2023 Canadian Premier League season

The 2023 Canadian Premier League season is the fifth season of the Canadian Premier League, the top level of Canadian soccer. The 2023 CPL playoff champion and 2023 CPL regular season winner will both earn berths in the newly expanded 2024 CONCACAF Champions League.[1] Forge FC are the defending CPL champions, having beaten Atlético Ottawa in the 2022 final. Atlético Ottawa are the defending regular season winners.

Canadian Premier League
Season2023
DatesApril 15 – October 7 (regular season)
Matches played20
Goals scored51 (2.55 per match)
Top goalscorerOllie Bassett
Myer Bevan
Shaan Hundal
(3 goals each)
Biggest home winPacific 4–1 York United
(May 14)
Biggest away winVancouver 0–5 Atlético Ottawa
(May 13)
Highest scoringAtlético Ottawa 1–4 Pacific
(May 6)
Forge 3–2 Valour
(May 13)
Vancouver 0–5 Atlético Ottawa
(May 13)
Pacific 4–1 York United
(May 14)
Longest unbeaten run5 matches
Cavalry
(April 15 – present)
Forge
(April 15 – present)
HFX Wanderers
(April 15 – present)
Longest winless run5 matches
Cavalry
(April 15 – present)
HFX Wanderers
(April 15 – present)
Highest attendance7,042
Atlético Ottawa 1–1 HFX Wanderers
(April 15)
Lowest attendance822
York United 1–2 Vancouver
(April 22)
Total attendance69,239
Average attendance3,847
← 2022
2024 →
All statistics correct as of May 14, 2023.

Team and rule changes

Eight teams are competing in the 2023 season with the debut of Vancouver FC, and the dissolution of FC Edmonton.[2][3] The player compensation budget increased by $175,000 compared to 2022.[4] Teams must spend between $750,000 and $1,025,000 on their 20–23 player rosters with a minimum of $30,000 per player. A team making full use of the U21 salary rule can reach a compensation maximum of $1,125,000. The league's play-off structure changed to a five-team Page playoff system with four elimination matches and one non-elimination match.

Teams

Stadiums and locations
See also: List of soccer stadiums in Canada
Location of the 2023 Canadian Premier League teams
Club Location Stadium Capacity
Atlético Ottawa Ottawa TD Place Stadium 24,000
Cavalry FC Foothills County ATCO Field 6,000[5]
Forge FC Hamilton Tim Hortons Field 23,218
HFX Wanderers FC Halifax Wanderers Grounds 6,500
Pacific FC Langford Starlight Stadium 6,000
Valour FC Winnipeg IG Field 33,000
Vancouver FC Langley Willoughby Community Park Stadium 6,560
York United FC Toronto York Lions Stadium 4,000

    Personnel and sponsorship
    Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsor (chest) Shirt sponsor (sleeve) Kit manufacturer
    Atlético Ottawa Spain Carlos González Canada Carl Haworth Maple Lodge Farms[6] CIBC[7] Macron
    Cavalry England Tommy Wheeldon Jr. Canada Marco Carducci WestJet
    Forge Canada Bobby Smyrniotis Canada Kyle Bekker Tim Hortons
    HFX Wanderers Canada Patrice Gheisar Trinidad and Tobago Andre Rampersad Volkswagen
    Pacific Canada James Merriman Wales Josh Heard Telus[8]
    Valour Canada Phillip Dos Santos Haiti Andrew Jean-Baptiste OneSoccer
    Vancouver Iran Afshin Ghotbi Canada Callum Irving CIBC[7] Carlsberg[9]
    York United Canada Martin Nash Canada Roger Thompson Carlsberg[10] CIBC[7]

    Number of teams by province or territory
    Rank Province or territory Number Teams
    1 Ontario Ontario 3 Atlético Ottawa
    Forge
    York United
    2 British Columbia British Columbia 2 Pacific
    Vancouver FC
    3 Alberta Alberta 1 Cavalry
    Manitoba Manitoba 1 Valour
    Nova Scotia Nova Scotia 1 HFX Wanderers

    Coaching changes
    Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming coach Date of appointment
    HFX Wanderers Tobago Stephen Hart End of contract October 13, 2022 Pre-season Canada Patrice Gheisar November 30, 2022
    Vancouver FC N/A (inaugural season) Iran Afshin Ghotbi November 2, 2022
    FC Edmonton South Africa Alan Koch Team folded November 21, 2022 N/A

    Regular season

    Format

    The regular season will be played as a quadruple round-robin, with each team playing the other seven teams twice at home and twice away between April 15 and October 7. The regular season winner, the team ranked first after all 28 games, qualifies for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League and the top five teams qualify for the playoffs.

    Standings

    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Playoff qualification
    1 Forge 5 3 2 0 8 5 +3 11 First semifinal
    2 Pacific 5 3 1 1 10 4 +6 10
    3 Valour 5 1 3 1 6 5 +1 6 Quarterfinal
    4 Atlético Ottawa 5 1 2 2 8 7 +1 5 Play-in round
    5 Vancouver 5 1 2 2 4 9 −5 5
    6 Cavalry 5 0 5 0 7 7 0 5
    7 HFX Wanderers 5 0 5 0 5 5 0 5
    8 York United 5 1 0 4 3 9 −6 3
    Updated to match(es) played on May 14. Source: CanPL
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Total wins; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goal differential; 6) Away goals scored; 7) Home goal differential; 8) Home goals scored; 9) Total minutes played by U-21 players; 10) Coin toss (2 teams tied) or drawing of lots (3+ teams tied).[11]

    Results
    Home \ Away ATO CAV FOR HFX PAC VAL VAN YRK
    Atlético Ottawa Jul 29 May 27 1–1 1–4 Jul 9 Jun 17 0–1
    Sep 2 Aug 26 Jun 3 Sep 13 Sep 24 Jul 16 Aug 5
    Cavalry May 21 Jun 3 2–2 Aug 27 1–1 Jun 11 Jun 24
    Jul 12 Aug 4 Jul 15 Oct 7 Sep 29 Sep 16 Aug 20
    Forge Jun 25 2–2 1–1 Jun 10 3–2 May 19 May 31
    Oct 7 Sep 9 Aug 19 Sep 23 Jul 15 Jul 28 Aug 12
    HFX Wanderers Jul 22 Jun 17 Jun 30 Jul 11 Jun 10 1–1 May 20
    Sep 16 Sep 12 Sep 30 Aug 7 Aug 26 Aug 12 Sep 4
    Pacific Jun 30 1–1 0–1 May 27 Jun 21 1–0 4–1
    Aug 13 Jul 8 Jul 21 Sep 8 Sep 2 Sep 30 Jun 18
    Valour 1–1 Jul 1 Jun 16 0–0 May 20 Jun 25 Jun 4
    Aug 18 Aug 11 Sep 17 Oct 6 Jul 29 Sep 20 Jul 23
    Vancouver FC 0–5 1–1 Jun 20 Jul 7 Jun 2 May 28 Jul 2
    Sep 9 Jul 22 Sep 3 Sep 23 Aug 19 Aug 6 Oct 6
    York United Jun 9 May 28 0–1 Jun 21 Jul 14 0–2 1–2
    Oct 1 Sep 22 Jul 9 Jul 30 Sep 17 Sep 8 Aug 25
    Updated to match(es) played on May 14. Source: CanPL.ca
    Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

    Playoffs

    The 2023 season will use the Page playoff system. The team who finishes first in the regular-season table will play the team who finishes second, and the winner will host the final. The fourth- and fifth-placed teams will play in a play-in round, the winner of this game will play the third-placed team in a quarter-final. The quarter-final winner will play the loser of the game between the first and second placed teams for the other spot in the final.[12]

    Bracket
    Play-in roundFirst semifinalSecond semifinalFinal
    October 14October 28–29
    1First-place teamFirst semifinal winner
    2Second-place teamOctober 21–22Second semifinal winner
    First semifinal loser
    QuarterfinalQuarterfinal winner
    October 14
    October 113Third-place team
    4Fourth-place teamPlay-in round winner
    5Fifth-place team

    Attendance
    As of May 14, 2023
    Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
    1 Atlético Ottawa 7,042 7,042 7,042 7,042 +73.1%[upper-alpha 1]
    2 HFX Wanderers 6,413 6,413 6,413 6,413 +10.1%†
    3 Forge FC 15,526 6,892 3,827 5,175 +50.8%†
    4 Vancouver FC 8,977 6,177 2,800 4,489 n/a†
    5 Cavalry FC 8,112 4,566 3,546 4,056 +16.2%†
    6 Pacific FC 13,685 4,825 2,455 3,421 +7.7%†
    7 Valour FC 6,039 3,374 2,665 3,020 −2.9%†
    8 York United 3,445 1,607 822 1,148 −7.0%†
    League total 69,239 7,042 822 3,847 +21.1%†

    Source:

    Statistical leaders
    See also: Canadian Premier League records and statistics § Career player records
    As of May 14, 2023

    Top scorers
    Rank Player Club Goals[13]
    1 Northern Ireland Ollie Bassett Atlético Ottawa 3
    New Zealand Myer Bevan Cavalry
    Canada Shaan Hundal Vancouver
    4 Canada Manny Aparicio Pacific 2
    Haiti Mikaël Cantave Cavalry
    France Théo Collomb HFX Wanderers
    Canada Amer Đidić Pacific
    Canada Zachary Fernandez HFX Wanderers
    Canada Jordan Hamilton Forge
    Canada Woobens Pacius Forge
    Netherlands Ayman Sellouf Pacific
    England Kian Williams Valour

    Top assists
    Rank Player Club Assists[14]
    1 Canada Jean-Aniel Assi Atlético Ottawa 2
    Canada Aidan Daniels HFX Wanderers
    Netherlands Djenairo Daniels Pacific
    Burundi Pacifique Niyongabire Valour
    Mexico Gael Sandoval Vancouver
    Canada Sean Young Pacific
    7 24 players tied 1

    Clean sheets
    Rank Player Club Clean sheets[15]
    1 Canada Triston Henry Forge 2
    Algeria Rayane Yesli Valour
    3 Canada Yann Fillion HFX Wanderers 1
    Canada Emil Gazdov Pacific
    Canada Niko Giantsopoulos York United
    Canada Sean Melvin Atlético Ottawa

    Awards

    Team of the Week
    Team of the Week
    Dates Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards Ref
    April 15–16 Canada Irving (Vancouver)
    		[16]
    April 22-23 Canada Irving (Vancouver) England Bakare (Vancouver)

    Spain Espejo (Ottawa)

    Canada Romeo (Vancouver)

    Canada de Brienne (Valour)

    		 Canada Gutiérrez (Valour)

    Canada Young (Pacific)

    Netherlands Sellouf (Pacific)

    Lebanon Bitar (Vancouver)

    Canada Ferrin (HFX)

    		 Canada Hundal (Vancouver) [17]
    April 29-30 Canada Giantsopoulos (York) Canada Gee (York)

    Canada James (Forge)

    Canada Morgan (Forge)

    		 Cuba Baquero (Valour)

    Canada Chung (Vancouver)

    Mali Sissoko (Forge)

    Mexico Sandoval (Vancouver)

    		 Somalia Musse (Cavalry)

    Syria Babouli (York)

    France Collomb (HFX)

    		 [18]
    May 5-7 Canada Henry (Forge) Canada Mukumbilwa (Pacific)

    Canada Didic (Pacific)

    England Bakare (Vancouver)

    		 Netherlands Sellouf (Pacific)

    Canada Aparicio (Pacific)

    Canada Campbell (Valour)

    Canada Borges (Forge)

    		 Netherlands Daniels (Pacific)

    Canada Campbell (Forge)

    Canada Heard (Pacific)

    		 [19]
    May 13-14 Canada Melvin (Ottawa) Canada de Brienne (Valour)

    Canada Didic (Pacific)

    Canada Meilleur-Giguère (Pacific)

    Canada Assi (Ottawa)

    		 Canada Verhoven (Ottawa)

    Canada Young (Pacific)

    Northern Ireland Bassett (Ottawa)

    Somalia Musse (Cavalry)

    		 Canada Hamilton (Forge)

    Canada Reid (Pacific)

    		 [20]

    Player transfers
    Main article: List of Canadian Premier League transfers 2023

    U Sports Draft

    The 2023 CPL–U Sports Draft took place on December 15, 2022. Each team made two picks in the draft for a total of 16 selections with expansion club Vancouver FC selecting first.[21]

    Foreign players
    Main article: List of foreign CPL players

    Canadian Premier League teams can sign a maximum of seven international players, out of which only five can be in the starting line-up for each match. Teams are required to carry a minimum of four international players, either signed through or approved by the league's scouting partner, 21st Club.[22] At least 50% of a team's international players must be U23 at all times. If a club wishes to utilize the maximum 7 slots, the 7th player must be U21.[23]

    The following international players have signed for the 2023 season. Note that players may be considered domestic for CPL purposes (Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or refugees) while still representing other countries in international competitions.[24]

    Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Player 7 Injured players[upper-alpha 2]
    Atlético Ottawa Spain Miguel Acosta Northern Ireland Ollie Bassett Spain Diego Espejo Cape Verde Gianni dos Santos France Aboubakary Sacko
    Cavalry Honduras José Escalante Netherlands Daan Klomp Republic of Ireland Joe Mason Spain Roberto Alarcón Australia Jesse Daley Nigeria Udoka Chima
    Forge Sweden Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson England Malik Owolabi-Belewu Albania Rezart Rama
    HFX Wanderers Trinidad and Tobago Andre Rampersad England Lifumpa Mwandwe France Lorenzo Callegari England Callum Watson France Théo Collomb Nigeria Kosi Nwafornso Brazil João Morelli
    Pacific Netherlands Djenairo Daniels Netherlands Bradley Vliet Netherlands Ayman Sellouf Portugal David Brazão The Gambia Kekuta Manneh
    Valour Haiti Andrew Jean-Baptiste Chile Walter Ponce Colombia Kevin Rendón Burundi Pacifique Niyongabire England Kian Williams Jordan Jaime Siaj
    Vancouver Belize Eugene Martínez Mexico Gael Sandoval Ghana Nicky Gyimah South Korea Min-jae Kwak England Ibrahim Bakare France Emmanuel Robe
    York United Australia Tass Mourdoukoutas Portugal Kévin dos Santos Netherlands Lassana Faye Netherlands Oussama Alou Liberia Brem Soumaoro

    Players in italic denote players new to their respective clubs for the 2023 season, sorted chronologically by their announcement.

    2024 CONCACAF Champions League

    The 2023 CPL playoff champion and 2023 CPL regular season champion will both earn berths in the newly expanded 2024 CONCACAF Champions League, competing against teams from across North America, Central America and Caribbean for a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup.[1] Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions League is also available to CPL clubs by winning the Canadian Championship.

    Should a CPL club hold multiple CCL qualification slots, then the CPL club(s) which has accumulated the most regular season league points will earn the remaining slot(s).[25]

    Method Qualified team
    Canadian Championship winner TBD
    CPL champion TBD
    CPL regular season winner TBD

    Notes
    1. The attendances for Atlético - York (April 29) and Atlético - Pacific (May 5) have not been announced
    2. Foreign players on the season-ending injury list can be replaced on the active roster

      References
      1. Davidson, Neil (September 21, 2021). "CONCACAF expands its flagship Champions League club competition". CBC Sports. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
      2. "Canadian Premier League Announces Expansion in Vancouver". Canadian Premier League. November 10, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
      3. "Canadian Premier League terminates Fath Sports' right to operate FC Edmonton". Canadian Premier League. November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
      4. "Canadian Premier League Announces Increases to Salary Cap". Canadian Premier League. November 8, 2022.
      5. Kanygin, Jordan. "New 12,000-seat soccer stadium part of Spruce Meadows future plan". CTV News Calgary. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
      6. "First Look: Atletico Ottawa's New Primary Kit". Northern Tribune. March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
      7. Jacques, John (November 10, 2022). "Banking On Soccer: CIBC Inks Multi-Year Deal With CPL". Northern Tribune. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
      8. "Canadian Premier League signs TELUS as Multi-Year Partner". Canadian Premier League. April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
      9. "Vancouver FC unveils kits for inaugural season". Canadian Premier League. March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
      10. "York United announces Carlsberg as front of jersey sponsor for 2023". York United. November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
      11. "2023 CPL Competition Guidelines". Canadian Premier League. March 17, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
      12. Jacques, John (15 March 2023). "The Majority Of CPL Teams Will Be Included In New Playoff Format". Northern Tribune. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
      13. "2023 CPL players statistics". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
      14. "2023 CPL players statistics - team play". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
      15. "2023 CPL goalkeepers statistics". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
      16. "Gatorade Team of the Week (Week 1)". Canadian Premier League. 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
      17. "Gatorade Team of the Week (Week 2)". Canadian Premier League. 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
      18. "Gatorade Team of the Week (Week 3)". Canadian Premier League. 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
      19. "Gatorade Team of the Week (Week 4)". Canadian Premier League. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
      20. "Gatorade Team of the Week (Week 5)". Canadian Premier League. 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
      21. "Canadian Premier League Announces 2023 CPL-U Sports Draft Presented By Degree". Canadian Premier League. November 24, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
      22. @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.
      23. "2023 CPL Roster Rules & Regulations". Canadian Premier League. March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
      24. "2023 CPL Roster Tracker". Northern Tribune. December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
      25. "Concacaf announces qualification criteria for Confederation's expanded Champions League starting in 2024". CONCACAF. June 30, 2022 [First published June 1, 2022]. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
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