Canadian Premier League Awards

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Logo of the CPL Awards CPL Awards logo.png
Logo of the CPL Awards

The Canadian Premier League Awards is a ceremony held annually at the end of each Canadian Premier League season. There are a total of seven individual awards given to players or coaches based on their performance in the regular season. For the majority of the awards, nominees are selected by the league and voted on by members of the media. The winner of each award receives an Inuit soapstone sculpture designed by artists from Cape Dorset, Nunavut. [1]

Contents

The CPL Awards were first held in 2019 and included five honours (Golden Boot, Golden Glove, Coach of the Year, U21 Canadian Player of the Year, and Player of the Year). [2] The awards initially took into account performance across the whole CPL season, including playoffs and finals. [1]

In 2022, two new awards were added (Defender of the Year and Players' Player of the Year) and all awards became based solely on performance in the regular season. [3] The timing of the ceremony was also shifted to be held a few days before the CPL final and in the city that is hosting the final. In 2024, a Finals MVP trophy was added. [4]

Awards

Golden Boot

The Golden Boot is awarded to the player who scores the most goals in the regular season. In the event of a tie, the award is shared between all players level on goals.

SeasonWinnerGoalsGamesRate
2019 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tristan Borges (Forge FC)13 [a] 270.48
2020 Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Akeem Garcia (HFX Wanderers FC)6110.55
2021 Flag of Brazil.svg João Morelli (HFX Wanderers FC)14210.67
2022 Flag of Mexico.svg Alejandro Díaz (Pacific FC)13180.72
2023 Ulster Banner.svg Ollie Bassett (Atlético Ottawa)11270.41
Flag of New Zealand.svg Myer Bevan (Cavalry FC)11260.42
2024 Flag of Germany.svg Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC)12240.50
2025 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Samuel Salter (Atlético Ottawa)19280.68
  1. ↑ Includes 1 goal scored in the CPL Finals

Golden Glove

The Golden Glove is the award for the goalkeeper of the year.

SeasonWinnerFinalists
2019 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marco Carducci (Cavalry FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Nathan Ingham (York9 FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Connor James (FC Edmonton)
2020 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Triston Henry (Forge FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Christian Oxner (HFX Wanderers FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Callum Irving (Pacific FC)
2021 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jonathan Sirois (Valour FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marco Carducci (Cavalry FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Triston Henry (Forge FC)
2022 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marco Carducci (Cavalry FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Nathan Ingham (Atlético Ottawa)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Callum Irving (Pacific FC)
2023 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Triston Henry (Forge FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marco Carducci (Cavalry FC)
Flag of Algeria.svg Rayane Yesli (Valour FC)
2024 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Emil Gazdov (Pacific FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Callum Irving (Vancouver FC)
Flag of France.svg Thomas Vincensini (York United)
2025 TBA Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marco Carducci (Cavalry FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Nathan Ingham (Atlético Ottawa)
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jassem Koleilat (Forge FC)

Coach of the Year

In 2022, this award was voted on by head coaches and one assistant coach from each club. [3]

SeasonWinnerFinalists
2019 Flag of England.svg Tommy Wheeldon Jr. (Cavalry FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jim Brennan (York9 FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bobby Smyrniotis (Forge FC)
2020 Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Stephen Hart (HFX Wanderers FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bobby Smyrniotis (Forge FC)
Flag of Spain.svg Mista (Atlético Ottawa)
2021 Flag of Norway.svg Pa-Modou Kah (Pacific FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bobby Smyrniotis (Forge FC)
Flag of England.svg Tommy Wheeldon Jr. (Cavalry FC)
2022 Flag of Spain.svg Carlos González (Atlético Ottawa) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bobby Smyrniotis (Forge FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg James Merriman (Pacific FC)
2023 Flag of England.svg Tommy Wheeldon Jr. (Cavalry FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bobby Smyrniotis (Forge FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Patrice Gheisar (HFX Wanderers FC)
2024 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bobby Smyrniotis (Forge FC) Flag of Mexico.svg Benjamín Mora (York United)
Flag of England.svg Tommy Wheeldon Jr. (Cavalry FC)

Player of the Year

This is awarded to the league's most valuable player, as voted by the media. Since 2022, the CPL has announced five nominees rather than three.

SeasonWinnerFinalists
2019 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tristan Borges (Forge FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kyle Bekker (Forge FC)
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg Dominique Malonga (Cavalry FC)
2020 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kyle Bekker (Forge FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marco Bustos (Pacific FC)
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Akeem Garcia (HFX Wanderers FC)
2021 Flag of Brazil.svg João Morelli (HFX Wanderers FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kyle Bekker (Forge FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Terran Campbell (Pacific FC)
2022 Ulster Banner.svg Ollie Bassett (Atlético Ottawa) Flag of Sweden.svg Alexander Achinioti-Jonsson (Forge FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Manny Aparicio (Pacific FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sean Rea (Valour FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ballou Tabla (Atlético Ottawa)
2023 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Daan Klomp (Cavalry FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Manny Aparicio (Pacific FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kyle Bekker (Forge FC)
Flag of France.svg Lorenzo Callegari (HFX Wanderers FC)
Flag of Somalia.svg Ali Musse (Cavalry FC)
2024 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tristan Borges (Forge FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kyle Bekker (Forge FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alessandro Hojabrpour (Forge FC)
Flag of Germany.svg Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brian Wright (York United)

Best Under 21 Canadian Player of the Year

The CPL requires clubs to roster a minimum of three Canadian players under the age of 21 and to play them for a minimum of 2,000 minutes in a season. [5] All under-21 Canadian players are eligible for this award.

SeasonWinnerFinalists
2019 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tristan Borges (Forge FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Diyaeddine Abzi (York9 FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Terran Campbell (Pacific FC)
2020 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mohamed Farsi (Cavalry FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Chrisnovic N'sa (HFX Wanderers FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Julian Dunn (Valour FC)
2021 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alessandro Hojabrpour (Pacific FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Max Ferrari (York United FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Victor Loturi (Cavalry FC)
2022 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sean Rea (Valour FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Osaze De Rosario (York United FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Woobens Pacius (Forge FC)
2023 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Matteo De Brienne (Valour FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg James Cameron (Vancouver FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kwasi Poku (Forge FC)
2024 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kwasi Poku (Forge FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Noah Abatneh (York United)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Emil Gazdov (Pacific FC)
2025 TBA Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Noah Abatneh (Atlético Ottawa)
Flag of Brazil.svg Gabriel Antinoro (Atlético Ottawa)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Thierno Bah (Vancouver FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tiago Coimbra (HFX Wanderers FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Hoce Massunda (Forge FC)

Defender of the Year

SeasonWinnerFinalists
2022 Flag of Sweden.svg Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson (Forge FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Amer Đidić (Pacific FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dominick Zator (York United)
2023 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Daan Klomp (Cavalry FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Manjrekar James (Forge FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Daniel Nimick (HFX Wanderers FC)
2024 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Daan Klomp (Cavalry FC) Flag of Sweden.svg Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson (Forge FC)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Themi Antonoglou (Valour FC)
2025 TBA Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Noah Abatneh (Atlético Ottawa)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Daniel Nimick (Forge FC)
Flag of Albania.svg Rezart Rama (Forge FC)

Player's Player of the Year

Introduced in 2022, this is the only award is voted on by the players. All players that played in a game are eligible to vote and be voted for. Players cast three votes in a 5–3–1 scoring system and cannot vote for a teammate. [6] The top-10 players receiving votes are named as finalists prior to the awards ceremony. [7]

SeasonWinnerRunner-upThird place
2022 Ulster Banner.svg Ollie Bassett (Atlético Ottawa) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ballou Tabla (Atlético Ottawa) Flag of Mexico.svg Alejandro Díaz (Pacific FC)
2023 Flag of Somalia.svg Ali Musse (Cavalry FC) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kyle Bekker (Forge FC) Flag of the Netherlands.svg Daan Klomp (Cavalry FC)
2024 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brian Wright (York United) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tristan Borges (Forge FC) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Béni Badibanga (Forge FC)

CPL Final MVP

FinalWinner
2024 Flag of Germany.svg Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC)

Ceremonies

Beginning in 2022, the CPL Awards have been held in the city hosting the CPL Finals.

SeasonDateLocationRef
2019 November 26, 2019Toronto, Ontario [8]
2020 November 26, 2020Held virtually [9]
2021 December 14, 2021Toronto, Ontario [10]
2022 October 28, 2022Ottawa, Ontario [11]
2023 October 26, 2023Hamilton, Ontario [12]
2024 November 7, 2024Calgary, Alberta [4]
2025 November 7, 2025 [13]

References

  1. 1 2 Thompson, Marty (November 1, 2019). "Canadian Premier League officially unveils 2019 individual awards". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  2. ↑ "2019 Canadian Premier League Awards Fact Sheet". Canadian Premier League. November 27, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2020.,
  3. 1 2 "CPL announces new awards, 2022 voting procedures". Canadian Premier League. September 28, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022. The Golden Boot award is awarded to the player who scores the most goals during the CPL regular season
  4. 1 2 Jacques, John (November 8, 2024). "2024 CPL Awards Round Up: Parity In Powerhouses". Northern Tribune. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  5. ↑ Jacques, John (April 4, 2022). "Canadian Premier League Increasing Youth Minute Requirement". Northern Tribune. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Cavalry FC's Ali Musse voted 2023 CPL Players' Player of the Year". Canadian Premier League. October 26, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Ten Canadian Premier League standouts shortlisted for Players' Player of the Year". Canadian Premier League. October 23, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Canadian Premier League announces 2019 Award winners". Canadian Premier League. November 26, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Canadian Premier League announces 2020 Award winners". Canadian Premier League. November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Canadian Premier League announces 2021 Award winners". Canadian Premier League. December 14, 2021.
  11. ↑ Jacques, John (October 29, 2022). "2022 CPL Awards Roundup". Northern Tribune. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  12. ↑ Jacques, John (October 27, 2023). "2023 CPL Awards Round Up: Cavalry Dominates The Show". Northern Tribune. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  13. ↑ "10 potential candidates for the CPL's 2025 Player of the Year award". CPL. October 19, 2025. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
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