Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup


The Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup, known as the Molson Coors 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 42 Cups out of the 50 times that it has been contested, with no other team having won since 2004.

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. 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

Clubs in bold currently compete in the Challenge Cup.
ClubWinsWinning seasons
St. Lawrence Laurentians
25
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
21
1973, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
Burin Eagles
2
1990, 1991
Feildians
1
1969
Grand Bank
1
1974
Lawn
1
1987
Marystown United
1
2004
Mount Pearl
1
2003
Newfoundland All Stars
1
1970

Recent seasons

2017

Standings

2016

Standings

Playoffs

2015

Standings

Playoffs

2014

Standings

Playoffs

2013

Standings

Playoffs

2012

Standings

Playoffs

2011

Standings

Playoffs

2010

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.
ClubNationals winsRunner-upYears
Holy Cross111988, 1989,
St. Lawrence031975, 1977, 2002

Bold indicates a current Challenge Cup team
Italics indicate a runner-up finish