Canadian Championship

Last updated

Canadian Championship
Championnat canadien
Canadian Championship 2021 logo.png
Founded2008;16 years ago (2008)
RegionCanada (CONCACAF)
Number of teams15
Current champions Vancouver Whitecaps FC (4th title)
Most successful club(s) Toronto FC (8 titles)
Television broadcasters OneSoccer
Website canadasoccer.com
Soccerball current event.svg 2025 Canadian Championship

The Canadian Championship (French : Championnat canadien) is an annual soccer tournament contested by Canadian professional teams. The winner is awarded the Voyageurs Cup and a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. [1] It is contested by Major League Soccer sides Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and CF Montréal, eight Canadian Premier League sides, and the champions of League1 Ontario, League1 British Columbia, and Ligue1 Québec. The tournament is organized by the Canadian Soccer Association [2] and has been broadcast on OneSoccer since 2019. [3]

Contents

History

The Canadian Championship is a domestic cup competition organized by the Canadian Soccer Association. The championship determines one of Canada's entries in the annual CONCACAF Champions Cup. Until the creation of the Canadian Premier League in 2019, all fully professional Canadian soccer teams played in United States–based leagues. Prior to the creation of the official competition in 2008, there was no domestic competition to determine the best Canadian professional team (as Canada Soccer's Challenge Trophy only crowned the best amateur team). Though a notable attempt was conducted by the Canadian Soccer League through the Open Canada Cup, which ultimately managed to attract professional and amateur clubs from British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. [4] The tournament was dissolved in 2008 after the creation of the Canadian Championship.

An unofficial Canadian Champion determined in the same manner as 2008–2010, a home-and-away series with the games taken from USL First Division (USL-1) regular season league games, was awarded by the Canadian national teams' supporters group, The Voyageurs. This unofficial Canadian Championship became less legitimate when Toronto was awarded a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise to start play in 2007 in the USSF Division 1 MLS league above the USSF Division 2 USL-1 league. Toronto's USL-1 team self relegated, while the other two Canadian professional soccer teams did not play meaningful games against the new MLS team in 2007. [5]

For the 2008–09 season, CONCACAF changed their eight team FIFA Club World Cup qualification tournament from a two-legged aggregate goals knockout elimination format, named the CONCACAF Champions Cup, to a format mirroring the UEFA Champions League with a play-in round, a group stage, and lastly a two-leg aggregate score knockout format for the final rounds. The format change for the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League provided the opportunity to expand the number of qualifying teams from different countries, and Canada was awarded a single entry in the play-in round preceding the group stage. The year 2008 was the first time a Canadian entry had been awarded by CONCACAF since 1992, and the first time a Canadian team participated since 1976. [6] To award the new Canadian entry, the CSA created a new competition consisting of a home-and-away round-robin series between the three fully professional Canadian teams: Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps. [7] The 2008 Canadian Championship was contested between May and July 2008 and won by the Montreal Impact. As the Canadian champions, Montreal qualified for the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League. [6] [8] [9]

The 2009 Canadian Championship's format and participants were the same, contested by the three clubs in May and June 2009. It was closely contended by Toronto and Vancouver and won by the former via goal differential in the tournament's final game against the defending champions, Montreal, giving the Toronto franchise its first ever trophy and a spot in the qualifying round of the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League. [10] Toronto repeated as champions in the 2010 competition, qualifying for the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League. Toronto won it for the fourth consecutive season in the 2012 competition.

In 2011, with the start of a fourth fully professional Canadian soccer team, FC Edmonton, the competition was changed from the home-and-away round robin series to a double-leg aggregate score knockout cup format with the two MLS teams seeded first and second, and NASL teams seeded third and fourth based on league standings of the previous year and the USSF tiering of Division 1 and Division 2. [11] This format mitigated competitive concerns regarding already eliminated teams and the number of additional (extra to their regular league) games each team would be required to play during a season.

On June 6, 2016, Canadian Soccer Association general secretary Peter Montopoli told TSN that plans were well under way to expand the tournament to include an access point for any team in Canada. He said that he expected the expansion to take place for 2017. His statement seemed to confirm other reports saying similar. [12] [ better source needed ] On March 9, 2017, Canada Soccer Association announced that from the 2018 edition the winners of the League1 Ontario and Première ligue de soccer du Québec would compete. [13]

In January 2019, a new five-round format was announced to include the seven teams of the newly formed Canadian Premier League, bringing the total number of teams competing to 13. [14] In 2020, with the dissolution of Ottawa Fury FC, a modified four-round tournament was announced featuring 12 teams, the first contraction in the competition's history. [15] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition was instead held between two teams qualified through league play, with the top Canadian MLS team meeting the CPL winners. [16] [17]

Beginning in 2023, the league winner of League1 British Columbia joined the tournament as a competitor. They were also joined by new Canadian Premier League club, Vancouver FC. [18]

In the 2023 preliminary round, TSS Rovers of League1 British Columbia became the first semi-pro team to advance in the tournament against a professional team. They defeated Canadian Premier League side Valour FC 3–1 to reach the quarter-finals. [19]

Trophy

The champions are awarded the Voyageurs Cup Thevoyageurscup.jpg
The champions are awarded the Voyageurs Cup

The winners of the Canadian Championship are awarded the Voyageurs Cup. [20] From 1993 to 2007, there was no domestic competition open to top-tier Canadian professional clubs. From 2002 to 2006, the USL First Division was the highest level in which Canadian men's soccer teams competed. The Voyageurs, a supporters' group, developed a method of tracking league results between Canadian clubs to determine a professional Canadian champion.

With the introduction of the Canadian Championship as a separate competition, the Voyageurs donated the cup to the Canadian Soccer Association to award to the winners. The trophy is still awarded by a Voyageurs member to the current winning club. [21] [22] [23]

Format

From 2008 to 2010, the tournament consisted of the three professional teams in Canada in a home-and-away series with the top team winning entry into the qualifying stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. These teams competed in the two top US-based professional soccer leagues, which in 2010 was Major League Soccer and the temporary USSF Division 2 Professional League. In 2011, the North American Soccer League received sanctioning as the USSF's new second-division league.

When FC Edmonton joined the NASL in 2011, the tournament was expanded to include all four professional clubs in the country. The tournament consisted of two-legged semifinals and a two-legged final. In the first semifinal of 2011, Toronto, as reigning champions, was assigned the first-place seed and played Edmonton, which was assigned the fourth seed as newcomers to the tournament. The two remaining teams, Montreal and Vancouver, faced off in the other semifinal. This was to be followed by a one-game final to be hosted by the highest remaining seed; [24] but the Canadian Soccer Association decided to go with a two-legged final instead. The format was repeated in subsequent years with the previous year's league placement being used to seed the teams. [2]

Starting with the 2014 competition, due to the introduction of the Ottawa Fury FC to the NASL, the two Canadian NASL teams played in a play-off quarter-final to determine which team made it to the semi-finals, in which the MLS teams were introduced. [25]

Due to scheduling conflicts with the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, [26] the 2015 edition was held during April, May, and August [27] but did not provide a competitor for the 2015–16 CONCACAF Champions League; instead the best-placed Canadian Major League Soccer team in the 2014 regular season was the country's representative. [26] The Whitecaps qualified for the championship on October 19, 2014. [28] The winner of the 2015 Canadian Championship qualified for the 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League instead and starting in 2016, the competition will be held in June and July. [26]

Since 2017, competition regulations state that each team must field a minimum of three Canadian starters for each match. [29]

In 2018, following the suspension of operations at FC Edmonton, the format of the Championship was amended once more to allow for the admission of two clubs from the Division 3 provincial leagues: League1 Ontario and Première ligue de soccer du Québec. [30] The two provincial champions meet in a first qualifying round, with the winner progressing to meet the sole Canadian USL team (not including Toronto FC II, which is a department of the MLS side Toronto FC), Ottawa Fury FC in a second qualifying round. The winner of this match joins the three Canadian MLS teams in the semifinals. A.S. Blainville and Oakville Blue Devils qualified to represent the Quebec and Ontario leagues respectively in 2018. [31] [32]

The 2019 Canadian Championship was the first to feature teams from the newly created Canadian Premier League. With 13 teams competing, the competition was expanded to include three qualifying rounds along with the semi-finals and final. The first qualifying round began with six teams, with three new teams entering each round until the semi-finals where the previous year's champion entered. All rounds were two-legged match ups. [14]

Since 2021, the tournament has had four rounds consisting of single leg ties. [33] First round matchups have been determined geographically (i.e. east and west) and byes have been awarded to the previous year's tournament finalists. In 2024 the format was altered slightly and now featured two-legged matchups for the quarter-final and semi-final rounds. [34]

Participants

Permanent Canadian Championship clubs
TeamCityLeagueYears
Atlético Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario Canadian Premier League 2021–present
Cavalry FC Calgary, AlbertaCanadian Premier League2019
2021–present
Forge FC Hamilton, OntarioCanadian Premier League2019–present
HFX Wanderers Halifax, Nova ScotiaCanadian Premier League2019
2021–present
CF Montréal Montreal, Quebec Major League Soccer 2012–2019
2021–present
Pacific FC Langford, British ColumbiaCanadian Premier League2019
2021–present
Toronto FC Toronto, OntarioMajor League Soccer2008–present
Valour FC Winnipeg, ManitobaCanadian Premier League2019
2021–present
Vancouver FC Langley, British ColumbiaCanadian Premier League2023–present
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Vancouver, British ColumbiaMajor League Soccer2011–2019
2021–present
York United FC Toronto, OntarioCanadian Premier League2019
2021–present
2025 qualifiers for the Canadian Championship
TeamCityLeagueYears
Edmonton Scottish Edmonton, Alberta League1 Alberta 2025
FC Laval Laval, Quebec Ligue1 Québec 2023, 2025
TSS Rovers FC Burnaby, British Columbia League1 British Columbia 2023, 2024, 2025
Scrosoppi FC Milton, Ontario League1 Ontario 2025
Clubs that have previously participated

– Defunct club
– Defunct club replaced by phoenix club

TeamCityLeagueYears
A.S. Blainville Blainville, Quebec Ligue1 Québec 2018, 2019, 2021
FC Edmonton Edmonton, Alberta North American Soccer League, Canadian Premier League 2011–2017,
2019,
2021–2022
Guelph United F.C. Guelph, Ontario League1 Ontario 2022
Master's FA Toronto, Ontario League1 Ontario 2021
CS Mont-Royal Outremont Mount Royal, Quebec Ligue1 Québec 2022
Montreal Impact Montreal, Quebec USL First Division, USSF Division 2, North American Soccer League 2008–2011
Oakville Blue Devils Oakville, Ontario League1 Ontario 2018
Ottawa Fury FC Ottawa, Ontario North American Soccer League, USL Championship 2014–2019
CS Saint-Laurent Montreal, Quebec Ligue1 Québec 2024
Simcoe County Rovers FC Barrie, Ontario League1 Ontario 2024
Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver, British Columbia USL First Division, USSF Division 2 2008–2010
Vaughan Azzurri Vaughan, Ontario League1 Ontario 2019, 2023
    Timeline
    Canadian Championship

    Results

    By year

    YearWinnersRunners-upTeamsFormat
    2008 Montreal Impact Toronto FC 3 Home and away
    round robin
    2009 Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps
    2010 Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps
    2011 Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4Two-legged knock-out
    2012 Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    2013 Montreal Impact Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    2014 Montreal Impact Toronto FC 5
    2015 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Montreal Impact
    2016 Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    2017 Toronto FC Montreal Impact
    2018 Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC 6
    2019 Montreal Impact Toronto FC 13
    2020 Toronto FC Forge FC 2 [a] Single match
    2021 CF Montréal Toronto FC 13Single-leg knock-out
    2022 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Toronto FC
    2023 Vancouver Whitecaps FC CF Montréal 14
    2024 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Toronto FC Mixed knock-out [b]
    2025 TBD15
    1. Originally scheduled as a 12-team, two-legged knockout tournament, the 2020 edition was reduced in scope and delayed until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    2. Single-leg for the preliminary round and final; two legs for the quarter-final and semi-final rounds.

    By club

    RankClubWinnerRunner-upSeasons wonPartici­pations
    1 Toronto FC 86 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 15
    2 CF Montréal 53 2008, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2021 14
    3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 47 2015, 2022, 2023, 2024 14
    4 Forge FC 014

    All-time table

    As of September 25, 2024
    RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
    1 Toronto FC 583214129947+52110
    2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 552417147557+1889
    3 CF Montréal 531814216265−368
    4 Cavalry FC 168441913+628
    5 Ottawa Fury 2082102134−1326
    6 Forge FC 156541916+323
    7 FC Edmonton 2262142539−1420
    8 HFX Wanderers 125252020017
    9 York United FC 144461821−316
    10 Pacific FC 144461519−416
    11 Atlético Ottawa 7232158+79
    12 A.S. Blainville 721446−27
    13 TSS Rovers FC 31114404
    14 Vaughan Azzurri 310235−23
    15 Valour FC 7106620−143
    16 CS Saint-Laurent 3012313−101
    17 Oakville Blue Devils 200213−20
    Vancouver FC 200202−20
    Guelph United F.C. 100102−20
    CS Mont-Royal Outremont 100102−20
    21 FC Laval 100103−30
    22 Master's FA 100105−50
    Simcoe County Rovers FC 100105−50

    Awards

    George Gross Memorial Trophy

    The George Gross Memorial Trophy was created by the Canadian Soccer Association in 2008 to recognize each tournament's most valuable player. [35] The Trophy was named after the late George Gross, a former soccer administrator and a respected journalist.

    YearPlayerPositionNationalityTeam
    2008 Matt Jordan GoalkeeperFlag of the United States.svg United States Montreal Impact
    2009 Dwayne De Rosario MidfielderFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Toronto FC
    2010 Dwayne De RosarioMidfielderFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaToronto FC
    2011 Joao Plata ForwardFlag of Ecuador.svg EcuadorToronto FC
    2012 Ryan Johnson ForwardFlag of Jamaica.svg JamaicaToronto FC
    2013 Justin Mapp MidfielderFlag of the United States.svg United States Montreal Impact
    2014 Justin MappMidfielderFlag of the United States.svg United StatesMontreal Impact
    2015 Russell Teibert MidfielderFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    2016 Benoît Cheyrou MidfielderFlag of France.svg FranceToronto FC
    2017 Sebastian Giovinco ForwardFlag of Italy.svg ItalyToronto FC
    2018 Jonathan Osorio MidfielderFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaToronto FC
    2019 Ignacio Piatti ForwardFlag of Argentina.svg ArgentinaMontreal Impact
    2020 Not awarded [a]
    2021 Sebastian Breza GoalkeeperFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaCF Montréal
    2022 Ryan Gauld MidfielderFlag of Scotland.svg ScotlandVancouver Whitecaps FC
    2023 Julian Gressel DefenderFlag of the United States.svg United StatesVancouver Whitecaps FC
    2024 Isaac Boehmer GoalkeeperFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaVancouver Whitecaps FC
    1. Although the trophy wasn't awarded at the conclusion of the 2020 Canadian Championship, Canada Soccer named Forge FC's Tristan Borges the performer of the match of the final, the only match played in that year's tournament. [36]

    Best Young Canadian Player award

    The Best Young Canadian Player award was created by the Canadian Soccer Association in 2019 to recognize each tournament's best Canadian under-23 player. [37]

    YearPlayerPositionTeam
    2019 Zachary Brault-Guillard Defender Montreal Impact
    2020 Not awarded
    2021 Jacob Shaffelburg Forward Toronto FC
    2022 Ryan Raposo Forward Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    2023 Ali Ahmed DefenderVancouver Whitecaps FC
    2024 Isaac Boehmer GoalkeeperVancouver Whitecaps FC

    Top Scorer of the Canadian Championship

    The Top Scorer of the Canadian Championship is the player who scores the most goals during the competition. In case two or more players are tied, the first tiebreaker is most assists and the second tiebreaker is fewest minutes played. [38]

    YearPlayerNationalityTeamTotal
    2008 Roberto Brown Flag of Panama.svg Panama Montreal Impact 2 goals (0 assists, 157 minutes)
    2009 Dwayne De Rosario Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Toronto FC 3 goals
    2010 Dwayne De RosarioFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaToronto FC1 goal (1 assist)
    2011 Maicon Santos Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilToronto FC3 goals
    2012 Sebastien Le Toux Flag of France.svg France Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 goals (0 assists, 168 minutes)
    2013 Camilo Sanvezzo Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilVancouver Whitecaps FC3 goals
    2014 Jack McInerney Flag of the United States.svg United States Montreal Impact 3 goals
    2015 Tomi Ameobi Flag of England.svg England FC Edmonton 4 goals
    2016 Jordan Hamilton Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaToronto FC2 goals (1 assist)
    2017 Sebastian Giovinco Flag of Italy.svg ItalyToronto FC3 goals
    2018 Jonathan Osorio Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaToronto FC3 goals (1 assist)
    2019 Ignacio Piatti Flag of Argentina.svg ArgentinaMontreal Impact4 goals
    2020 Tristan Borges Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Forge FC 1 goal (0 assists, 67 minutes)
    2021 Austin Ricci Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Valour FC 3 goals
    2022 Sunusi Ibrahim Flag of Nigeria.svg NigeriaCF Montréal3 goals (0 assists, 62 minutes)
    2023 Sunusi IbrahimFlag of Nigeria.svg NigeriaCF Montréal3 goals
    2024 Deandre Kerr Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaToronto FC5 goals

    Competition records

    Appearances

    As of September 25, 2024
    RankPlayerClub(s)NationalityAppearances
    1 Jonathan Osorio Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada32
    Russell Teibert Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    3 Ashtone Morgan Toronto FC, Forge FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada24
    4 Kyle Bekker Toronto FC, Montreal Impact, Forge FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada21
    5 Justin Morrow Toronto FCFlag of the United States.svg United States20
    6 Eddie Edward FC Edmonton, Ottawa FuryFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada18
    Doneil Henry Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    Maxim Tissot Montreal Impact, Ottawa Fury, Atlético OttawaFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    9 Michael Bradley Toronto FCFlag of the United States.svg United States17
    Mark Delgado Toronto FCFlag of the United States.svg United States

    Top goalscorers

    As of September 25, 2024[ citation needed ]
    RankPlayerClubNationalityGoals
    1 Jonathan Osorio Toronto FC Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada8
    2 Jozy Altidore Toronto FCFlag of the United States.svg United States6
    Sebastian Giovinco Toronto FCFlag of Italy.svg Italy
    Sunusi Ibrahim CF Montréal Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria
    Ignacio Piatti Montreal Impact Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina
    6 Tomi Ameobi FC Edmonton Flag of England.svg England5
    Ryan Gauld Vancouver Whitecaps FC Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland
    Jordan Hamilton Toronto FC / Forge FC Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    Deandre Kerr Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    10 Camilo Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of Brazil.svg Brazil4
    David Choinière Montreal Impact / Forge FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    Dwayne De Rosario Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    Daryl Fordyce FC EdmontonUlster Banner.svg Northern Ireland
    Jack McInerney Montreal ImpactFlag of the United States.svg United States
    Pedro Morales Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of Chile.svg Chile
    Brian White Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of the United States.svg United States

    Bolded players are still active players with a Canadian team.

    Top goalscorers by season

    SeasonPlayerClubNationalityGoals
    2008 Roberto Brown Montreal Impact Flag of Panama.svg Panama2
    Rohan Ricketts Toronto FC Flag of England.svg England
    Eduardo Sebrango Vancouver Whitecaps Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
    2009 Dwayne De Rosario Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada3
    2010 Chad Barrett Toronto FCFlag of the United States.svg United States1
    Philippe Billy Montreal ImpactFlag of France.svg France
    Peter Byers Montreal ImpactFlag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg Antigua and Barbuda
    Dwayne De Rosario Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    Marcus Haber Vancouver WhitecapsFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    Ty Harden Toronto FCFlag of the United States.svg United States
    Ansu Toure Vancouver WhitecapsFlag of Liberia.svg Liberia
    2011 Maicon Santos Toronto FCFlag of Brazil.svg Brazil3
    2012 Eric Hassli Vancouver Whitecaps FC Flag of France.svg France2
    Ryan Johnson Toronto FCFlag of Jamaica.svg Jamaica
    Reggie Lambe Toronto FCFlag of Bermuda.svg Bermuda
    Sébastien Le Toux Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of France.svg France
    2013 Camilo Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of Brazil.svg Brazil3
    2014 Jack McInerney Montreal ImpactFlag of the United States.svg United States3
    2015 Tomi Ameobi FC Edmonton Flag of England.svg England4
    2016 Jonathan Osorio Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada2
    Jordan Hamilton Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    Nicolás Mezquida Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay
    2017 Sebastian Giovinco Toronto FCFlag of Italy.svg Italy3
    2018 Jonathan Osorio Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada3
    Jozy Altidore Toronto FCFlag of the United States.svg United States
    Kei Kamara Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of Sierra Leone.svg Sierra Leone
    2019 Ignacio Piatti Montreal ImpactFlag of Argentina.svg Argentina4
    2020 Tristan Borges Forge FC Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada1
    Alejandro Pozuelo Toronto FCFlag of Spain.svg Spain
    2021 Austin Ricci Valour FC Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada3
    2022 Myer Bevan Cavalry FC Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand3
    Sunusi Ibrahim CF MontréalFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria
    Brian White Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of the United States.svg United States
    2023 Sunusi Ibrahim CF MontréalFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria3
    2024 Deandre Kerr Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada5

    See also

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