2020 Canadian Premier League season
The 2020 Canadian Premier League season is the second season of the Canadian Premier League, the top level of Canadian soccer.
Season | 2020 |
---|---|
Dates | August 13 – September 6, 2020 (first stage) TBD September, 2020 (group stage) TBD September, 2020 (final) |
Matches played | 3 |
Goals scored | 12 (4 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Twelve players tied (1 goal each) |
Highest scoring | Forge FC 2–2 Cavalry FC (August 13) York9 2–2 Atlético Ottawa (August 15) HFX Wanderers 2–2 Pacific FC (August 15) |
← 2019 2021 →
All statistics correct as of August 15, 2020. |
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CPL announced a 14-day hold on all pre-season training on March 13, 2020.[1] On March 20, the league announced that it would be postponing the start of the season from the previously scheduled date of April 11.[2]
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.[3][4][5]
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.[6]
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.[7][8][9]
Personnel and sponsorship
Team | Head coach | Captain(s) | Shirt sponsor | Kit manufacturer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Atlético Ottawa | OneSoccer | Macron | ||
Cavalry | WestJet | |||
FC Edmonton | Swoop | |||
Forge | Tim Hortons | |||
HFX Wanderers | Volkswagen | |||
Pacific | Volkswagen | |||
Valour | OneSoccer | |||
York9 | 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 |
First stage
The split-season spring/fall format of the inaugural season is replaced in 2020 by a single table and a single round-robin. The eight teams will meet their rivals once each.
Table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Atlético Ottawa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | Advance to group stage |
1 | Cavalry | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
1 | Forge | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
1 | HFX Wanderers | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
1 | Pacific | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
1 | York9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
7 | FC Edmonton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
8 | Valour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Results
Group stage
Table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | A1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to final |
2 | A2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
3 | A3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
4 | A4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Results
Final
A1 | v | A2 |
---|---|---|
Statistical leaders
- As of August 15, 2020
Top scorers
Source:[12] |
Top assists
Source:[12]
|
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.[13] 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.[14]
Club | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Player 4 | Player 5 | Player 6 | Player 7 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlético Ottawa | |||||||
Cavalry | |||||||
FC Edmonton | |||||||
Forge | |||||||
HFX Wanderers | |||||||
Pacific | |||||||
Valour | |||||||
York9 |
Players in italic denote players new to their respective clubs for the 2020 season, sorted chronologically by their announcement.
See also
References
- "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.
- "P.E.I. to host Canadian pro soccer league season starting Aug. 13". CBC News. July 29, 2020.
- "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.
- Thompson, Marty [@martythompson_] (August 12, 2020). "Confirmed: #CanPL tiebreakers for The Island Games... 1. Head-to-head 2. Goal diff. 3. Goals for 4. Total # of wins 5. *Most U-21 minutes* in round 6. Coin toss or drawing of lots" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- Thompson, Marty [@martythompson_] (August 12, 2020). "Confirmed: #CanPL tiebreakers for The Island Games... 1. Head-to-head 2. Goal diff. 3. Goals for 4. Total # of wins 5. *Most U-21 minutes* in round 6. Coin toss or drawing of lots" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "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.