2021 League1 Ontario season

Last updated
League1 Ontario
Men's Division
Season2021
DatesJuly 29 – November 7, 2021
Champions Guelph United F.C.
Regular Season Champions Vaughan Azzurri
Matches played90
Goals scored374 (4.16 per match)
Top goalscorer Jace Kotsopoulos (15)
Best goalkeeperChristian Calabro (1.03 GAA)
2020
2022

The 2021 Men's League1 Ontario season was the seventh season of play (the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) for League1 Ontario, a Division 3 men's soccer league in the Canadian soccer pyramid and the highest level of soccer based in the Canadian province of Ontario.

Contents

Impact of COVID-19

After the 2020 League1 Ontario season was cancelled, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league was optimistic that the 2021 season would be able to proceed. The league initially announced a projected start date of July 2, 2021, also announcing a 'drop-dead date' of June 7, 2021 that will confirm the start of the season on that date depending on restrictions in the province, otherwise the season would be cancelled. [1] [2] In mid-June, the league start date was later revised to July 29, 2021, in accordance with the local re-opening plans. [3]

Format

The league was divided into two divisions with the East Division having seven teams and the West division having eight teams. Each team played 12 games against teams in their own divisions (East played each opponent home and away, while West played five of the teams twice, and the remaining two teams once). The top two teams from each division advanced to the playoff semi-finals, with the winner of the championship final in November qualifying for the 2022 Canadian Championship. [4]

Because the season began three months later than normal and with very short notice, some clubs have opted to delay their return to Premier Division competition until the 2022 season. As a large portion of the L1O player pool consisted of university and college student athletes, some sides would have limited squads after Labour Day. To combat these challenges, the league created a short-season ‘Summer Championship Series’ for 2021, which will conclude by Labour Day. [4]

In addition, the Reserve Division will return, following a similar format to the Premier Division, featuring 21 teams in three division playing 12 matches, with the top teams advancing to the playoffs and featuring Championship Finals weekend on November 6-7. [4]

Clubs

The men's division consists of 21 teams, an increase from 17 teams in 2020. 1812 FC Barrie, Guelph United F.C., Scrosoppi FC, St. Catharines Roma Wolves, and Waterloo United are new entries, while Aurora FC will not be returning. Hamilton United, who joined in 2020, will also be debuting after their inaugural season was cancelled due to the pandemic. [5] However, some teams opted out of the main division due to the delayed start, resulting in only 15 teams participating. Some of these clubs will still operate teams in the short-season Summer Championship or full length Reserve Division.

The following clubs are set to participate in the league.

TeamCityPrincipal stadiumMain DivisionSummer ChampionshipReserve Division
1812 FC Barrie Barrie / Brampton [note 1] Terry Fox Stadium (Brampton)ParticipatingDid not enterWithdrew
Alliance United FC Toronto Mount JoyWithdrewParticipatingParticipating
Blue Devils FC Oakville Bronte ParkParticipatingParticipatingParticipating
Darby FC Whitby Whitby Soccer CentreParticipatingDid not enterParticipating
Guelph United F.C. Guelph Alumni Stadium ParticipatingDid not enterParticipating
Hamilton United Hamilton Redeemer Sports ComplexWithdrewDid not enterParticipating
FC London London Hellenic Community CentreParticipatingDid not enterParticipating
Master's Futbol Toronto L'Amoreaux ParkParticipatingDid not enterParticipating (2 teams)
North Mississauga SC Mississauga Paramount Fine Foods Centre ParticipatingDid not enterParticipating
North Toronto Nitros Toronto Downsview Turf 1 ParticipatingDid not enterWithdrew
Pickering FC Pickering Kinsmen ParkWithdrewDid not enterWithdrew
ProStars FC Brampton Victoria Park Stadium ParticipatingParticipatingParticipating
Scrosoppi FC Milton Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary School ParticipatingDid not enterWithdrew
Sigma FC Mississauga Paramount Fine Foods Centre ParticipatingDid not enterParticipating
St. Catharines Roma Wolves St. Catharines Club Roma StadiumWithdrewParticipatingParticipating
Toronto Skillz FC Toronto Birchmount Stadium WithdrewParticipatingWithdrew
Unionville Milliken SC Markham Bill Crothers TurfParticipatingDid not enterParticipating (2 teams)
Vaughan Azzurri Vaughan North Maple Regional ParkParticipatingParticipatingParticipating
Waterloo United Waterloo RIM ParkWithdrewParticipatingWithdrew
Windsor TFC Windsor Libro CentreParticipatingDid not enterWithdrew
Woodbridge Strikers Vaughan Vaughan GroveParticipatingDid not enterParticipating
  1. 1812 FC Barrie was originally set to play in Barrie; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they played in Brampton due to their expected stadium in Barrie being closed due to COVID-19

The following clubs, while not formally part of League1 Ontario are operating teams in the Summer Championship or Reserve Divisions:

TeamCityPrincipal stadiumMain DivisionSummer ChampionshipReserve Division
Tecumseh SC Tecumseh University of Windsor Stadium ParticipatingParticipating
Athlete Institute Orangeville The Hill AcademyParticipating
Toronto FC III (U19) Toronto BMO Training GroundParticipating
Toronto FC IV (U17) Toronto BMO Training GroundParticipating
Whitecaps London London North London StadiumParticipating
FC Durham Academy Oshawa Vaso FieldParticipating
Richmond Hill SC Richmond Hill Richmond GreenParticipating
Rush Canada Academy Oakville Bronte Athletic ParkParticipating

Premier Division

East Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Vaughan Azzurri 1211104111+3034Advance to playoffs
2 Master's Futbol 126332822+621
3 Woodbridge Strikers 126152723+419
4 Unionville Milliken SC 125251922317
5 1812 FC Barrie 124172532713
6 Darby FC 123361926712
7 North Toronto Nitros 1211101639234
Source: Standings

West Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Guelph United FC (O)1210024215+2730Advance to playoffs
2 Blue Devils FC 129212913+1629
3 FC London 128043020+1024
4 Scrosoppi FC 126153422+1219
5 Sigma FC 124352432815
6 ProStars FC 124262231914
7 North Mississauga SC 121291032225
8 Windsor TFC 120210834262
Updated to match(es) played on compete. Source: Standings
(O) Play-off winners

Playoffs

Semifinals Championship Game
      
W1 Guelph United FC 2 (9)
E2 Master's Futbol 2 (8)
W1 Guelph United FC 3
W2 Blue Devils FC 1
E1 Vaughan Azzurri 1
W2 Blue Devils FC 2

Semifinals

October 30, 2021 Guelph United FC 2–2
(9–8 p)
Master's FA Guelph, Ontario
5:00 PM Doros Soccerball shade.svg25'
Kotsopoulos Soccerball shade.svg70'
Report Phillip Soccerball shade.svg43', 45'Stadium: Alumni Stadium
Referee: Filip Dujic
Penalties
October 31, 2021 Vaughan Azzurri 1–2 Blue Devils FC Vaughan, Ontario
2:00 PM Carreiro Soccerball shade.svg73' Report Allen Soccerball shade.svg14', 26'Stadium: North Maple Regional Park
Referee: Hassane Rifai

Final

November 7, 2021 Guelph United FC 3–1 Blue Devils FC Vaughan, Ontario
4:00 PM Kotsopoulous Soccerball shade.svg19', 80' (pen.)
Skublak Soccerball shade.svg26'
Report Allen Soccerball shade.svg90+4'Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre
Referee: Scott Bowman

Statistics

Honours

The following awards and nominations were awarded for the 2021 season. [6]

Awards

League All-Stars

Summer Championship Division

Due to the delayed start to the season, some teams were unable to commit to the full season for the Premier Division. For 2021, a short season "Summer Championship" (also called the 'University' Division) was created which will conclude by Labour Day and will include some of the teams that could not participate in the full season.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1 Toronto FC III (U19)7421137+614
2 Toronto FC IV (U17)6411159+613
3 Alliance United FC 7322138+511
4 ProStars FC B 73221915+411
5 Waterloo United 725095+411
6 St. Catharines Roma Wolves 73131510+510
7 Tecumseh SC 72411011110
8 Vaughan Azzurri B 721491127
9 Whitecaps London 721481687
10 Toronto Skillz FC 712481685
11 Blue Devils FC B 7115617114
Source: Standings

Reserve Division

East Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Woodbridge Strikers B 12930255+2030Advance to playoffs
2 Vaughan Azzurri C (O)129214512+3329
3 Unionville Milliken SC B 126153922+1719
4 Richmond Hill SC 123451719213
5 FC Durham 1233613392612
6 Master's FA B 122371532179
7 Alliance United FC B 12048934254
Source: Standings
(O) Play-off winners

Central Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Athlete Institute 129304212+3030Advance to playoffs
2 Sigma FC B 129033817+2127
3 Unionville Milliken C 125252631517
4 Darby FC B 124262129814
5 Master's FA C 1242621331214
6 Blue Devils FC C 122371831139
7 North Mississauga SC B 122281730138
Source: Standings

West Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 FC London B 128222515+1026Advance to playoffs
2 Guelph United FC B 12741328+2425
3 Hamilton United 126241313020
4 Rush Canada Academy 125252220+217
5 St. Catharines Roma Wolves B 123541516114
6 ProStars FC C 122281431178
7 Tecumseh SC B 121381432186
Source: Standings

Playoffs

Semifinals Championship Game
      
E1 Woodbridge Strikers B 0
W1 FC London B 2
W1 FC London B 0
WC Vaughan Azzurri C 3
C1 Athlete Institute 1
WC Vaughan Azzurri C 4

Semi-finals

November 6, 2021 Woodbridge Strikers B 0–2 FC London B Vaughan, Ontario
7:00 PM Report Rycobel Soccerball shade.svg12'
Barrowcliffe Soccerball shade.svg53'
Stadium: Vaughan Grove Sports Park

Final

November 14, 2021 FC London B 0–3 Vaughan Azzurri C Vaughan, Ontario
4:00 PM Report Martin Soccerball shade.svg44', 80'
Spittle Soccerball shade.svg68'
Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre
Referee: Melvin Christopher

References

  1. "League1 Ontario shifts potential 2021 start date to July 2nd". League1 Ontario . May 7, 2021.
  2. Jacques, John (May 7, 2021). "League1 Ontario Reveals 2021 Season Start Date". Northern Tribune.
  3. "League1 Ontario sets new 2021 start date for July 29th". League1 Ontario . June 15, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "League1 Ontario Set To Kick Off Seventh Season With Late July Fixtures". League1 Ontario . July 22, 2021.
  5. "League1 Ontario adds four men's teams for 2021". League1 Ontario . January 28, 2021.
  6. Thompson, Marty (December 22, 2021). "2021 L1O Men's Premier Division Awards: Guelph sweeps West; Phillip & Kotsopoulos take MVP". League1 Ontario .