TORONTO — Canadian Premier League clubs will be allowed to share talent with teams in lower divisions under a pilot project announced Friday.
The plan allows all eight CPL franchises to partner with one team in either League1 Ontario, League1 BC, Ligue1 Quebec, League1 Alberta Exhibition Series, Alberta Men’s Soccer League, USL League Two and the top men’s leagues in Manitoba and Nova Scotia.
The CPL clubs will be able to send players to their designated affiliate to earn additional playing time. Players from the affiliate clubs will not be able to move the other way under the pilot project.
“It is common in professional soccer for the lion’s share of first-team minutes to be played by about two thirds of a team’s roster," CPL commissioner Mark Noonan said in a statement. “By implementing this pilot project, we intend to maximize the benefits of the ever-improving pathway between amateur and professional men’s soccer in Canada, ensuring all our CPL players, especially those under the age of 23, get the consistent competitive game time that is critical to their growth, as well as the growth of the overall pool of players in our country.”
The CPL says the pilot project will be reviewed at the end of the 2023 season "to ensure it is making a positive impact on player development and competitiveness within sport and to determine whether it is a viable long-term solution that enables all rostered CPL players to log such important minutes."
There is no limit on the total number of players a CPL club can send to its affiliate per year. But there is a maximum of two outfield players and one goalkeeper at an affiliate club at any given time.
Players aged 23 or older may only appear in three games for an affiliate club per year, and only one player aged 23 or older can be moved down at any given time. There is no match limit for players under the age of 23.
Minutes earned by under-21 CPL players in lower division play do not count toward the League’s under-21 minutes threshold.
CPL players on loan in the league are not eligible to play in a lower division and can't appear in Canadian Championship games or post-season games for their affiliate club.
Five of the CPL’s member clubs have already established their affiliate club relationship.
York United FC is with Alliance United FC while Forge FC is with Sigma FC (both from League1 Ontario). Vancouver FC and Pacific FC have partnered with League1 B.C's Unity FC and Nautsa’mawt FC, respectively.
Calgary's Cavalry is tied to the Calvary FC U21 team, playing in the Alberta Men’s Soccer League and League1 Alberta Exhibition Series.
Halifax Wanderers FC, Valour FC and Atletico Ottawa can partner with a club in any of the designated leagues at any point in the 2023 season.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 21, 2023
The Canadian Press
