1998 Canadian Professional Soccer League season

Canadian Professional Soccer League
Season 1998
Champions St. Catharines Wolves
Regular Season title Toronto Olympians
Matches played 56
Goals scored 270 (4.82 per match)
Top goalscorer Canada Gus Kouzmanis (Toronto Olympians)
Biggest home win Toronto Olympians 12-0 York Region Shooters
Biggest away win Toronto Croatia 0-10 Toronto Olympians
1999 →

The inaugural 1998 Canadian Professional Soccer League season began on May 31, 1998, and concluded on October 14, 1998, with the St. Catharines Wolves defeating the Toronto Olympians in 4-2 victory in a penalty shootout to claim the first CPSL Championship held at Centennial Park Stadium in Toronto, Ontario.[1]Though Toronto was denied the treble they still managed to go undefeated the entire regular season, and dominate the league with the best offensive and defensive record.

The CPSL was created by an alliance forged by the Ontario Soccer Association with the Canadian National Soccer League in order to implement the Image of the Game Report to provide a suitable professional soccer structure in Ontario and potentially throughout the country for the development of players and to serve as a preliminary league for the North American top tier leagues. During the initial stages of the formation of the league it faced certain difficulties as the schedule was finalized just two weeks prior kickoff. The scheduling problem revolved mainly around the status of Toronto Italia as it disagreed with the league's policy and territory rights.[2] Though they applied for membership it was challenged by Toronto Croatia over alleged debts being owned to them from the 1995 CNSL season. After refusing to pay the debt Italia withdrew and were refunded of its membership application fee, as a result the CPSL lost one of the country's most prestige clubs.[3] In addition the league received sponsorship from Adidas, Labatt, and Coffee Time.[4][5]

Overview

Origins and foundation (1993–98)

After the demise of the Canadian Soccer League in 1992 Canada was without a Division I national professional league. The Canadian soccer landscape was fractured into several different foreign and regional senior leagues. When the CSL ceased operations three of their clubs the Vancouver Whitecaps, Toronto Blizzard, and Montreal Supra joined the American Professional Soccer League, which at the time was constituted as the highest tier league in the Canadian soccer structure.[6] While the remaining clubs with the exception of London Lasers joined the National Soccer League the country's oldest and only exclusively Canadian professional league.[7] After the addition of the Winnipeg Fury it changed its name to the Canadian National Soccer League.

Though the CNSL was primarily based in Ontario it operated as a private league for several years after a heated dispute with the Ontario Soccer Association.[8] While other provinces operated with a top senior amateur league Ontario had its own senior league, but was without a sanctioned professional league for its amateur players as the CNSL was considered an outlaw league by the OSA. As a result the OSA completed a study named the Image of the Game in 1995/1996, which led to the plans of launching the Ontario Professional Soccer League as a Division III league in the Canadian soccer league system.[9][10] As the OSA failed to bring their project to fruition they settled their differences with the CNSL and formed an alliance to launch the Canadian Professional Soccer League beginning with an Ontario division.[11]

The CPSL would serve as the link between the provincial senior leagues to the USL A-League/USISL clubs, and provide opportunities for the development of youth players and referees.[12][13]The intention of the league was to form regional divisions under the CPSL banner with each divisional champion competing in a playoff format for the championship. Michael Di Biase the CNSL president would serve as the commissioner, and OSA administrator Bill Spiers was named the league's chairman.[14] The founding members included four CNSL clubs London City, North York Astros, St. Catharines Wolves, Toronto Croatia, and four of the OPSL teams Glen Shields, Mississauga Eagles, Toronto Olympians, and York Region Shooters.[15] While the remaining CNSL teams like Toronto Italia, Toronto Supra, and Kosvo Albanians failed in successfully applying for membership.[16]

Organization

Regulations

The Canadian Professional Soccer League was formed as a result of merger between the OSA stillborn Ontario Professional Soccer League with the Canadian National Soccer League. The original purpose of the alliance was to provide young players an opportunity to embark on a professional career. Originally operated in Ontario with the intention of expanding nationally with a similar provincial setup. Some of these regulations included:[9][11]

Teams

Team City Stadium Manager
Glen Shields Vaughan, Ontario (Thornhill) Dufferin District Field Dave Benning
London City London, Ontario (Westmount) Cove Road Stadium Harry Gauss
Mississauga Eagles P.S.C. Mississauga, Ontario (Malton) Wildwood Park Josef Komlodi
North York Astros Toronto, Ontario (North York) Esther Shiner Stadium Jorge Armua[17]
St. Catharines Wolves St. Catharines, Ontario (Vansickle) Club Roma Stadium Dino Perri
Toronto Croatia Toronto, Ontario (Etobicoke) Centennial Park Stadium Rudolf Belin
Toronto Olympians Toronto, Ontario (Scarborough) Birchmount Stadium David Gee
York Region Shooters Aurora, Ontario (Aurora Village) Highland Park Sam Foti

Vaughan
London
Mississauga
St. Catharines
Aurora
TORONTO
Location of CPSL teams outside of Toronto for the 1998 CPSL season.
Toronto Olympians
Toronto Croatia
North York Astros
Glen Shields
Location of CPSL teams in Toronto for the 1998 CPSL season.

Final standings

Pos
 Team
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Pts
1 Toronto Olympians (C) (A) 14 13 1 0 73 6 +67 40 Qualification for Playoffs
2 St. Catharines Wolves (O) (A) 14 8 3 3 31 26 +5 27
3 Glen Shields (A) 14 6 3 5 26 27 −1 21
4 North York Astros (A) 14 6 1 7 34 30 +4 19
5 York Region Shooters 14 5 2 7 30 44 −14 17
6 London City 14 4 3 7 27 42 −15 15
7 Mississauga Eagles P.S.C. 14 3 1 10 29 44 −15 10
8 Toronto Croatia 14 2 4 8 20 51 −31 10

Updated to games played on September 30, 1998.
Source: http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/98cpwk18.htm
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Rogers Cup playoffs

Bracket

Semifinals Final
          
1 Toronto Olympians 5 2 7
4 North York Astros 1 0 1
1 Toronto Olympians     2 (2)
4 St. Catharines Wolves     2 (4)
2 St. Catharines Wolves 1 4 5
3 Glen Shields 1 0 1

Semifinals

Toronto Olympians advanced to the semi-final as a result of a 2-0 forfeit.

CPSL Championship

October 14
8:15 ET
Toronto Olympians 2–2 St. Catharines Wolves
Eddy Berdusco  58'
Eddy Berdusco  84'		 Report Keith Moore  2'
Gary McGuchan  88'
  Penalties  
Kouzmanis
Eddy Berdusco
Dino Lopez
Ian Cardey 		2 – 4 Keith Moore
Joe Carbonara
Carlo Arghittu
Gary McGutchan
Lucio Ianiero
Centennial Park Stadium
Attendance: 80
Referee: Gordon Arrowsmith (Ontario)
GK 1Canada Brian Bowes
RB 18Canada Dino Lopez
CB 4 Canada Ian Cardey
LB 5Canada Tony Marshall
RM 6Canada Peyvand Mossavat  59'
CM 20 Canada Danny Ziannis
CM 7China Gong Lei
LM 16New Zealand Daryl Holmes
ST 23 Canada Eddy Berdusco
ST 11Canada Gus Kouzmanis
ST 17Canada John Matas
Substitutes:
DF 12Canada Louie Oroutzaglou
DF 15 Canada Louie Katsavrias
MF 2Canada Ron Belfon  59'
Manager:
England David Gee
GK 1Canada Dino Perri
RB 10 Canada Tony Carbonara
CB 4 Canada Albert Reinhart
CB 7Canada John McNeil
LB 11 Canada John Sozio
RM 19 Canada Joe Carbonara
CM 13Canada Lucio Ianiero
CM 5Canada Keith Moore
LM 22Canada Gary McGuchan
CF 9Canada Jerry Cipriani  69'
CF 18 Canada Carlo Arghittu
Substitutes:
DF 5Canada John Orme  69'
MF 17Canada Marco Antonio Marino
FW 15Canada Luciano Berardocco
FW 14Canada Anwar Ahmad
Manager:
Canada Dino Perri

Assistant referees:
Glenn Sharkey
Zack Kontoulis

1998 scoring leaders

Full article: CSL Golden Boot[18]
Position Player's name Nationality Club Goals
1 Gus Kouzmanis Canada Toronto Olympians 33
2 Eddy Berdusco Canada Toronto Olympians 19
3 Gong Lei China Toronto Olympians 17
4 Gary McGuchan Canada St. Catharines Wolves 15
5 Ivan Jurisic Serbia North York Astros 12
6 Carlo Arghittu Canada St. Catharines Wolves 12

CPSL Executive Committee

The 1998 CPSL Executive Committee.

Position Name Nationality
Chairman: Bill Spiers England English
Commissioner: Michael Di Biase Canada Canadian
Committee Member: Peter Li Preti Canada Canadian
Committee Member: Walter Kircher Canada Canadian
Committee Member: Brian Avey Canada Canadian

Individual awards

David Gee was named the Coach of the Year

The CPSL presented their inaugural team awards on December 18, 1998 at the Soccer Centre in Woodbridge, Ontario.[19] The majority of the awards were taken by the former CNSL teams with North York Astros, St. Catharines Wolves, and London City receiving four awards. While the Toronto Olympians with London City won the most awards with two wins. After leading the Olympians to an undefeated regular season David Gee was named the Coach of the Year. The regular season champions had Gus Kouzmanis the 1996 CNSL Rookie of the Year win the Golden Boot.[20] For the third straight season London City managed to produce another Rookie of the Year with Tom Bianchi, and win the Fair Play award for being the most disciplined team.

The remainder of the awards went to North York, and St. Catharines with former CNSL veterans Dino Perri, and Rene Martin taking home the Goalkeeper and MVP awards. The league also gave recognition to the best official by introducing the Referee of the Year award with Bill Teeuwen being its first recipient.

Award Player (Club)
CPSL Most Valuable Player Rene Martin (North York Astros)
CPSL Golden Boot Gus Kouzmanis (Toronto Olympians)
CPSL Goalkeeper of the Year Award Dino Perri (St. Catharines Wolves)
CPSL Rookie of the Year Award Tom Bianchi (London City)
CPSL Coach of the Year Award David Gee (Toronto Olympians)
CPSL Referee of the Year Award Bill Teeuwen
CPSL Fair Play Award London City

References

  1. ↑ Rogers, Alison. "A perfect ending". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  2. ↑ Bailey, David (1999-10-07). "Italia Pulls Out". Canada Kicks -- News Story. Archived from the original on 1999-10-07. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  3. ↑ Bailey, David. "CPSL's Faltering First Steps". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Canada Kicks. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  4. ↑ Bailey, David. "CPSL Ready To Go". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Canada Kicks. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  5. ↑ Glover, Robin. "CPSL Press Conference Tuesday May 12, 1998". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  6. ↑ BROUSSEAU, Dave. "Toronto Joins Apsl". tribunedigital-sunsentinel. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  7. ↑ "History of Soccer in Ottawa, Canada & the World". 2012-02-07. Archived from the original on 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  8. ↑ "2000 - Nov. 23 - Players, teams clamouring to be a part of Soccer League". 2001-05-30. Archived from the original on 2001-05-30. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
  9. 1 2 Ault, Bill (1999-11-03). "Ontario's Own". Canada Kicks. Archived from the original on 1999-11-03. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  10. ↑ "About the CPSL". 2001-04-19. Archived from the original on 2001-04-19. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  11. 1 2 Da Costa, Norman. "Canada to kick off pro league in May.". Toronto Star.
  12. ↑ Ault, Bill (1999-10-23). "National Dream". Canada Kicks. Archived from the original on 1999-10-23. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  13. ↑ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2004-06-06. Archived from the original on 2004-06-06. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  14. ↑ Hendren, Paul (1999-02-19). "CPSL Reincarnated - The OSA joins forces with renegade league to get new league rolling.". Canada Kicks. Archived from the original on 1999-02-19. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  15. ↑ Bailey, David. "Italia Back In?". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Canada Kicks. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  16. ↑ Bailey, David. "Italia Out Let's Get On With It". Canada Kicks.
  17. ↑ "North York Astros Soccer Club Powered by Goalline Sports Administration Software". 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
  18. ↑ "Canada Kicks - CPSL Update". 1998-12-05. Archived from the original on 1998-12-05. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  19. ↑ Bailey, David. "Canada Kicks -- News Story: CPSL Awards Night". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-09. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
  20. ↑ Glover, Robin. "CNSL 75th Anniversary Annual Awards Gala.". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
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