1997 Canadian National Soccer League season

The 1997 Canadian National Soccer League season was the seventy fifth season for the Canadian National Soccer League. The season began on June 4, 1997, and concluded on October 8, 1997, with St. Catharines Roma Wolves defeating Toronto Supra in a two-game series for the CNSL Championship.[1] While the league cup was awarded to Toronto Supra due to several irregularities on behave of Kosova Albanians.

Canadian National Soccer League
Season1997
Champions
  • St. Catharines Roma Wolves (regular season)
  • St. Catharines Roma Wolves (playoffs, 3rd title)
League cupToronto Supra
Matches played24
Goals scored49 (2.04 per match)
Biggest home winToronto Supra 6-0 London City (July 13)
Biggest away winLondon City 0-8 Toronto Supra (June 20)
Highest scoringLondon City 0-8 Toronto Supra (June 20)
1996

The season was noteworthy with the return of Toronto Croatia, and Hamilton White Eagles after the Canadian International Soccer League (Puma League) decided to merge with the CNSL. A notable departure was Toronto Italia a well distinguished club who had another opportunity in 1998 to return to the professional scene, but failed to settle disputes regarding territory and league policy.[2][3] The league operated as a private league for the final time, and under the banner of the CNSL as it reconciled its relationship with the Ontario Soccer Association in 1998.[4] The following season it would operate as the Canadian Professional Soccer League sanctioned by the Ontario Soccer Association in order to implement the Image of the Game report to provide a suitable professional soccer structure in Ontario and potentially throughout the country.[5][6]

Overview

Summary

The amount of clubs participating in the 1997 season remained seven as the previous season with several notable additions, and departures. As the Canadian International Soccer League (Puma League) merged with the Canadian National Soccer League (CNSL) it marked the return of Toronto Croatia, Hamilton White Eagles, and with Kosova Albanians as a new entry.[7] A notable absence was the departure of well-established Toronto Italia, which was a result of a feud with Toronto Croatia stemming from the an alleged debt owed to the latter from the 1995 season.[8][9][10] Meanwhile, after a single season in the CNSL Oakville Canadian Western ceased operations. While Scarborough Astros merged with North York Talons and played their home matches in North York, and Scarborough.

As the USISL A-League expanded to include the Toronto Lynx the CNSL began to automatically serve as an unofficial feeder system with Peter Pinizzotto, and several CNSL players being recruited to the inaugural roster.[11][12] The league received this official recognition in the 2002 season under its successor league.[13][14] Throughout the on-field activities St. Catharines Roma Wolves secured the final CNSL Championship, the club's third title after defeating Toronto Supra.[15] Controversies abounded throughout the season as a league meeting was convened in the final quarters of the season, which resulted in the suspension of Hamilton, and North York for the remainder of the season.[16] While the final five matches of the regular season were canceled, which allowed all remaining clubs a berth in the postseason.[16]

Teams

Team City Stadium Manager
Hamilton White Eagles Hamilton, Ontario Brian Timmis Stadium
Kosova Albanians North York, Ontario Esther Shiner Stadium Jose Valencia[17]
London City London, Ontario Cove Road Stadium Steve Roney[18]
North York Talons North York, Ontario

Scarborough, Ontario

Esther Shiner Stadium

Birchmount Stadium

Jorge Armua[19]
St. Catharines Roma Wolves St. Catharines, Ontario (Vansickle) Club Roma Stadium Dino Perri[20]
Toronto Croatia Etobicoke, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium Zlatko Haramincic
Toronto Supra Toronto, Ontario Lamport Stadium Cesar Garcia[21]

Final standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 St. Catharines Roma Wolves (C, O) 7 7 0 0 18 4 +14 21 Qualification for Playoffs
2 Toronto Croatia 7 2 2 3 6 8 2 8
3 Toronto Supra 4 2 1 1 15 2 +13 7
4 Kosova Albanians 5 1 2 2 6 8 2 5
5 London City 7 0 1 6 4 27 23 1
Updated to match(es) played on September 7, 1997. Source: [22]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner.

Playoffs

First round

September 12, 1997 Toronto Supra4–0Toronto CroatiaToronto, Ontario
20:00 ET
(Report) Stadium: Lamport Stadium
Attendance: 80
Referee: Graham Williams
September 17, 1997 Toronto Croatia1–4Toronto SupraEtobicoke, Ontario
20:00 ET  5' (o.g.) (Report)
Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium
Attendance: 50
Referee: Yakov Keimakh

Kosova wins two 15 minute half mini game 1-0 to win tiebreaker in this series.

September 14, 1997 Kosova Albanians0–3London CityNorth York, Ontario
18:00 ET (Report)
  • Peter Paterson  81'
  • John Williams  85'
  • Howard Buchanan  89'
Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 30
Referee: Mike Long
September 19, 1997 London City1–2Kosova AlbaniansLondon, Ontario
20:00 ET (Report) Stadium: Cove Road Stadium

Second round

September 24, 1997 St. Catharines Roma Wolves2–1Kosova AlbaniansSt. Catharines, Ontario
20:00 ET (Report) Stadium: Club Roma Stadium
September 29, 1997 Kosova Albanians3–3St. Catharines Roma WolvesNorth York, Ontario
20:00 ET
  • Garvin Huston  50'
  • Sean Carasquero  68'
  • Jose Pisco  78'
(Report)
  • Hughes  3'
  • Bobby Pretto  62'
  • Gary McGuchan  64'
Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 30
Referee: Yakov Keimakh

Finals

Toronto Supra0–0St. Catharines Roma Wolves
Report
Lamport Stadium, Toronto, Ontario
Referee: Madi Tamashi

Assistant referees:
Ivan Calic
Yakov Keimakh

St. Catharines Roma Wolves4–3Toronto Supra
Report
Club Roma Stadium, St. Catharines, Ontario
Attendance: 400
Referee: Graham Williams

Assistant referees:
Stuart Kelly
Ken Thomas

St. Catharines won 4–3 on aggregate.

Cup

The cup tournament was a separate contest from the rest of the season, in which all seven teams took part. All the matches were separate from the regular season. Teams played each other once home and away in the Cup competition, and the first place team would win the Cup competition.

Originally Kosova won the tournament after finishing first in the standings as a result of a greater goal differential.[28] Shortly after league executives ordered a single finals match to determine the champion. The decision was influenced after Kosova's president was required to provide a performance cheque for a player who was involved in an altercation with a referee in an earlier match.[29] League executive Michael Di Biase reported that the club officials failed in properly addressing the request.[30] Though Toronto Croatia finished with similar results they were disqualified after using an ineligible player. As Hamilton, and North York were suspended from league play the suspension also included their participation in the cup tournament.

In the postseason semifinal match against St. Catharines Roma Wolves the game was delayed when Kosova's president declared his club as cup champions after presenting a trophy to Kosova.[31] Consequently, the league officials canceled the final match, and automatically declared Toronto Supra as league cup champions. In response to the decision Kosova protested the league's actions, and subsequently withdrew from the CNSL.

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Kosova Albanians 8 4 2 2 21 11 +10 14 Qualification for Playoffs
2 Toronto Supra (C) 8 4 2 2 21 14 +7 14
3 Toronto Croatia 8 4 2 2 14 12 +2 14
4 St. Catharines Roma Wolves 8 3 2 3 13 13 0 11
5 London City 8 1 1 6 9 28 19 4
Updated to match(es) played on September 7, 1997. Source: http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/97cnsl14.htm
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion.

Matches

June 13, 1997 London City0–4North York TalonsLondon, Ontario
20:00 Report Stadium: Cove Road Stadium
June 18, 1997 St. Catharines Roma Wolves2–1North York TalonsSt. Catharines, Ontario
20:15 Report Stadium: Club Roma Stadium
June 29, 1997 Toronto Supra8–1London CityToronto, Ontario
19:30
Report Gebczynski  40' Stadium: Lamport Stadium
Attendance: 150
Referee: Gene Bainbridge
July 2, 1997 St. Catharines Roma Wolves2–0London CitySt. Catharines, Ontario
20:15 Report Stadium: Club Roma Stadium
July 9, 1997 St. Catharines Roma Wolves3–0Hamilton White EaglesSt. Catharines, Ontario
20:15 Report Stadium: Club Roma Stadium
July 9, 1997 Toronto Croatia2–0North York TalonsEtobicoke, Ontario
20:00
  • Darko Pantolon  27'
  • Ante Musa  30'
Report Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Hugh Elliott
July 11, 1997 London City2–1Toronto CroatiaLondon, Ontario
20:00 Report Stadium: Cove Road Stadium
July 12, 1997 Kosova Albanians0–1North York TalonsNorth York, Ontario
20:00 Report Gary DeLeon  46' Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Referee: Teddy Tanashi
July 16, 1997 St. Catharines Roma Wolves0–1Toronto CroatiaSt. Catharines, Ontario
20:15 Report Stadium: Club Roma Stadium
July 18, 1997 Toronto Supra3–0North York TalonsToronto, Ontario
20:30
  • Handsor  71',  79'
  • Marcelo Castillo  88'
Report Stadium: Lamport Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Hugh Grant
July 20, 1997 North York Talons1–1Toronto CroatiaNorth York, Ontario
16:00 Gary DeLeon  54' Report Ante Musa  20' Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 60
Referee: Peter Eleftehoglou
July 20, 1997 Hamilton White Eagles1–1St. Catharines Roma WolvesHamilton, Ontario
19:30 Report Stadium: Brian Timmis Stadium
July 23, 1997 North York Talons0–3Kosova AlbaniansScarborough, Ontario
20:00 Report Stadium: Birchmount Stadium
July 25, 1997 London City2–2Toronto SupraLondon, Ontario
20:00 Report Stadium: Cove Road Stadium
July 26, 1997 Kosova Albanians1–1St. Catharines Roma WolvesNorth York, Ontario
20:00 Gentian Cara  63' Report Gary McCuchan  42' Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 80
Referee: Yakov Keimakh
July 27, 1997 North York Talons0–2London CityNorth York, Ontario
16:00 Report Dominique  9',  41' Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 30
Referee: Yakov Keimakh
July 27, 1997 Hamilton White Eagles0–1Toronto SupraHamilton, Ontario
19:30 Report Stadium: Brian Timmis Stadium
July 30, 1997 Toronto Croatia3–1Toronto SupraEtobicoke, Ontario
20:00
  • Iglic  4'
  • Bulku  40'
  • John Marsonovic  79'
Report Mella  87' Stadium: Brian Timmis Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Graham Williams
July 30, 1997 St. Catharines Roma Wolves1–2Kosova AlbaniansSt. Catharines, Ontario
20:15 Report Stadium: Club Roma Stadium
August 2, 1997 Kosova Albanians2–4Toronto SupraNorth York, Ontario
20:00
  • Martin Quiroz  8'
  • Garvin Huston  41'
Report
  • Mella  1'
  • Henrique Ferreira  38'
  • Jason Faria  82'
  • Moore  91'
Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 80
Referee: Yakov Keimakh
August 6, 1997 Toronto Croatia1–3St. Catharines Roma WolvesEtobicoke, Ontario
20:00 Report Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium
August 8, 1997 London City2–3St. Catharines Roma WolvesLondon, Ontario
20:00 Report Stadium: Cove Road Stadium
August 9, 1997 Kosova Albanians4–4Toronto CroatiaNorth York, Ontario
20:00
  • Yuri Castillo  15'
  • Biron Vargas  20',  35'
  • Marco Ponce  47'
Report
  • Tomi Milkovic  50'
  • Ante Musa  62'
  • Ivica Zelic  64'
  • Zoran Maryanovic  73'
Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Referee: Yakov Keimakh
August 13, 1997 Toronto Croatia1–0Kosova AlbaniansEtobicoke, Ontario
20:00 Zoran Marjanovic  34' Report Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Yakov Keimakh
August 15, 1997 Toronto Supra0–0Toronto CroatiaToronto, Ontario
20:30 Report Stadium: Lamport Stadium
Attendance: 100
August 22, 1997 Toronto Supra0–3Kosova AlbaniansToronto, Ontario
20:30 Report
  • Garvin Huston  34'
  • Gentian Cara  79'
  • Biron Vargas  87'
Stadium: Lamport Stadium
Attendance: 100
August 27, 1997 Toronto Croatia3–2London CityEtobicoke, Ontario
20:00
  • Ante Bralo  5'
  • Ante Musa  19'
  • Leo Marasovic  84'
Report
  • Michael Gauthier  27'
  • Tonino Commisso  78'
Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Ken Thomas
August 27, 1997 St. Catharines Roma Wolves1–2Toronto SupraSt. Catharines, Ontario
20:15 Report Stadium: Club Roma Stadium
August 29, 1997 London City0–2Kosova AlbaniansLondon, Ontario
20:00 Report Stadium: Cove Road Stadium
September 7, 1997 Kosova Albanians7–0London CityNorth York, Ontario
18:00
  • Biron Vargas  13',  51',  57',  90'
  • Francis Rigoult  34'
  • Garvin Huston  55'
  • Sean Carasquero  91'
Report Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Valentine Karagine
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References

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  7. McGill, Aldwyn. Aldwynable - Vintage Midget. Star Soccer Review. p. 88.
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  12. Mauntah, Richard (April 4, 1997). "Lynx go on the prowl for fans". Financial Post. p. 48.
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  27. "Luciano Beradocco". Niagara College. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
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