2000 Canadian Professional Soccer League season

Last updated
Canadian Professional Soccer League
Season2000
Champions Toronto Croatia
Regular Season title Toronto Olympians
Matches played56
Goals scored186 (3.32 per match)
Top goalscorer Gus Kouzmanis (Toronto Olympians)
Best goalkeeper Piotr Libicz
Biggest home winToronto Olympians 8-0 London City (September 27, 2000)
Biggest away win
Highest scoringToronto Olympians 8-0 London City (September 27, 2000)
1999
2001

The 2000 Canadian Professional Soccer League season was the third season under the Canadian Professional Soccer League name. The season began on May 26, 2000 and concluded on October 1, 2000 with Toronto Croatia defeating Toronto Olympians 2-1 to claim their first CPSL Championship (known as the Primus CPSL Cup for sponsorship reasons). [1] The final was hosted at Cove Road Stadium for the first time. [2] Throughout the season, all eight clubs from the previous year returned, while the Olympians secured their third straight regular season title. The league received sponsorship from Primus Canada, which granted Primus naming rights to the CPSL Championship, and Vincent Ursini was appointed the CPSL Chairman. [3]

Contents

Teams

TeamCityStadiumManager
Glen Shields Sun Devils Vaughan, Ontario (Thornhill) Dufferin District Field Dave Benning
London City London, Ontario (Westmount) Cove Road Stadium Jurek Gebczynski
North York Astros Toronto, Ontario (North York) Esther Shiner Stadium Rafael Carbajal [4]
Oshawa Flames Oshawa, Ontario (Vanier) Oshawa Civic Stadium Stan Bombino [5]
St. Catharines Wolves St. Catharines, Ontario (Vansickle)Club Roma Stadium Lucio Ianiero [6]
Toronto Croatia Toronto, Ontario (Etobicoke) Centennial Park Stadium Velimir Crljen [7]
Toronto Olympians Toronto, Ontario (Scarborough) Birchmount Stadium David Gee
York Region Shooters Richmond Hill, Ontario Richmond Green Bijan Azizi [8]

Final standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Toronto Olympians 141211459+3637Qualification for Playoffs
2 St. Catharines Roma 1412113119+1237
3 Toronto Croatia 149143617+1928
4 Glen Shields Sun Devils 145362630418
5 York Region Shooters 1442817301314
6 North York Astros 1432917291211
7 Oshawa Flames 142392235139
8 London City 1421111245337
Updated to match(es) played on September 28, 2000. Source: http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/00cp0059.htm
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Primus Canada CPSL Championship playoffs

The top four teams qualified for a one-game semifinal that led to the championship game played on October 1 at Cove Road Stadium in London, Ontario.

Semifinals Final
      
1 Toronto Olympians 1
4 Glen Shields Sun Devils 0
1 Toronto Olympians 1
2 Toronto Croatia 2
2 St. Catharines Roma 1
3 Toronto Croatia 3

Wildcard

September 29, 2000 London City 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 p)
Glen Shields Sun Devils London, Ontario
8:30 ETMichael Kubicki Soccerball shade.svg58' (Report) Mike Glasgow Soccerball shade.svg15'Stadium: Cove Road Stadium
Attendance: 400
Penalties
  • Chris Picanco Soccerball shad check.svg
  • Luan Jonuzi Soccerball shad check.svg
  • Gebczynski Soccerball shade cross.svg
  • Michael Kubicki Soccerball shad check.svg
  • Jeff Brown Soccerball shade cross.svg
  • Courtney Denis Soccerball shad check.svg
  • Craig Williams Soccerball shad check.svg
  • Sullivan Soccerball shad check.svg
  • Chris Steffanazzi Soccerball shad check.svg

Semifinals

September 30, 2000 Toronto Croatia 3–1 St. Catharines Roma London, Ontario
5:00 ET
  • Tomislav Granic Soccerball shade.svg13'
  • Leo Marasovic Soccerball shade.svg47'
  • Denny Draganic Soccerball shade.svg81'
(Report) Gary McGutchan Soccerball shade.svg61'Stadium: Cove Road Stadium
Attendance: 100

Primus CPSL Championship

Toronto Olympians 1–2 Toronto Croatia
Kouzmanis Soccerball shade.svg92' Report
  • Josip Draganic Soccerball shade.svg68'
  • Denny Draganic Soccerball shade.svg80'
Cove Road Stadium , London, Ontario
Attendance: 250
Referee: Manuel Orellano (Ontario)

Assistant referees:
Steve Cahoon
Justin Pasev
Fourth official:
Ogi Panich

2000 scoring leaders

Full article: CSL Golden Boot [10]
PositionPlayer's nameNationalityClubGoals
1 Gus Kouzmanis Canadian Toronto Olympians 31
2Leo MarasovicCanadian Toronto Croatia 13
3 Eddy Berdusco Canadian Toronto Olympians 12
4Gary McGuchanCanadian St. Catharines Wolves 11
5 Carlo Arghittu Canadian St. Catharines Wolves 10
6 Jimmy Kuzmanovski Canadian Oshawa Flames 9
7 Paul Moore Canadian Toronto Croatia 9
8 Elvis Thomas Canadian Toronto Olympians 9
9Frank ZumpanoCanadian St. Catharines Wolves 8
10John MatasCanadian Toronto Olympians 8

CPSL Executive Committee

The 2000 CPSL Executive Committee. [3]

PositionNameNationality
Chairman: Vincent Ursini Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canadian
Director of Operations:Chris Bellamy [11] Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canadian
Director of Discipline:Clifford Dell [12] Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canadian
Director of Officials: Tony Camacho Flag of Portugal.svg Portuguese

Individual awards

The annual CPSL awards ceremony was held on October 1, 2000 after the CPSL Championship final at the German Canadian Club in London, Ontario. [13] Where for the second straight season the Toronto Olympians went home with the most awards with 3 wins. [1] Kouzmanis became the first player to win the Golden Boot more than once and continues to hold that distinction. [14] Olympian veteran Bayete Smith was named the Defender of the Year for his contribution for helping the club achieve the best defensive record. Their final award was their second straight Fair Play award for being the most disciplined team throughout the season.

The league chose former NPSL and USL A-League veteran Willy Giummarra of the York Region Shooters as its MVP. The Goalkeeper of the Year was given to Piotr Libicz, a former NPSL and CNSL veteran. [15] After managing the St. Catharines Roma Wolves to second place finish behind Toronto with only a lower goal differential Lucio Ianiero was chosen as the Coach of the Year. [16] Jimmy Kuzmanovski of the Oshawa Flames broke London City's four year hold on the Rookie of the Year award. For his efforts Steve Cahoon went home with the Referee of the Year award.

AwardPlayer (Club)
CPSL Most Valuable Player Willy Giummarra (York Region Shooters)
CPSL Golden Boot Gus Kouzmanis (Toronto Olympians)
CPSL Goalkeeper of the Year Award Piotr Libicz (North York Astros)
CPSL Defender of the Year Award Bayete Smith (Toronto Olympians)
CPSL Rookie of the Year Award Jimmy Kuzmanovski (Oshawa Flames)
CPSL Coach of the Year Award Lucio Ianiero (St. Catharines Roma Wolves)
CPSL Referee of the Year AwardSteve Cahoon
CPSL Fair Play AwardToronto Olympians

Related Research Articles

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