2020 Canadian Premier League season
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Season | 2020 |
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Dates | August 13 – September 6, 2020 (first stage) September 9–15, 2020 (group stage) September 19, 2020 (final)[1] |
Champions | Forge FC |
2021 CONCACAF League | Forge FC |
Matches played | 35 |
Goals scored | 92 (2.63 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Akeem Garcia (6 goals) |
Best goalkeeper | Triston Henry (5 shutouts) |
Biggest home win | HFX Wanderers 0–5 Pacific FC (September 15) |
Highest scoring | 5 goals York9 FC 3–2 Forge FC (August 26) HFX Wanderers 0–5 Pacific FC (September 15) |
Longest winning run | 3 matches Cavalry FC (August 16 – August 23) |
Longest unbeaten run | 6 matches York9 FC (August 15 – September 1) HFX Wanderers FC (August 26 – September 12) Forge FC (August 30 – September 19) |
Longest winless run | 7 matches FC Edmonton (August 16 – September 6) |
Longest losing run | 4 matches FC Edmonton (August 26 – September 6) |
← 2019 2021 → |
The 2020 Canadian Premier League season is the second season of the Canadian Premier League, the top level of Canadian soccer.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CPL announced a 14-day hold on all pre-season training on March 13, 2020.[2] On March 20, the league announced that it would be postponing the start of the season from the previously scheduled date of April 11.[3]
A shortened 2020 season tournament, branded as The Island Games, began August 13, with all matches being played at the University of Prince Edward Island. All matches are being played behind closed doors, and all players were required to self-isolate for 14 days before travelling, self-isolate for five more days upon arrival, and receive two negative COVID-19 tests before being allowed to play. As of July 29, PEI has the lowest number of COVID-19 cases among provinces, at 36.[4][5][6]
Atlético Ottawa joined the league as its first expansion team, bringing the total number of teams to eight. Forge FC are the defending league champions after defeating Cavalry FC in the 2019 CPL Finals.[7]
Overview
Teams
The seven teams that participated in the inaugural 2019 Canadian Premier League season are set to compete in this season. They are joined by Atlético Ottawa, an expansion team who were created after USL Championship side Ottawa Fury FC suspended operations after being unable to secure approval from USSF and CONCACAF.[8][9][10]
Personnel and sponsorship
Team | Head coach | Captain(s) | Shirt sponsor | Kit manufacturer |
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Atlético Ottawa | ![]() |
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OneSoccer | Macron |
Cavalry | ![]() |
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WestJet | |
FC Edmonton | ![]() |
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Swoop | |
Forge | ![]() |
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Tim Hortons | |
HFX Wanderers | ![]() |
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Volkswagen | |
Pacific | ![]() |
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Volkswagen | |
Valour | ![]() |
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OneSoccer | |
York9 | ![]() |
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Macron |
Coaching changes
Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy |
Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pacific | ![]() |
end of interim period | January 14, 2020 | pre-season | ![]() |
January 14, 2020 |
Atlético Ottawa | N/A (inaugural season) | January 29, 2020 | ![]() |
February 11, 2020 |
Original format
Before being postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the regular season was intended to be played from April 11 to October 4. The split-season format of the inaugural season was to be replaced by a single table and full double round-robin. The eight teams would have met their rivals twice at home and twice away for a total of 28 games, the same number as in 2019.[11] The top ranked team in the regular season would have qualified for a spot in the championship final and would have been joined by the winner of a playoff between the second and third ranked teams.[12]
First stage
The eight teams played against each other once each for a total of seven matches. The top four teams advanced to the group stage.
Table
Template:2020 Canadian Premier League overall table
Results |
Results by round
Source: CanPL.ca
Notes: Cavalry and Forge played two matches in round 1 but did not play in round 6. |
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Group stage
The four group stage teams will meet their opponents once each. The top two teams advance to the final.
Table
Template:2020 Canadian Premier League group stage table
Results |
Results by round
Updated to match(es) played on September 15, 2020. Source: CanPL.ca
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Final
Forge FC | v | HFX Wanderers FC |
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Statistical leaders
- As of September 15, 2020
Top scorers
Source:[13] |
Top assists
Source:[13]
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Shutouts
Rank | Player | Club | Shutouts |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Forge FC | 4 |
2 | ![]() |
Cavalry FC | 3 |
3 | ![]() |
York9 | 2 |
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HFX Wanderers | ||
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Valour FC | ||
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Atlético Ottawa | ||
7 | ![]() |
Pacific FC | 1 |
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Pacific FC |
Source:[13]
Player transfers
U Sports Draft
The 2019 CPL–U Sports Draft was held on November 11 in Montreal, Quebec. 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. HFX Wanderers selected Cory Bent with the first overall pick. Two players were selected by each returning CPL team, with a total of 14 players being drafted including 10 Canadians.[14] Ottawa had not yet joined the league and did not participate in the draft.
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. The following players are considered foreign players for the 2020 season. This list does not include Canadian citizens who represent other countries at the international level.[15]
Players in italic denote players new to their respective clubs for the 2020 season, sorted chronologically by their announcement.
Awards
Canadian Premier League Awards
The nominees for the four CPL awards were announced on September 18, one day before the league final.[16]
Award | Nominee |
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Golden Boot | ![]() |
Golden Glove | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Coach of the Year | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Player of the Year | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Best Under 21 Canadian Player of the Year | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Team of the Week
Dates | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards | Ref |
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August 13–16 |
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[17] |
August 18–23 |
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[18] |
August 25–30 |
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[19] |
September 1–6 |
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[20] |
September 7–13 |
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[21] |
See also
References
- ^ {{Cite web|last=|first=|date=August 26, 2020|title=Canadian Premier League's Island Games To Air on Fox Sports in the US|url=https://mediaprocanada.tv/en/news/canadian_premier_league_island_games_to_air_on_fox_sports_in_the_us%7Curl-status=live%7Carchive-url=%7Carchive-date=%7Caccess-date=August 26, 2020|website=Mediapro Canada}}
- ^ "Canadian Premier League Statement: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Protocol for Pre-Season Training". Canadian Premier League. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
- ^ "Canadian Premier League Commissioner Statement: Start of season postponed". Canadian Premier League. March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ "Canadian Premier League's Island Games: Everything you need to know". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ "CPL players, coaches, staff in P.E.I. bubble all test negative for COVID-19". CBC News. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "P.E.I. to host Canadian pro soccer league season starting Aug. 13". CBC News. July 29, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Forge FC wins inaugural Canadian Premier League title". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ "Canadian Premier League awards 1st Expansion Team to Ottawa". Canadian Premier League. January 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ "Ottawa's Soccer Team Was Just Cancelled But Fans Want Them To Switch Leagues". www.narcity.com. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ Jacques, John (January 15, 2020). "Rumour: Ottawa On Fast-Track To CPL Expansion". Northern Tribune. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Canadian Premier League announces 2020 home dates; Ottawa's home opener set for May 16". Global News. February 20, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ Bedakian, Armen (February 21, 2020). "CPL announces balanced schedule, new league and playoff format for 2020". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ a b c "2020 CPL statistics". Retrieved August 13, 2020.
- ^ "TRACKER: All 14 picks from the 2019 CPL-U SPORTS Draft". Canadian Premier League. November 11, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ "CPL 2020 roster tracker: How all eight teams are shaping up". Canadian Premier League. March 11, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- ^ Molinaro, John (September 18, 2020). "Bustos, Bekker and Garcia finalists for CPL Player of the Year award". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week: Forge, Cavalry dominate Week 1". Canadian Premier League. August 17, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week: Bekker and Acuña return in Week 2". Canadian Premier League. August 25, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week: Pacific FC dominates CPL's top selections". Canadian Premier League. September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week: HFX Wanderers take over CPL best XI". Canadian Premier League. September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
- ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week: Wanderers, Forge dominate Week 5". Canadian Premier League. September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.