23 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 29 | 36 | −7 | 25 | |
| 6 | Corner Brook United | 23 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 5 | 71 | −66 | 4 | |
| 7 | NL Canada Games Team | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 25 | 36 | −11 | 22 | |
* ↑ Playing on an exhibition basis only, however points earned against them still count toward the standings

### 2016
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Holy Cross (Q, C) | 22 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 59 | 18 | +41 | 52 | 2016 NLCC Playoffs |
| 2 | Mount Pearl (Q) | 22 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 45 | 20 | +25 | 45 | 2016 NLCC Playoffs |
| 3 | St. Lawrence Laurentians (Q) | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 53 | 18 | +35 | 43 | 2016 NLCC Playoffs |
| 4 | Feildians (Q) | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 46 | 30 | +16 | 39 | 2016 NLCC Playoffs |
| 5 | Corner Brook United | 22 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 21 | 58 | −37 | 10 | |
| 6 | Conception Bay Strikers | 22 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 7 | 75 | −68 | 3 | |
| 7 | NL Canada Games Team | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 27 | −12 | 12 | |
* ↑ Playing on an exhibition basis only, however points earned against them still count toward the standings

#### Playoffs
### 2015
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Holy Cross (Q) | 20 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 65 | 12 | +53 | 51 | 2015 NLCC Playoffs |
| 2 | St. Lawrence Laurentians (Q) | 20 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 46 | 11 | +35 | 44 | 2015 NLCC Playoffs |
| 3 | Mount Pearl (Q) | 20 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 39 | 18 | +21 | 36 | 2015 NLCC Playoffs |
| 4 | Feildians (Q) | 20 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 25 | 32 | −7 | 25 | 2015 NLCC Playoffs |
| 5 | Corner Brook United | 20 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 21 | 58 | −37 | 16 | |
| 6 | Conception Bay Strikers | 20 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 3 | 68 | −65 | 1 | |

#### Playoffs
### 2014
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Holy Cross (Q) | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 37 | 19 | +18 | 39 | 2014 NLCC Playoff Final |
| 2 | St. Lawrence Laurentians (Q) | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 25 | 24 | +1 | 25 | 2014 NLCC Playoff Semi Final |
| 3 | Mount Pearl (Q) | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 33 | −14 | 20 | 2014 NLCC Playoff Semi Final |
| 4 | Feildians | 18 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 24 | 29 | −5 | 18 | |

#### Playoffs
### 2013
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Holy Cross (Q) | 27 | 19 | 5 | 3 | 94 | 26 | +68 | 62 | 2013 NLCC Playoffs |
| 2 | St. Lawrence Laurentians (Q) | 27 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 66 | 22 | +44 | 52 | 2013 NLCC Playoffs |
| 3 | Mount Pearl (Q) | 27 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 35 | 38 | −3 | 40 | 2013 NLCC Playoffs |
| 4 | Feildians (Q) | 27 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 35 | 29 | +6 | 39 | 2013 NLCC Playoffs |
| 5 | Conception Bay Strikers | 27 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 7 | 107 | −100 | 4 | |
| 6 | NL Canada Games Team | 15 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 16 | 31 | −15 | 15 | |
* ↑ Playing on an exhibition basis only, however points earned against them still count towards the standings

#### Playoffs
### 2012
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Holy Cross (Q) | 19 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 80 | 15 | +65 | 49 | 2012 NLCC Playoffs |
| 2 | St. Lawrence Laurentians (Q) | 19 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 55 | 29 | +26 | 35 | 2012 NLCC Playoffs |
| 3 | Feildians (Q) | 19 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 30 | 28 | +2 | 30 | 2012 NLCC Playoffs |
| 4 | Mount Pearl (Q) | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 33 | 21 | +12 | 26 | 2012 NLCC Playoffs |
| 5 | Conception Bay Strikers | 19 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 28 | 61 | −33 | 18 | |
| 6 | St. John's U-18s | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 78 | −72 | 0 | |
* ↑ Playing on an exhibition basis only, however points earned against them still count towards the standings

#### Playoffs
### 2011
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Holy Cross (Q) | 20 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 76 | 9 | +67 | 55 | 2011 NLCC Playoffs |
| 2 | Mount Pearl (Q) | 20 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 49 | 17 | +32 | 42 | 2011 NLCC Playoffs |
| 3 | St. Lawrence Laurentians (Q) | 20 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 27 | 30 | −3 | 29 | 2011 NLCC Playoffs |
| 4 | Feildians (Q) | 20 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 19 | 35 | −16 | 23 | 2011 NLCC Playoffs |
| 5 | Conception Bay Strikers | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 29 | 33 | −4 | 22 | |
| 6 | St. John's U-18s | 20 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 7 | 83 | −76 | 2 | |
* ↑ Playing on an exhibition basis only, however points earned against them still count towards the standings

#### Playoffs
### 2010
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Holy Cross (Q) | 23 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 67 | 16 | +51 | 56 | 2010 NLCC Playoffs |
| 2 | Mount Pearl (Q) | 23 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 53 | 14 | +39 | 51 | 2010 NLCC Playoffs |
| 3 | St. Lawrence Laurentians (Q) | 23 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 62 | 19 | +43 | 49 | 2010 NLCC Playoffs |
| 4 | Feildians (Q) | 23 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 44 | 48 | −4 | 27 | 2010 NLCC Playoffs |
| 5 | Conception Bay Strikers | 23 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 20 | 63 | −43 | 15 | |
| 6 | Western United | 23 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 20 | 76 | −56 | 10 | |
| 7 | St. John's U-18s | 18 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 25 | 55 | −30 | 14 | |
* ↑ Playing on an exhibition basis only, however points earned against them still count towards the standings

#### Playoffs
### 2004

In 2004 Marystown United were the Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup Champions,. They went on to play in the 2004 Canadian National Challenge Cup finishing 8th.

### 1999

In 1999, Marystown United lost the Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup 2-1 to St. Lawrence Laurentians.

## Canadian Challenge Trophy

This is a list of Newfoundland clubs who have reached the finals at the annual Canadian Challenge Trophy tournament, which features the best senior men's amateur clubs from each province in Canada. Holy Cross FC are currently the only Newfoundland club to ever become national champions.
    As of 24 July 2012.
| Club | Nationals wins | Runner-up | Years |
| Holy Cross | 1 | 1 | 1988, 1989, |
| St. Lawrence | 0 | 3 | 1975, 1977, 2002 |
Bold indicates a current Challenge Cup team Italics indicate a runner-up finish