Misplaced Pages

#1998

62-607: The league's MVP award. The Golden Boot is the league's leading scorer. First introduced in 2004 as the CPSL President's Award, but was renamed in 2006 in honor of Harry Gauss . The award is presented to the individual who has shown allegiance, commitment and support to the league and its member clubs. The Referee of the Year award is voted on by the CSL Referee Committee. The Fair Play and Respect Award

124-470: A chairman . Originally new a franchisee were given the status of a playing member, and were placed on a probation for a period of three years before they were granted shareholder status as a member club with equity ownership. In 2011, the ownership structure of the league was reformed into an incorporated body as the CSL Association Inc in order to bring about a slow process of equalization to

186-824: A masonry construction business. He became involved in soccer in 1958–59 originally with the German Canadians FC as a manager-coach. In 2003, he was inducted into the Western Ontario Soccer League Hall of Fame. In 2005, he was inducted into the London Sports Hall of Fame. He died in London, Ontario on November 17, 2013, from cancer, while his wife Magdalene died in 2007. London City Canadian Soccer League (2006%E2%80%93present) The Canadian Soccer League ( CSL ; French : Ligue canadienne de soccer — LCS )

248-466: A U-21 team as a reserve unit. Gauss time with Windsor was short lived as he resigned citing a personality conflict with club president Norm Feuer. After his departure head coach Townsend assumed his responsibilities. In 1981, the Gauss family purchased the franchise rights of Toronto Canadians with intentions of relocating the team to Port Huron, Michigan . The NSL league board of directors approved of

310-571: A charter member. Gauss accomplished his most notable achievement as a head coach in the 2003 Open Canada Cup tournament, where he secured the club's first piece of silverware. In 2004, he was selected as the head coach for the CPSL all-star match against Boavista F.C. In 2007, he stepped a side from his active club role to concentrate on his health after being diagnosed with cancer and turned club operations over to his son Ryan. The Ontario Soccer Association awarded him for his 20 years of services to

372-513: A compete youth structure within the CSL infrastructure with member clubs operating their academy teams in CAF. Shortly following the completion of the 2010 season, De Gironimo announced his resignation from the league citing irreconcilable differences. Additional achievements under De Gironimo term was the sponsorship agreement made with Givova which granted the company the naming rights to the league, and to

434-522: A feeder system to the top tier. In 2008, a Reserve Division was formed to build a developmental structure within the CSL and provide clubs with a larger player pool, sufficient playing time for injured players to recover, and a developmental platform for novice players to transition to the professional ranks. On May 12, 2009, the CSL received conditional approval for membership with the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA). This paved

496-602: A higher level. Another effort conducted by the league was in 2003 with the opening of their domestic cup, the Open Canada Cup , to all Canadian professional and amateur clubs to provide a potential candidate for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup . The previous time a Canadian club competed in the Champions' Cup was in the 1976 CONCACAF Champions' Cup , represented by Toronto Italia in the predecessor league to

558-541: A link between the provincial senior leagues to the USL A-League / USISL clubs, and provide opportunities for the development of youth players and referees. The intention of the league was to form regional divisions under the CPSL banner, with each divisional champion competing in a playoff format for the championship. Michael Di Biase , the CNSL president, would serve as the commissioner and OSA administrator Bill Spiers

620-775: A study titled Image of the Game in 1995/1996, which led to plans of launching the Ontario Professional Soccer League in 1997 as a Division 3 league in the Canadian soccer league system . As the OSA failed to bring their project to fruition, they reached an agreement with the CNSL and formed an alliance to launch the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL), beginning with an Ontario division in 1998. The CPSL would serve as

682-760: Is a semi-professional league for Canadian soccer clubs primarily located in the province of Ontario , and claims the history of the Canadian National Soccer League (CNSL). It is a non-FIFA league previously sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), but now affiliated with the Soccer Federation of Canada (SFC). As of 2024 , it consists of six teams, all located in Ontario. The season usually runs from May to October, with most games played on

SECTION 10

#1732797865002

744-551: Is awarded to the club which, in the opinion of the CSL Discipline Committee, has demonstrated good discipline on the field of play and has exhibited a high level of respect for the game officials in the regular playing season The Media and Broadcaster Award is awarded to the individuals who have shown interest and loyalty in reporting CSL news and matches. The league's MVP award. Harry Gauss Harry Paul Gauss (29 September 1952 – 31 October 2009)

806-537: Is no automatic promotion and relegation between the First and Second Division. Club members of the CSL vote to determine which, if any, applications for admission into the league will be permitted. The Canadian Soccer League previously organized a knock-out cup competition known as the Open Canada Cup (formerly known as the Government of Canada Open Cup for sponsorship reasons) each league season. The competition

868-414: The 1972 season . In 1973, his father Markus Gauss the former vice-president of German Canadian FC formed London City after acquiring the club's National Soccer League franchise rights. The elder Gauss would serve as the club's president, while his son Harry originally featured as a player for the organization. After a short stint as a player Harry began making the transition to the administrative field as

930-839: The American Professional Soccer League , which then was the highest-tier league in the United States. The remaining clubs, except for the London Lasers , joined the National Soccer League (NSL), the country's oldest and only exclusively Canadian professional league. After the addition of the Winnipeg Fury , the league changed its name to the Canadian National Soccer League (CNSL). Though

992-809: The USL First Division by fielding their farm team the Trois-Rivières Attak in the National Division. Toronto FC of the Major League Soccer (MLS), owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment , established a relationship with the CSL in 2008 by entering TFC Academy to the National Division and TFC Academy II to the Reserve Division. As a result, the league became associated with two of Canada's top three professional soccer franchises by providing

1054-523: The 2015 annual general meeting of team owners where restrictions on import players were lifted, and a working relationship was formed with the American Soccer League (ASL) in order to assist in areas of competition and business. A television agreement was made with Ethnic Channels Group, and beIN Sports in order to broadcast their television program, and revived their sponsorship deal with Givova in 2016. Affiliations were formed with

1116-484: The 2015 season potentially had illegal and suspicious betting activity. All 12 teams were alleged to have played in a "suspicious" game on at least three occasions. On February 2, 2016, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced investigations in the alleged match fixing in the CSL. As a result, the CSL cooperated with RCMP investigations and took measures to monitor all matches during

1178-505: The 2016 season. There are currently six clubs in the Canadian Soccer League. Traditionally, during the course of a league season teams usually played a balanced schedule of 18 or 22 games from April/May through October/November with the top eight ranked teams advancing to the playoffs. As of recent seasons a balanced schedule of 10 to 14 games has been played. Each match sees the winning team awarded three points , or in

1240-655: The CNSL was primarily based in Ontario , it operated as a private league for several years after disputes with the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA). The OSA operated the Ontario Soccer League which was the top senior amateur league in the province, but Ontario was without a sanctioned professional league (as the CNSL was considered an outlaw league by the OSA). As a result, the OSA completed

1302-500: The CPSL. The league continued its selective, cautionary approach to team expansion, but witnessed a major expansion run in 2001 beyond the GTA and Ontario border to include Quebec and Ottawa franchises. The following season, it expanded to 14 clubs to include a Hamilton and another Toronto territory. Due to the increase of teams, CPSL management split the league into two conferences: Eastern and Western. After firmly establishing

SECTION 20

#1732797865002

1364-564: The CSA were unreasonable and coercive. The sport arbitrator forced them to reinstate sanctioning to the CSL until the next season in order for the CSA to fairly implement the Easton Report. A notable admission was made by CSA president Victor Montagliani during the SDRCC hearing, where he stated that the decision to de-sanction the CSL was not made on any alleged grounds of match fixing in

1426-575: The CSL Championship. Other major sponsorships included Days Inns – Canada , and a record broadcasting agreement with Rogers TV, which provided additional match coverage to the provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick , and Newfoundland and Labrador . Finally, the addition of the Montreal Impact Academy as the second MLS academy club to join the league. Former CPSL president and CSA financial director Vince Ursini returned to

1488-631: The CSL First Division with a single table structure. While the Reserve Division expanded beyond the GTA boundary, and was reorganized in 2011 into the Second Division. Where it continued its traditional support role as a reserve, and entry level division for clubs with limited financial resources to meet the standards for a First Division club. A working relationship was struck with newly formed Canadian Academy of Futbol (CAF), which cemented

1550-409: The CSL began its operation as a private league for the first time since the 1997 season in its predecessor league. They joined the newly formed Soccer Federation of Canada (SFC), which provided the private soccer entity the services of administration of players, non-playing personnel, match officials and insurance, which they no longer have any affiliation with now. Significant changes were made at

1612-458: The CSL but strictly on the decision made by the CSA board of directors to adopt a new soccer structure in Canada. On February 28, 2014, the CSA officially expelled the CSL from its membership, citing violations of rules and regulations. After failing to specify which rule violations were made and without providing a formal hearing the CSL in response filed litigation against the CSA. As a result,

1674-622: The CSL during the 2024 season: This is a list of all Championship finals played so far. The final was called Rogers Cup from 1998 to 2009. Since 2010 it has been called the Givova Cup due to sponsorship change. Notes on name changes: Since the inception of the Canadian Soccer League it has contributed in the development and supply of head coaches to the Canadian soccer system. The league as it did in its predecessor league managed to attract many prominent head coaches from abroad to provide

1736-580: The CSL was granted full membership in the CSA as a Division 3 sanctioned professional league in the Canadian soccer structure. Meanwhile, the CSL commissioner was awarded a seat on the CSA Professional Soccer Committee to further the planned expansion of the league to a fully national league with regional divisions under the CSL banner. The league was restructured by merging the International and National divisions to form

1798-453: The Canadian Soccer League expired after the 2012 season, and was renewed in 2016. As well as sponsorship for the league itself, the CSL had a number of official partners and suppliers. These partners include companies involved in food and beverage , sports-wear and equipment . Thirty-nine teams have played in the Canadian Soccer League from its inception in 1998, up to and including the 2018 season . The following six clubs contested in

1860-529: The NSL's successor league the Canadian Soccer League (CSL). Under the tutelage of the Gauss family the club established a reputation for providing an opportunities, and developing young players to higher professional endeavors. In 2006, he was diagnosed with brain cancer , and subsequently died three years later after complications from surgery. Upon his death his sons Ryan, and Sean primarily ran

1922-781: The Ontario Youth Soccer Association in order to establish a YSA Division to house the CSL Academy teams, and with the Canadian Corporate Soccer League in developing a structure of competition for the city's corporate clubs in Toronto. While reports of alleged match fixing continued with a report released on October 14, 2015, by the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) claiming that 42% of matches in

Canadian Soccer League Awards - Misplaced Pages Continue

1984-503: The Western Ontario Soccer League Hall of Fame. Gauss was instrumental in establishing London City as a developing ground by providing experience to young players to the professional level. After three seasons as general manager for London City he accepted an offer in 1977 from league rivals Windsor Stars in the capacity of general manager. During his tenure in Windsor he secured the services of Jim Townsend as head coach, and fielded

2046-423: The allegations of match fixing the CSL issued a statement stating that the league would continue to conduct the necessary steps in order to prevent any future tampering of matches. Prior to the 2013 season , the CSA informed the CSL that the league would no longer be sanctioned. CBC reported that the CSA's decision was partially based on their inability to handle the match fixing issue. The CSA later announced that

2108-466: The case of a draw, the teams receive one point each. No points are awarded for a loss. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned the regular season champion. The playoffs operate as a knockout tournament with single-match legs where the winner of the final is crowned CSL champion . Fourteen clubs have won the CSL Championship including Toronto Croatia (6 titles), York Region Shooters , and FC Continentals (3 titles each). There

2170-601: The champion. The Open Canada Cup eventually expanded to include professional and amateur teams from Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. A notable addition was the Toronto Lynx of the USL First Division at the time the nations top tier division joining the tournament in 2006. In 2008, the CSL increased the prize money to $ 25,000, but shortly after the creation of the Canadian Championship

2232-444: The club's general manager. In 1979, a notable event occurred at the NSL annual general meeting, where several club representatives were rejected access to the meeting after London City representative Harry forwarded the motion of expelling club members who had failed in paying league dues. After departing the league in 1984 the team returned for the 1990 season after purchasing the rights from London Marconi. He would also incorporate

2294-503: The competition was disbanded. Since the establishment of the Canadian Championship, no CSL teams have participated in the tournament which determines the Canadian entry into the continental competition. The Canadian Soccer League is owned by its member clubs and managed by a board of directors made up of directors from each member club. The board of directors sets out the policy to oversee league operations and selects

2356-557: The decision was made in order to implement the James Easton Report (Rethink Management Group Report) for the adoption of a new professional soccer structure. The CSL protested the de-sanctioning and appealed to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC). The sport arbitrator ruled that the CSA had the right to de-sanction the CSL, but ruled that the immediate decisions conducted by

2418-663: The experience needed in the development of coaching. Notable head coaches have included Rudolf Belin , Miroslav Buljan , Manuel Gomes , Rasim Kara , Ivan Markovic , Mladen Pralija , Dragoslav Šekularac , and Ihor Yavorskyi . While at the same time provide the opportunities to produce and develop head coaches as Bijan Azizi , Jason Bent , Jim Brennan , Nikola Budalic , Hubert Busby Jr. , Rafael Carbajal , Danny Dichio , Marc Dos Santos , Philippe Eullaffroy , Dejan Gluščević , Carmine Isacco , Goran Miscevic , Darren Tilley , and Duncan Wilde , who have gone on to higher endeavors. The league's longest-serving head coach

2480-521: The governing body in 2008. The outcome of the reforms witnessed a 50% increase in match attendance particularly in the GTA with the ethnic based teams attracting the most attention. Fan support would continue to increase for several seasons, with the Serbian White Eagles FC and Trois-Rivières Attak averaging the most. Media coverage was further increased after an arrangement made with Toronto Community News , which provided coverage to

2542-514: The hopes of forming a Canadian first and second division domestic league. Meanwhile, the CPSL continued in its original mission of providing opportunities to players to a higher platform by striking an agreement with the Toronto Lynx of the USL A-League. The player agreement deal provided the Lynx access to use any CPSL talent upon request, which provided the players the opportunity to play at

Canadian Soccer League Awards - Misplaced Pages Continue

2604-592: The league and its member clubs. Rogers TV made additional broadcasting commitments to expand their media coverage to a full season. Several milestones were made in the Open Canada Cup tournament with the participation of the Toronto Lynx in 2006, and the expansion of the tournament to include teams from British Columbia in 2007. The CSL began an affiliation in 2007 with the Montreal Impact of

2666-615: The league earned major sponsorship deals from Primus Canada , and the Government of Canada , which served as the sole sponsor for the CPSL Rookie of the Year Award. In 2001, the CSA originally initiated a task force named the Canadian United Soccer League (CUSL), which formed a working partnership with the CPSL and the Canadian franchises in the USL A-League to forge a unified professional structure in

2728-562: The league within the Ontario soccer structure, Ursini resigned from his position in order to fully delegate his time to his OSA obligations, and to seek election to the CSA board of directors. Former CPSL management consultant Cary Kaplan with previous experience as president of the Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League was named his successor in the capacity of a commissioner . One of his first acts

2790-492: The name was made to the Canadian Soccer League (CSL), with a new set of rules, regulations, and constitution established. The schedule format was changed including the relationship between the OSA and the Quebec Soccer Federation (QSF) was revised with the CSL by the signing of a "Memorandum of Understanding", which provided the CSL with an increased level of autonomy and eventual operational independence from

2852-505: The organization as the successor to De Gironimo in 2011. The league's membership under Ursini's administration expanded to record amount of 28 teams in 2012 with 16 in the First Division and 12 in the Second Division. Their media coverage was broaden with a television agreement with CogecoTV , and the reintroduction of their weekly television program was picked up by Rogers TV. On September 12, 2012, accounts of alleged match-fixing

2914-588: The organization until their sale of the club in late 2011. His contributions were recognized by the Ontario Soccer Association , and the Canadian Soccer League with the latter creating the Harry Paul Gauss Award in recognition of his commitment, and loyalty in promoting professional soccer. Gauss was born in Stuttgart, West Germany . Gauss played in the National Soccer League in 1971 with London German Canadians . He re-signed with London for

2976-473: The prominent challengers in the early years, a change occurred in 2000 within the administration field of the league with Vince Ursini being appointed the president. The league was able to acquire a television deal with Rogers TV , which enabled the launch of its own television program, the CPSL Soccer Show, which garnered the highest ratings of Sunday programs shown on the channel. As a result,

3038-496: The role of head coach into his resume as he assumed the responsibility for the 1990 season. In 1993, the Canadian Soccer League merged with the NSL to form the Canadian National Soccer League (CNSL), where Gauss was named a league director. In 1998, the CNSL formed an alliance with the Ontario Soccer Association , and created the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) with London City as

3100-507: The sport with the Individual Meritorious Service Award. The Canadian Soccer League honored him by establishing the Harry Paul Gauss Award for individuals within the league who had demonstrated support, commitment and allegiance. On 31 October 2009 he lost a three-year battle with brain cancer after undergoing a 12-hour operation, a week before Christmas in 2006. In 2010, he was posthumously inducted into

3162-591: The status of teams, while compensating the equity owners who had heavily invested in league throughout the years The current chairman is Vincent Ursini, appointed in March 2011, and the league administrator is Pino Jazbec with Stan Adamson as Director of Media. Previously the chairman also had the function of a commissioner with Michael Di Biase, Cary Kaplan, and Domenic Di Gironimo serving in that capacity. The Canadian Soccer League originally sold title sponsorship rights to Givova from 2010 to 2012. The Givova deal with

SECTION 50

#1732797865002

3224-518: The transfer with intentions of operating in the 1982 season. League president George MacDonald, and commissioner Job Jones inspected Memorial Stadium, and reported their findings to the league members. Issues arose with obtaining a rental agreement contract with the Port Huron Area School District Board of Education for the usage of Memorial Stadium. The main obstacle to the agreement was a district bylaw preventing

3286-486: The usage of school facilities to outside parties. In 2001, Gauss along with several investors submitted a proposal for a Windsor franchise in the Canadian Professional Soccer League. Harry Gauss' father Markus and mother Magdalene migrated with Harry and brother Reinhart from Stuttgart, Germany , to Canada in 1958. Gauss was raised in Ontario following a short stay in Montreal and Winnipeg , while his sister Linda

3348-455: The way for the CSL to create the effective player developmental system needed to provide the missing link between the top provincial amateur level to the MLS/USL on a national level. After 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 years as commissioner, Kaplan resigned following the 2009 season in order to devote more time to his sports marketing company with Domenic Di Gironimo hired as his replacement. In 2010,

3410-405: The weekend followed by a playoff format to determine the overall champion. The league was formed in 1998 as the Canadian Professional Soccer League ( CPSL ) by an alliance forged by the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) with the Canadian National Soccer League. The new league was meant to provide opportunities for the development of players, coaches, and referees. The intention of the alliance

3472-426: Was a German-born Canadian soccer businessman, head coach, general manager, and soccer player. Gauss was a noted soccer promoter primarily involved with London City SC , a club formed by his father Markus Gauss in 1973. His involvement with the club was felt in every aspect from player to administrative, and to managerial duties. He operated with London originally in the National Soccer League (NSL), and ultimately in

3534-621: Was born in Canada. Gauss was married to his wife Kathleen for over 30 years. The couple had three sons; Paul, Sean and Ryan. His sons were involved in the operation of the club as well with Sean serving as head coach in the 2007 season . Ryan would assume the administrative and managerial duties of the club in 2007. His father Markus was born in Filopova , a village in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia , and once settled in London, Ontario he established

3596-567: Was named league chairman. The founding members included four CNSL clubs London City , North York Astros , St. Catharines Wolves , Toronto Croatia , and four of the OPSL teams: Glen Shields , Mississauga Eagles , Toronto Olympians , and York Region Shooters . In the initial years of the CPSL, the on-field performance was dominated by Toronto Olympians and Ottawa Wizards , who had the financial support from corporations such as Coffee Time , and Oz Optics Ltd. While St. Catharines, and Toronto Croatia – two well established former CNSL clubs – were

3658-406: Was originally formed in 1998 known as the League Cup, and was exclusively open only to CPSL clubs. In 2003, the CPSL opened the League Cup to all Canadian professional and amateur clubs in order to provide a potential Canadian candidate to the CONCACAF Champions' Cup . The competition was renamed with the Government of Canada as the initial title sponsorship, and the inclusion of a $ 10,000 reward for

3720-424: Was reported by the CBC that a CSL game between the Trois-Rivières Attak and Toronto Croatia held in September 2009 was fixed. The report, which aired on the news program The National , revealed court documents showing that €15,000 ($ 18,000 CDN) in bribes were paid to several players on Toronto Croatia. The game was part of a larger match-fixing scandal in Europe in which six people were convicted. In response to

3782-454: Was the creation of a Women's Canada Cup, as a preliminary tournament launched in the hopes of creating a future professional domestic league for women. In 2006, Kaplan began a series of reforms beginning with the creation of the National and International Division to replace the conference system . The intention of the reforms was to re-kindle the spirit of the CNSL days by promoting ethnic rivalries to increase match attendance. A rebranding of

SECTION 60

#1732797865002

3844-517: Was to form regional divisions across the nation under the CPSL banner with each divisional champion competing in a playoff format for the championship . After the demise of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) in 1992, Canada was without a Division 1 national professional league. The Canadian soccer landscape was fractured into several different foreign and regional senior leagues. When the CSL ceased operations, three of their clubs (the Vancouver Whitecaps , Toronto Blizzard , and Montreal Supra ) joined

#1998