The Canadian Soccer League (CSL) is the top soccer league in Canada and is sanctioned by the Ontario Soccer Association.[1] . It was formerly known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL),[2] and was officially re-branded on May 17, 2006. CSL teams do not currently participate in the Canadian Championship, which determines the Canadian entry into the CONCACAF Champions League. The CSA is considering the CSL's interest in having its champion becoming the 4th member in this tournament.
[edit] History
The CSL's first season was in 2006, with the most notable change, aside from the new league name, being the emergence of an international division as a complement to the more traditional national division
The forerunner of the CSL, The CPSL itself played its first season in 1998[3] by amalgamating four teams from the Canadian National Soccer League namely St. Catharines Wolves, North York Astros, London City, and Toronto Croatia with four (4) expansion franchises (Mississauga, York Region Shooters, Glen Shields and Toronto Olympians).
The (CSL) has a history going back to 1926 as the National Soccer League (NSL).
In 2006, the change to the CSL was more than merely a cosmetic alteration. An international division was added, a new set of rules, regulations and a new constitution were established, the schedule format was changed, and the relationship with the OSA and QSF was upgraded.
In early 2008, the CSL and the OSA established a "Memorandum of Understanding" which provided the CSL with an increased level of autonomy and independence from the governing body[4]. This is expected to facilitate the league's expansion efforts.
The CSL season runs from May through to October with seven teams in the National Division and four teams in the International Division (recognizing the unique multiculturalism of Toronto's demographics) which debuted in 2006. The climax of the season is the CSL Championship Final, which takes place in October after an 8-team playoffs competition.
The CSL is the top level soccer league within Canada. However three Canadian clubs play in higher leagues based in the United States – Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps in the USL First Division.
The CSL has appealed to the CSA for its league champion to be added as the 4th team to the CONCACAF Champions League tournament CONCACAF Champions League as qualification is restricted to the winners of the 3 team Canadian Championship which they have not been permitted to enter.
The league is currently managed by former Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) president, Cary Kaplan (CSL Commissioner), and veteran soccer executive Stan Adamson (Executive Director).
2007 saw the debut of the Trois-Rivières Attak, replacing the existing Laval Dynamites franchise. The team is the junior/reserve side for the Montreal Impact USL First Division team. In 2008, Toronto FC of Major League Soccer, and owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, entered their Academy Team (TFC Academy) into the CSL. As a result, the CSL is now affiliated with two of Canada's top three professional soccer franchises: Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact.
On May 12, 2009, the CSL formally announced that they had received conditional approval to be in membership with the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), as Canada's national professional league. The vote by the CSA Board was Unanimous by all provinces and territories. This the first league to receive this endorsement from the CSA in 16 years.
The CSL has expressed an interest to aggressively seek a division in Western Canada to begin play in 2010 or 2011.[5] [6]
[edit] National Division
[edit] International Division
All of these teams are located in the Toronto area.
[edit] League staff
[edit] CPSL/CSL Playoffs Championships
| Season |
Champions |
Score |
Runners-up |
Regular Season Champions |
Points |
Regular Season Runners-up |
| 1998 |
St. Catharines Wolves |
2-2 (pk 4-2) |
Toronto Olympians |
Toronto Olympians |
40 |
St. Catharines Wolves |
| 1999 |
Toronto Olympians |
2-0 |
Toronto Croatia |
Toronto Olympians |
40 |
Toronto Croatia |
| 2000 |
Toronto Croatia |
2-1 |
Toronto Olympians |
Toronto Olympians |
37 |
St. Catharines Wolves |
| 2001 |
St. Catharines Wolves |
1-0 |
Toronto Supra |
Ottawa Wizards |
51 |
Toronto Olympians |
| 2002 |
Ottawa Wizards |
2-0 |
North York Astros |
Ottawa Wizards |
47 |
Montreal Dynamites |
| 2003 |
Brampton Hitmen |
1-0 |
Vaughan Sun Devils |
Ottawa Wizards |
44 |
Hamilton Thunder |
| 2004 |
Toronto Croatia |
4-0 |
Vaughan Shooters |
Toronto Supra |
46 |
Metro Lions |
| 2005 |
Oakville Blue Devils |
2-1 |
Vaughan Shooters |
Vaughan Shooters |
51 |
Toronto Croatia |
| 2006 |
Italia Shooters |
1-0 |
Serbian White Eagles |
Serbian White Eagles |
55 |
Toronto Croatia |
| 2007 |
Toronto Croatia |
4-1, 0-0 |
Serbian White Eagles |
Serbian White Eagles |
45 |
St. Catharines Wolves |
| 2008 |
Serbian White Eagles |
2-2 (pk 2-1) |
Trois Rivieres Attak |
Trois Rivieres Attak |
47 |
Italia Shooters |
[edit] All Time (1998-2008) CPSL/CSL Regular Season Records By Clubs
[edit] All Time (1998-2008) CPSL/CSL Playoff Records By Clubs
[edit] Ten Best Seasons (2001-2008: 18 games played or more)
[edit] Complete Team List
[edit] External links
[edit] References
