2021 Canadian Premier League season
Season | 2021 |
---|---|
Dates | June 26 – November 16 (regular season) |
Matches played | 91 |
Goals scored | 225 (2.47 per match) |
Top goalscorer | João Morelli (14 goals) |
Biggest home win | Forge FC 4–0 Atlético Ottawa (August 25) |
Biggest away win | Valour FC 0–3 FC Edmonton (September 7) Atlético Ottawa 0–3 Forge FC (October 3) |
Highest scoring | 7 goals FC Edmonton 3–4 Atlético Ottawa (October 12) |
Longest winning run | 3 matches Valour FC (June 27 – July 3, July 11–18) Pacific FC (July 21 – August 4, August 29 – September 9) Forge FC (September 25 – October 6) |
Longest unbeaten run | 10 matches HFX Wanderers (August 22 – October 3) |
Longest winless run | 8 matches Atlético Ottawa (August 18 – September 19) Valour FC (August 29 – October 5) |
Longest losing run | 4 matches Valour FC (July 24 – August 12) |
← 2020 2022 →
All statistics correct as of October 12, 2021. |
The 2021 Canadian Premier League season is the third season of the Canadian Premier League, the top level of Canadian soccer. Forge FC are defending champions, after defeating HFX Wanderers FC in the 2020 final.[1]
The season was planned to commence on May 22, the Victoria Day weekend, pending the approval of government authorities and the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.[2] However, on May 14, it was announced that the start was to be pushed back to mid-June or early July.[3]
On June 5, the league committed to a full 28-match season, but that the season would begin in a single-site bubble at IG Field in Winnipeg, Manitoba, promoted as "The Kickoff", with each team playing eight matches between June 26 and July 24. All matches were played behind closed doors and in compliance with Manitoba public health orders.[4] On July 30, the CPL began to play matches at home venues.[5]
The amount of playing time teams must give to Canadian players aged 21 years or younger increased from 1,000 to 1,500 minutes for this season.[6]
Overview
Teams
The eight clubs that participated in the 2020 Canadian Premier League season are competing in this season. York United FC are playing under their new brand for the first time in 2021, having previously been known as York9 FC.
Personnel and sponsorship
Team | Head coach | Captain(s) | Shirt sponsor | Kit manufacturer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Atlético Ottawa | Mista | Milovan Kapor | ComeOn! | Macron |
Cavalry | Tommy Wheeldon Jr. | Nik Ledgerwood | WestJet | |
FC Edmonton | Alan Koch | Swoop | ||
Forge | Bobby Smyrniotis | Kyle Bekker | Tim Hortons | |
HFX Wanderers | Stephen Hart | Andre Rampersad | Volkswagen | |
Pacific | Pa-Modou Kah | Jamar Dixon | ||
Valour | Phillip Dos Santos | Daryl Fordyce | OneSoccer | |
York United | Jimmy Brennan | Roger Thompson | Macron |
Coaching changes
Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FC Edmonton | Jeff Paulus | Resignation[7] | September 21, 2020 | Pre-season | Alan Koch | November 24, 2020[8] |
Valour FC | Rob Gale | Sacked[9] | September 23, 2021 | 5th | Phillip Dos Santos | September 23, 2021 |
Regular season
Between June 26 and July 24, teams played their first eight games at IG Field in Winnipeg. Teams from Eastern Canada and Western Canada played two matches against each of the four teams in the opposite region to reduce travel when teams return to home stadiums.[10] For the remainder of the season, teams play 16 games against opponents from their own region and 4 against opponents from the opposite region.[11] Template:2021 Canadian Premier League table
Results
The Kickoff
West |
East
|
Playoffs
The top-four teams in the regular season will qualify for the league playoffs. The first-place team will host the fourth, and the second-place team will host the third in a single match round. The winners will advance to the CPL Final which will be a single match hosted by the higher-seeded team.[11]
Playoffs November 20/21 | Final November 27/28 | ||||||||
1 | |||||||||
4 | |||||||||
3 | |||||||||
2 |
Awards
Team of the Week
The Gatorade Team of the Week is selected by OneSoccer staff.[12]
Dates | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
June 26–28 |
Powley (Ottawa) |
Peña (Valour) |
Bassett (Pacific) |
[13] | |
June 28 – July 5 |
Sirois (Valour) |
Abzi (York) |
Alemán (Valour) |
[14] | |
July 5–12 |
Irving (Pacific) |
Peña (Valour) |
[15] | ||
July 12–19 |
Sirois (Valour) |
Awuah (Forge) |
[16] | ||
July 29–26 |
Sirois (Valour) | [17] | |||
July 26 – August 2 |
Irving (Pacific) |
Bent (HFX) |
[18] | ||
August 2–9 |
Giantsopoulos (York) |
Ferrari (York) |
[19] | ||
August 9–16 |
Silva (Valour) |
Chung (Pacific) |
[20] | ||
August 16–23 |
Giantsopoulos (York) |
Gagnon-Laparé (HFX) |
Aparicio (Pacific) |
[21] | |
August 23–30 |
James (Edmonton) |
Awuah (Forge) |
Aparicio (Pacific) |
[22] | |
August 30– September 7 |
Carducci (Cavalry) | Ferrari (York) Simmons (Cavalry) Farsi (Cavalry) |
Heard (Pacific) Petrasso (York) Morelli (HFX) |
[23] | |
September
7–13 |
Henry (Forge) | Zator (York)
Đidić (Edmonton) N'sa (York) |
Gonzalez (Edmonton) | Shaw (Ottawa)
Warschewski (Edmonton) |
[24] |
September
13-20 |
Silva (Valour) | Abzi (York)
MacNaughton (Pacific) Verhoven (Ottawa) |
Lamothe (HFX)
Ledgerwood (Cavalry) Loturi (Cavalry) |
Ongaro (Edmonton)
Soto (Ottawa) Gutiérrez (York) |
[25] |
September
20-27 |
Powley (Ottawa) | Abzi (York)
Krutzen (Forge) Achinioti-Jönsson (Forge) Beckie (Ottawa) |
Bekker (Forge)
Hojabrpour (Pacific) Rampersad (HFX) |
Karajovanovic (HFX)
Wright (York) Wright (Ottawa) |
[26] |
September 27 -
October 4 |
Henry (Forge) | Awuah (Forge)
Krutzen (Forge) Klomp (Cavalry) Aird (Edmonton) |
Gagnon-Laparé (HFX)
Achinioti-Jönsson (Forge) Dyer (Valour) |
Bent (HFX)
Díaz (Pacific) Morelli (HFX) |
[27] |
Statistical leaders
- As of October 11, 2021
Top scorers
|
Top assists
|
Clean sheets
|
Hat-tricks
|
Player transfers
U Sports Draft
The 2021 CPL–U Sports Draft was held virtually on January 29. Draftees will be invited to team preseason camps, with an opportunity to earn a developmental contract and retain their U Sports men's soccer eligibility. FC Edmonton selected Thomas Gardner with the first overall pick. Two players were selected by each returning CPL team, with a total of 16 players being drafted including 12 Canadians.[31]
Foreign players
Canadian Premier League teams may sign a maximum of seven international players, out of which only five can be in the starting line-up for each match. Starting this season, teams must carry a minimum of four international players, either signed through or approved by the league's scouting partner, 21st Club.[32] The following players are considered foreign players for the 2021 season. This list does not include Canadian citizens who represent other countries at the international level.[33]
Players in italic denote players new to their respective clubs for the 2021 season, sorted chronologically by their announcement.
Number of teams by province or territory
Rank | Province or territory | Number | Teams |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Ontario | 3 | Atlético Ottawa, Forge and York United |
2 | Alberta | 2 | Cavalry and FC Edmonton |
3 | British Columbia | 1 | Pacific |
Manitoba | Valour | ||
Nova Scotia | HFX Wanderers |
References
- ^ "Forge FC beats HFX Wanderers FC in Island Games final to repeat as CPL champions". Canadian Premier League. September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
- ^ Davidson, Neil (January 19, 2021). "Canadian Premier League set to open 3rd season on Victoria Day weekend". CBC. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ "CPL 2021 season update: Clanachan committed to 'June or early July' start at single site, full 28-game season". Canadian Premier League. May 14, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ "'The Kickoff' is coming: Winnipeg chosen as hub city for Canadian Premier League". CTV News Winnipeg. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "CPL reveals remainder of 2021 season schedule presented by WestJet". Canadian Premier League. July 12, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ "CPL increasing U-21 minutes threshold to 1,500 for 2021 season". Canadian Premier League. January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ^ "Jeff Paulus steps down as FC Edmonton coach - Sportsnet.ca". www.sportsnet.ca. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- ^ John Molinaro (November 24, 2020). "FC Edmonton names Alan Koch new coach, Director of Football Operations". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
- ^ "Valour FC parts ways with Rob Gale, appoints Phillip dos Santos coach & GM". Canadian Premier League. September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ Thompson, Marty (June 9, 2021). "2021 CPL 'Kickoff' schedule presented by WestJet: View all 32 matches". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ^ a b "CPL reveals 2021 season format: 28-game schedule to conclude with four-team playoff for championship". Canadian Premier League. June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL Week 10)". Canadian Premier League. August 30, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL Week 1)". Canadian Premier League. June 28, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL week 2)". Canadian Premier League. July 5, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL week 3)". Canadian Premier League. July 12, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL Week 4)". Canadian Premier League. July 19, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL week 5)". Canadian Premier League. July 26, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL Week 6)". Canadian Premier League. August 3, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL Week 7)". Canadian Premier League. August 9, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL Week 8)". Canadian Premier League. August 16, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL week 9)". Canadian Premier League. August 23, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL Week 10)". Canadian Premier League. August 30, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL Week 11)". Canadian Premier League. September 7, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL Week 12)". Canadian Premier League. September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL Week 13)". Canadian Premier League. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL Week 14)". Canadian Premier League. September 27, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL Week 15)". Canadian Premier League. October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ^ a b "2021 CPL players statistics". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ "2021 CPL goalkeepers statistics". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
- ^ "Pacific FC 4-2 Atlético Ottawa". Canadian Premier League. July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ "FC Edmonton take UBC's Thomas Gardner 1st overall in CPL-U SPORTS Draft". Canadian Premier League. January 29, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ @plattoli (November 10, 2020). "One interesting feature of this CanPL offseason: clubs are now being required to carry at least four international players, all of whom must either come through or be approved by the league and the 21st Club's centralized scouting" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "CPL 2020 roster tracker: How all eight teams are shaping up". Canadian Premier League. March 11, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2020.