Read more on the NSXI Network
- Read more...
- 9 comments
- 161 views
-
April 27th, 2019 was a day for all of us Canadian soccer fans to remember for a long, long time. Our wildest dreams came to fruition at Tim Hortons field, where Forge FC took on York 9 FC in the inaugural Canadian Premier League match. While the event was very much a celebration all-round, we all know that the Canadian Premier League has been split up into 2 seasons, and with this first Spring season lasting just 10 matches, this was a rather important match for both teams – not just a soccer celebration.
Read more on the NSXI Network
Saturday marks the first-ever game for the Canadian Premier League, but it's never too early to think about the future.
- Read more...
- 3 comments
- 501 views
On October 4, 1992, the Winnipeg Fury tied the Vancouver 86ers 1-1 and won the Canadian Soccer League title on aggregate. The next match in a Canadian national soccer league comes 9,701 days later, tomorrow, April 27, 2019. Forge FC versus York 9 (10 AM Pacific, CBC television). We’ve waited long enough.
Nobody knows how this league is going to shake out, and unusually for Canadian soccer, nobody pretends they know. We’re all excited. We’re all smashing rosters with the hammer of criticism on the anvil of looking players up on Wikipedia. I am trying to track publicly-made predictions, because that should be good for a laugh; in fact I can’t remember the last time I had this many laughs just reading about and listening to Canadian soccer takes. There are well-respected veteran pundits who were not alive the last time a national Canadian soccer league played a game and they’re gushing with the best of them. Enthusiasm is more contagious than measles in a Montessori.
This is Maple Leaf Forever!‘s official 2019 Canadian Premier League preview. Like all the others it is insane in spots, biased everywhere, and probably wrong more than it’s right. But who cares? Our hopes are unblemished by the scars of experience. Here’s the one prediction you can take to the bank: there won’t be many better years to be a Canadian soccer fan, ever, than the year 2019.
For more: https://www.maple-leaf-forever.com/2019/04/26/2019-canadian-premier-league-preview/
- Read more...
- 0 comments
- 143 views
Among the many questions that have consistently been asked everyone watching the development of the Canadian Premier League: will there be a fantasy game?
We briefly outline three options: the official CPL Centre Circle Q&A "Fantasy" game, our NSXI Score Prediction Fantasy Game, and @GuillermoDelQuarto's FanPL.
Learn all about it on the NSXI Network.
- Read more...
- 0 comments
- 71 views
Wherein Our Heroes participate in a panel, co-ordinated by the Northern 90’s very own Pat Sweet. Together with Pat, TSN 1290’s Ryan Brandt, and YouTube sensation AFC Curtis, we offer up our Canadian Premier League predictions based on nothing but sheer conjecture.
The Young Gaffers are proud members of the Northern Starting Eleven Network.
- Read more...
- 0 comments
- 91 views
.thumb.png.49a660d9b4ec1e5e1e66bcd9eaf3d0ed.png)
As we prepare for the premiere of the Premier league, it’s important to reflect on what came before. The league had a game of the week on TSN and had national attention, but it’s teams came in and out of the structure every winter.
...
Read more on the NSXI Network.
- Read more...
- 1 comment
- 158 views
The Canadian Premier League kick-off this coming Saturday will be our biggest event in some time. The entire domestic soccer community will be settling down at 1 PM Eastern, either in Forge FC’s stadium or in front of CBC television, to witness a new and hopefully more positive era in our nation’s game. This otherwise quite ordinary league fixture is making hearts across the Dominion beat a bit faster, like an Olympic semi-final.
Nothing could better herald this dawn than our mascots. Four of the Canadian Premier League’s seven teams have, in recent weeks, introduced us to new mascots who will stand as symbols for all time, representing the Canadian Premier League to ourselves and to the world. Canada’s national coat of arms is supported by a unicorn and a lion, representing the British heritage of our governance and our culture that goes back way before Confederation. Perhaps, in a couple centuries, some new country will bear arms supported by Bolt and Stewie the Starfish. It is scarcely less probable than the existence of the Canadian Premier League itself.
In honour of this joyous week I have decided to rank all of the league’s mascots so far, from best to worst. These ratings are entirely objective and based off a proprietary statistical algorithm developed by the Prince of Wales and tested by Maple Leaf Forever!‘s secret nerd hive in Sudbury-Thunder Bay. As a result its decisions are not to be argued with, only agreed on and amplified.
https://www.maple-leaf-forever.com/2019/04/25/power-ranking-the-canadian-premier-league-mascots/
- Read more...
- 6 comments
- 211 views
New WPSL expansion club, Vancouver Island FC announced their first three signings in club history on April 19th. Three players were named to the roster: Liz Gregg, Mariel Solsberg, and Alexis McKinty. Coached by Neil Sedgwick and Wes Barrett, the first tryouts were held on April 1st and the club has two more tryouts scheduled for late April.
Liz Gregg joins VIFC with a wealth of professional football experience including multiple seasons abroad with Doncaster Rovers Belles.
...
Continue reading on the NSXI Network.
- Read more...
- 0 comments
- 317 views
We don’t like life getting in the way of our sports.
Sports are supposed to shield us from the day-to-day irritations and stresses. They are our escape. So, when “real life” sneaks its way onto the playing fields many get angry.
“STICK TO SPORTS,” is the cry when someone tries to start a conversation about more serious topics. That’s a best case response. Worse?
“YOU’RE LYING/EXGGERATING/NEED TO SUCK IT UP.”
Often the voices calling to be heard are shouted down by those that just want to cheer.
We see this in soccer all the time, especially as it relates to racism. And, of course, as always, anything that has to do with women. It’s toxic when fans do this. It destroys lives when institutions do it.
Such is the case of Bob Birarda and the accusations of sexual misconduct and harassment made against him by, so far, 12 different women who were coached by him while part of the Canadian u20 program and Vancouver Whitecaps elite women’s team. The alleged incidents took place in and around 2008.
The 12 women came forward after Ciara McCormack published a blog detailing the abuse of power she witnessed while at the Whitecaps at that same time.
I won’t go into the details here as it is better stated by the 12 women and McCormack, but suffice to say it was horrific.
It also wasn’t a surprise to anyone that has been around Canadian soccer over the past decade. I first heard a version of this story about nine years ago. It’s been whispered by those “in the know” for years.
Yet, nothing ever was said publicly. Worse, nothing was done privately either. Prior to the accusations finally becoming public Birarda was still coaching women’s soccer for the club Coastal FC. He’s since been suspended by the club pending review of the accusations.
Over the past while, I’ve been thinking about why I never wrote or talked about these accusations publicly over the last decade. A fear of being sued likely played a role, but I was involved with a show in It’s Called Football (along with this website) that went after matchfixing (Ben Rycroft’s reporting leading the way), corruption in minor soccer (hello, Ben Knight) and talked openly about potential improprieties in Mo Johnston’s relationship with certain player agents.
In a previous job, I wrote a story accusing the Northern Ontario Minor Hockey Association of systemic racism against aboriginal players.
So, I’ve pushed the boundaries as a journalist before. Why didn’t I here?
I should have. And, I apologize for not doing so.
The question is one that I don’t yet know the answer to. But, it’s one that I, and everyone who heard the same whispers, needs to keep asking themselves so that it never happens again.
Ciara McCormack will be a guest on SoccerToday on Monday, live at 11am ET @SoccerTodaySPN
- Read more...
- 1 comment
- 960 views
It’s been 9,305 days. 310 months. 223,320 hours.
The Toronto Blue Jays were 20 days away from winning their first World Series. Bill Clinton was running for President.
And Canada had just lost its professional soccer league. When the Winnipeg Fury finished off their upset of the Vancouver 86ers on Oct 4, 1992, that was that. The dreams of the 1986 generation were dead and the dreams of the next were dead on arrival.
Although the game lived on at the D2 level and, eventually, MLS came to fill a tiny part of the void.
In exactly one month the long, hopeless, depressing walk in the woods will end. When Forge FC kicks-off against York 9 we can finally stop talking about what we don’t have and instead focus on what we might become.
In honour of the final 30 days without a pro soccer league here are the top 30 things I hope to see in CanPL over the next 5 years.
In 2019
30. A wonder goal makes the sports packages.
I don’t care who or what team, but in a year where building recognition is the most important thing I hope to see a goal or play crossover into the mainstream.
29. Someone dislikes someone
Sports aren’t fun without conflict. The league will arrive the day there’s some true anger and rivalry
28. I’m (or other neutral reporter) is accused of bias
I don’t have a horse in the race, but I look forward to being accused of it. That will mean fans are being irrational and fans should be irrational.
27. Barrett’s Privateers is sung in Halifax
I mean, come on.
26. The Fury get humbled
Sorry, Ottawa fans but the Fury represent every negative person out there who tells us its silly to care about this league. It would be great to put a few goals past them in the V-Cup.
25. Fury and CanPL make up
…and then see the two groups make up for the good of the sport
24. A mostly CanPL u23 team excels at Olympic Qualifying
Now, wouldn’t that be nice…
In 2020
23. The Fury join the fold
And all is forgiven
22. Quebec gets in
The league needs to be in French Canada and, especially, Quebec. Adding Ottawa and Montreal would be huge
21. A coaching change happens
I don’t wish to cheer for someone to lose their job, but the first coaching change that happens will be a sign of a healthy league – winning should matter.
20. Lower Mainland in
Three expansion teams might seem like a lot, but they brought seven in this year. Having a presence in all three major metros is important
19. A young player leaves for MLS
Establishing the league as a natural part of the player pathway is vital. It would be a huge success if a young player is poached by MLS in just the second year.
18. A V-Cup upset
One of TFC, VWFC or IMFC gets embarrassed in one leg of a series. It’s a bit early to hope for more, but that would be a great day for the league.
In 2021
17. CanWPL announced
Planning to start a women’s league begins in earnest
16. Full D3 coverage
The League1 Ontario concept is extended to all 10 provinces, with a national D3 championship determined
15. A rival for Winnipeg
One of Regina or Saskatoon joins to bring the league to 11
14. A rival for Halifax
One of Moncton or Quebec joins to bring the league to 12
13. Al-Classico featured in some cheesy ultras profile
It shouldn’t matter, but we’re lying if we don’t admit that we want the rest of the world to notice
12. WE QUALIFY TO QATAR!!!!!
Not fully CanPL related, but let’s allow ourselves to dream a little
In 2022
11. Kitchener-Waterloo joins
As one part of a SW Ontario expansion that hits the biggest population area still without a team
10. With London
And the 519 derby is born (just don’t call it that)
9. The women get a cup
Using the D3 teams along with a few CanPL senior women’s teams that are up and running the first women’s Voyageurs Cup is held
8. A player is sold to a Big 5 league team
This is what it is all about
7. Qatar
We score a goal and compete with honor. There are players on the roster that played in CanPL
6. CCL Fever
A Can PL wins the qualifying tournament and gets a shot at the region’s big boys
In 2023
5. Coast-to-coast
Welcome St. John’s!
4. The first 16 round out
The 16th team joins – lets say Mississauga or Scarborough to round-out the GTA
3. First evidence the league is part of our culture
“16-year-old Dave Smith said ‘I always dreamed of playing for Forge. My dad used to take me to the games.”
2. The Canadian Women’s Premier League kicks-off
To a stable and successful future…
1 – The plan to launch CanPL2 and Pro/Rel is announced
And we smugly hold it over US soccer Twitter’s heads.
- Read more...
- 2 comments
- 1,273 views
.thumb.png.49a660d9b4ec1e5e1e66bcd9eaf3d0ed.png)
-
Who's Online 24 Members, 0 Anonymous, 74 Guests (See full list)
-
-
Categories
-
Viewing Parties
WWC & GC*** Important. Due to the wide range of times these games are shown at and unfortunate collisions with local professional teams you MUST check to ensure the bar is open and the game is on.
Victoria - Yates Taphouse
Vancouver - Library Square
Calgary - Home & Away
Edmonton - Urban Tavern
Saskatoon - Finn's Pub
Regina - The Lobby
Winnipeg - Nicolina's
Toronto - Duke of Gloucester.
Ottawa - Senate Tavern on Bank
Hamilton - End Zone Pub
Montreal - Frappe
Halifax - Niche Lounge
Waterloo - RIM Park
Kitchener - Budd Park -
Raffles
-
-
Posts
-
By MM3/MM2/MM · Posted
Watched last 15-20 minutes of Chinese league game, entertaining finish, 3 goals by Paulinho, very poor defending by Dalian Yifang. -
By Gopherbashi · Posted
Black numbered column is the per-match price for year-long STH. Red/green column is how much more or less a fall-only STH pays -
Simmons age 21 at HFX is mysteriously overlooked. He is Rarely named in the pre game HFX line up predictions written up by the CPL editors yet he has started 12/16 games for them in the key position as DM. His highlights video went on you tube a few weeks back and I think he will be one of the few young players who will be snapped up by a big league club within 1-2 seasons as his technique, passing, intelligence and decision making is on another level, which is not surprising when you look closer at his development background in England and Sweden. https://youtu.be/9gOIxP-zflY -
I guess have only 178 players as they have listed Marcel de Jong twice (#88 and #101)??? -
As it appears that there are currently 179 Canadian players under contract with professional clubs, might as well complete the list here: # Player Age Nat. Club / league Matches Pts 101 Marcel de Jong Left-Back 31 Pacific FC Premier League Fall S. 0 0 0 0 102 Liam Fraser Defensive Midfield 20 Toronto FC MLS 8 0 0 0 103 Jordan Murrell Centre-Back 25 Valour FC Premier League Fall S. 10 0 0 0 104 Connor James Goalkeeper 21 FC Edmonton Premier League Fall S. 11 0 0 0 105 Daniel Gogarty Centre-Back 21 York9 FC Premier League Fall S. 10 0 0 0 106 David Norman Jr. Central Midfield 20 Vancouver MLS 0 0 0 0 107 Triston Henry Goalkeeper 24 Forge FC Premier League Fall S. 9 0 0 0 108 Matthew Baldisimo Defensive Midfield 20 Pacific FC Premier League Fall S. 11 0 0 0 109 Diyaeddine Abzi Left-Back 19 York9 FC Premier League Fall S. 11 0 0 0 110 Mason Trafford Centre-Back 31 Cavalry FC Premier League Fall S. 5 0 0 0 111 Brian Wright Centre-Forward 23 Revolution MLS 2 0 0 0 112 Skylar Thomas Centre-Back 24 Valour FC Premier League Fall S. 8 0 0 0 113 André Bona Right-Back 28 HFX Wanderers Premier League Fall S. 11 0 0 0 114 Tyson Farago Goalkeeper 27 Valour FC Premier League Fall S. 6 0 0 0 115 Matthew Arnone Centre-Back 24 HFX Wanderers Premier League Fall S. 9 0 0 0 116 Émile Legault Centre-Back 18 Pacific FC Premier League Fall S. 8 0 0 0 117 Allan Zebie Right-Back 25 FC Edmonton Premier League Fall S. 8 0 0 0 118 Dean Northover Right-Back 26 Cavalry FC Premier League Fall S. 8 0 0 0 119 Mark Village Goalkeeper 26 Pacific FC Premier League Fall S. 9 0 0 0 120 Dominic Samuel Centre-Back 23 Forge FC Premier League Fall S. 10 0 0 0 121 Elliot Simmons Defensive Midfield 20 HFX Wanderers Premier League Fall S. 8 0 0 0 122 Ajay Khabra Right Winger 23 FC Edmonton Premier League Fall S. 7 0 0 0 123 Lukas MacNaughton Centre-Back 23 Pacific FC Premier League Fall S. 7 0 0 0 124 Ndzemdzela Langwa Left-Back 20 HFX Wanderers Premier League Fall S. 10 0 0 0 125 Zachary Sukunda Right-Back 23 HFX Wanderers Premier League Fall S. 6 0 0 0 # Player Age Nat. Club / league Matches Pts 126 Alessandro Hojabrpour Defensive Midfield 17 Pacific FC Premier League Fall S. 7 0 0 0 127 Chrisnovic N'Sa Centre-Back 19 HFX Wanderers Premier League Fall S. 7 0 0 0 128 Manolis Zambazis Central Midfield 21 York9 FC Premier League Fall S. 1 0 0 0 129 Raphael Ohin Defensive Midfield 23 Valour FC Premier League Fall S. 5 0 0 0 130 Callum Montgomery Centre-Back 21 FC Dallas MLS 0 0 0 0 131 Julian Dunn-Johnson Centre-Back 17 Toronto FC MLS 0 0 0 0 132 Sean Melvin Goalkeeper 23 Vancouver MLS 0 0 0 0 133 Tomasz Skublak Centre-Forward 20 HFX Wanderers Premier League Fall S. 7 0 0 0 134 Simon Colyn Attacking Midfield 16 Vancouver MLS 0 0 0 0 135 Raphaël Garcia Right-Back 19 Valour FC Premier League Fall S. 4 0 0 0 136 Dylon Powley Goalkeeper 21 FC Edmonton Premier League Fall S. 0 0 0 0 137 Michael Baldisimo Defensive Midfield 18 Vancouver MLS 0 0 0 0 138 Matthew Silva Goalkeeper 27 York9 FC Premier League Fall S. 0 0 0 0 139 Niko Giantsopoulos Goalkeeper 24 Cavalry FC Premier League Fall S. 1 0 0 0 140 Zachary Verhoven Midfielder 19 Pacific FC Premier League Fall S. 6 0 0 0 141 Joseph Di Chiara Defensive Midfield 26 York9 FC Premier League Fall S. 7 0 0 0 142 Steven Furlano Right-Back 20 York9 FC Premier League Fall S. 5 0 0 0 143 Jonathan Grant Right-Back 24 Forge FC Premier League Fall S. 2 0 0 0 144 Mauro Eustaquio Central Midfield 25 Cavalry FC Premier League Fall S. 4 0 0 0 145 Philippe Lincourt-Joseph Attacking Midfield 23 FC Edmonton Premier League Fall S. 4 0 0 0 146 Cyrus Rollocks Centre-Forward 20 York9 FC Premier League Fall S. 8 0 0 0 147 Monti Mohsen Left-Back 18 Forge FC Premier League Fall S. 3 0 0 0 148 Malyk Hamilton Right Winger 18 Cavalry FC Premier League Fall S. 5 0 0 0 149 Christian Oxner Goalkeeper 21 HFX Wanderers Premier League Fall S. 3 0 0 0 150 Pedro Pacheco Central Midfield 34 Santa Clara Liga NOS 8 0 0 0 # Player Age Nat. Club / league Matches Pts 151 Nicolás Galvis Attacking Midfield 21 Valour FC Premier League Fall S. 5 0 0 0 152 David Doe Left Midfield 18 FC Edmonton Premier League Fall S. 3 0 0 0 153 Alex de Carolis Left-Back 25 HFX Wanderers Premier League Fall S. 5 0 0 0 154 Michael Cox Centre-Forward 25 York9 FC Premier League Fall S. 2 0 0 0 155 Carlos Patino Attacking Midfield 22 Cavalry FC Premier League Fall S. 3 0 0 0 156 Nolan Wirth Goalkeeper 23 Pacific FC Premier League Fall S. 2 0 0 0 157 Victor Loturi Central Midfield 17 Cavalry FC Premier League Fall S. 1 0 0 0 158 Roger Thompson Centre-Back 26 York9 FC Premier League Fall S. 3 0 0 0 159 Glenn Muenkat Left Midfield 19 Valour FC Premier League Fall S. 4 0 0 0 160 Randy Edwini-Bonsu Right Winger 28 FC Edmonton Premier League Fall S. 5 0 0 0 161 Klaidi Cela Centre-Back 18 Forge FC Premier League Fall S. 1 0 0 0 162 Theo Bair Centre-Forward 18 Vancouver MLS 4 0 0 0 163 Vincent Lamy Centre-Forward 18 HFX Wanderers Premier League Fall S. 3 0 0 0 164 Gabriel Bitar Left Winger 19 Cavalry FC Premier League Fall S. 1 0 0 0 165 Luca Ricci Defensive Midfield 20 Montreal Impact MLS 0 0 0 0 166 Federico Pena Right Winger 19 Valour FC Premier League Fall S. 4 0 0 0 167 Prince Amanda Midfielder 17 FC Edmonton Premier League Fall S. 0 0 0 0 168 Hanson Boakai Right Winger 21 FC Inter Veikkausliiga 2 0 0 0 169 Dayne St Clair Goalkeeper 21 Minnesota Utd. MLS 0 0 0 0 170 Scott Firth Midfielder 17 HFX Wanderers Premier League Fall S. 3 0 0 0 171 Ajeej Sarkaria Centre-Forward 23 FC Edmonton Premier League Fall S. 2 0 0 0 172 Benson Fazili Defensive Midfield 18 Metta Virsliga 10 0 0 0 173 Abd-El-Aziz Yousef Right Winger 18 HFX Wanderers Premier League Fall S. 0 0 0 0 174 Baj Maan Goalkeeper 17 Forge FC Premier League Fall S. 0 0 0 0 175 Chris Ezoua Goalkeeper 18 FC Edmonton Premier League Fall S. 0 0 0 0 # Player Age Nat. Club / league Matches Pts 176 Patryk Misik Central Midfield 23 Eastern Sub. New Zealand Premiership 1 0 0 0 177 Karifa Yao Centre-Back 17 Montreal Impact MLS 0 0 0 0 178 Tyrone Venhola Goalkeeper 23 Pacific FC Premier League Fall S. 0 0 0 0 179 Matthew Nogueira Goalkeeper 20 Marítimo Liga NOS 0 0 0 0
-
Pugh is more a minor partner compared to the rest of the ownership. It's probably Roger Greenberg and John Ruddy that are making most of the decisions and everything is filters through the RedBlack's lens. They have financial priority, follow probably equally by the 67's and the Fury. -
By CanadaFan123 · Posted
Richie Ennin eh? I believe he’s 20 and not sure of the Latvian league level but it looks like its time for a move to a higher level. He was top scorer for his team this past season and it looks like he played the wing. -
The Premier Podcast covers all things #CanPL. Hosted by Michael Miller, this podcast covers all Canadian Premier League related activities, with occasional interviews with players and other personalities revolving around this new CONCACAF Division-1 League. This week is a special French-language episode. Worry not, we will be back next week with our regular programming! Cette semaine, on y va d’une table ronde sur la CanPL et la Coupe Canadienne. Host, music, graphics and editing : Michael Miller Guests: Étienne Bouthillier, Justine Longpré & Julien Tardif Location: Montréal, Québec, Canada The Premier Podcast is a Kan Football Club podcast. Also Available at: Spotify | Apple | Google | iHeartRadio | Soundcloud | Spreaker | Podbean | Stitcher | Blubrry | TuneIn | Pocket Cast View full record
-
To the fans? It really shouldn't. May as well play against Timbuktoo and Whereareyou. To the FO, sure does. As the sole Canadian Team in the USL, they have a couple things they get to play off of: Direct line toward the MLS. Teams in the MLS, especially affiliate teams, look to the USL first to fill back bench positions. The direct affiliate provides a visible link to a pro contract Chest-thumping Canada vs USA action. As the only Canadian Team, Fury get to claim they're fighting back the American behemoth. That thrill we get whenever we beat the Americans at anything, is exactly what they're going for. In the capital, this need to beat the Americans should be even stronger. It doesn't really work out for the way FO expects/hopes, but that's just poor marketing. Provide a direct way to compare "Canadian Players" stack up against the USA Small fish, big pond As a small fish in a big pond, if they screw up, it doesn't matter much in the grand scheme of things. This allows for some experimentation on field or in operations. Fury are basically floated as a tax write-off by OSEG, but they would like to turn a profit on it someday. So they have some room to experiment and see if it happens. I would absolutely love for them to be a part of CanPL. I would also love to see a lot more French and even some Anishinaabemowin (though that's definitely a pipe dream). (Looped it back on topic for ya. )
-
By grasshopper1917 · Posted
1) I have already stated clearly this is the flag FIFA uses to represent Northern Ireland in international soccer matches. 2) I know well the lad who made the banner and he is a moderate who is against sectarianism and violence. (He also offered to attach the Irish tri-color to it if anyone thought it would be a problem). 3) There is no sectarianism in our group. We have Rangers supporters, Celtic supporters some good banter and we all get along. We have people from all countries, all religions and we all get along. I am at every game this is a fact - how many Halifax games have you been to? No one is playing with fire - no one in HALIFAX has a problem with it and no one from visiting clubs/supporters has ever had a problem with the Northern Irish flag being displayed. It seems like you are just trying to start and create a huge issue over literally nothing.
-
