This past week was a marquee one in the Canadian Premier League off-season as the 2024 CPL-U SPORTS Draft took place this past Thursday, while a day prior Forge and Cavalry learned their opponents for the first round of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. Meanwhile, the rosters and front offices for several clubs continued to take shape as Valour FC and York United, in particular, made some major announcements. All that and more ahead in this week’s edition of CPL Headlines:
Valour FC sign former Cavalry fullback Alarcón, re-sign Dante Campbell
So far during the 2024 CPL off-season it’s fair to say that Valour FC have made the most headlines. After a year in which they finished bottom of the table, the Winnipeg side have already confirmed a number of departures and announced the signings of experienced CPL striker Shaan Hundal, and midfielder Zachary Sukunda. This week, that trend of putting pen to paper with players familiar with the league continued as Valour announced they have signed Spanish fullback Roberto Alarcón. The 25-year-old has spent the past two seasons across the prairies playing for Cavalry FC, with injuries limiting him to just 12 appearances in all competitions in 2023. Tactically flexible, Alarcón can play anywhere on the right flank, but is naturally a right fullback, a position of need for Valour. The club also announced that key midfielder Dante Campbell, 24, will be returning for 2024 with an option for 2025. Campbell scored one goal and added two assists this past season with Valour, while leading the league in interceptions with 42. Campbell spent time playing at right-back this season when the club needed cover at that position so Alarcón’s arrival should mean he spends more time in his natural position as a holding midfielder this upcoming year.
York United announce extension for Martin Nash
One of the pressing questions for supporters of the Nine Stripes after the club announced a new ownership group ahead of this season was what that meant for the future of Martin Nash and the coaching staff. On Thursday, York United made it official that Nash would be returning for the 2024 season as head coach. Despite an at times turbulent campaign, York set records for both wins and points under Nash this past season, making the playoffs for just the second time in club history. In the opening round, they lost a narrow 1-0 match to Pacific FC on a late goal from Adonijah Reid. Nash and his group will now look to build on that success in 2024 as the club has been given new life and resources off the pitch with Game Plan Sports. With Nash now secured as the head coach, an announcement regarding the club’s roster is expected as early as this week.
Forge FC, Cavalry FC, learn first-round Concacaf opponents
On Wednesday night, Concacaf held the draw for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, a rebranded and reformatted tournament featuring the region’s top clubs, which for the first time will include two sides from the Canadian Premier League. Regular season winners Cavalry FC were drawn against Orlando City SC, and will become the first CPL side to face American MLS opposition. Cavalry also announced that due to weather concerns, their first round matchup will be played at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C. CPL Final winners Forge FC, the only CPL club who have competed in the Champions Cup (then the Champions League) will once again be facing storied opposition out of Mexico as they drew Chivas Guadalajara. The 117-year-old club is one of the best-supported teams in the region and will represent a significant challenge for the four-time CPL champs. The official schedule and times for these matchups have not yet been confirmed, but both the home and away matches will be played in February 2024. Unfortunately, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are on the other side of the bracket from Forge, while Cavalry would have to reach the quarter-finals to have a chance to play against one of the greatest players in the sport’s history.
2024 CPL-U SPORTS Draft sees Newfoundlander Owen Sheppard go first overall
This past Thursday was Draft Day for the Canadian Premier League as 16 players were selected out of the Canadian University soccer system (U SPORTS) and will now look to earn a spot on the 2024 roster of the club that drafted them. Owen Sheppard became the third player from Cape Breton University, the reigning national champions, to be selected first overall when Valour picked the young attacker. Sheppard, however, could make history should he play for Valour in 2024 as the first player from Newfoundland to appear in the Canadian Premier League. Here is a look at all 16 players who were chosen, for an in-depth breakdown of the draft, click here. Prior to the draft, there was a trade that saw Cavalry FC and Vancouver FC exchange positions in the second round (with Cavalry moving up to 10th overall), in exchange for future considerations.
Round 1
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Valour FC: Owen Sheppard | Cape Breton University | Forward | St. John’s, Nfld.
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Vancouver FC: Luke Norman | University of British Columbia | Midfielder | Vancouver, B.C.
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Atlético Ottawa: Luca Piccioli | Carleton University | Midfielder | Ottawa, Ont.
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York United FC: Christian Zeppieri | York University | Central Midfielder | Maple, Ont.
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Halifax Wanderers FC: Daniel Clarke | Cape Breton University | Goalkeeper | Toronto, Ont.
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Pacific FC: Michael Maslanka | University of Toronto | Forward | Mississauga, Ont.
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Cavalry FC: Caden Rogozinski | Mount Royal University | Defender | Calgary, Alta.
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Forge FC: Mouhamed Ndiaye | Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières | Midfielder | Trois-Rivières, Que.
Round 2
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Valour FC: Frank Facchineri | University of Windsor | Defender | Windsor, Ont.
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Cavalry FC: Rodane Cato | University of Alberta | Midfielder | Edmonton, Alta.
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Atlético Ottawa: Samuel Laplante | Université du Québec à Trois Rivières | Defender | Saint-Julie, Que.
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York United FC: Jason Hartill | Cape Breton University | Midfielder | Carleton Place, Ont.
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Halifax Wanderers FC: Max Bodurtha | St. Francis Xavier University | Defender | Halifax, N.S.
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Pacific FC: Ibrahem Saadi | Western University | Defender | London, Ont.
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Vancouver FC: Thomas Powell | Trinity Western University | Midfielder | Coquitlam, B.C.
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Forge FC: Amadou Kone | Carleton University | Midfielder | Ottawa, Ont.
Why UBC Head Coach Jesse Symons is a Volkswagen FC Game Changer
Earlier this year, the Canadian Premier League and Volkswagen announced the 2023 Volkswagen FC Game Changer, recognizing Canadians who are positively impacting their communities through the beautiful game. That group includes Jesse Symons, head coach of the University of British Columbia women’s soccer team. Here is more of Jesse’s story, and why he was included in this year’s Volkswagen FC starting XI: