League1 Ontario
Founded | November 15, 2013 |
---|---|
First season | 2014 |
Country | Canada |
Confederation | CONCACAF |
Number of teams | 22 |
Level on pyramid | 3 |
Domestic cup(s) | Canadian Championship |
League cup(s) | L1 Cup (former) |
Current champions | Guelph United (2021) |
Most championships | Oakville Blue Devils Vaughan Azzurri (2 titles each) |
Most L1 Cups | Vaughan Azzurri (3) |
TV partners | OneSoccer (future)[when?] |
Website | league1ontario |
Current: 2022 League1 Ontario season |
Founded | January 2015 |
---|---|
First season | 2015 |
Number of teams | 16 |
League cup(s) | L1 Cup (former) |
Current champions | Woodbridge Strikers (2021) |
Most championships | FC London (3 titles) |
Most L1 Cups | 4 teams (1 title each) |
Current: 2021 Women's League1 Ontario season |
League1 Ontario (L1O) is a semi-professional men's and women's soccer league in Ontario, Canada.[1] The league is sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association and the Ontario Soccer Association as a pro-am league in the Canadian soccer league system.[2] The 2021 season included 21 teams in the men's division and 15 teams in the women's division.
In the Canadian soccer league system, its men's division is behind the Canadian Premier League (CPL) and equal to the Première Ligue de soccer du Québec (PLSQ) and League1 British Columbia (L1BC). The L1O women's division is behind the U.S.-based National Women's Soccer League, which has no Canadian teams but is partially backed by the CSA, with many Canada national team members assigned to NWSL teams. As such, it is roughly equivalent to the Women's Premier Soccer League and United Women's Soccer, which form the unofficial second level of the U.S. women's game; each of those leagues also has one Canadian team. Dino Rossi serves as the commissioner of the league.[3][4] Carmelina Moscato previously served as the commissioner for the women's division from 2019 until the end of 2020.[5]
History[edit]
League1 Ontario was founded on November 15, 2013, in an announcement by the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) that it would pilot the semi-professional league in 2014 and 2015 as a key pillar of long-term player development in Canada. The league would be administered by DG Sports, who also operate the province's amateur Ontario Soccer League, with Dino Rossi serving as commissioner. OSA President Ron Smale stated that the league's core group of players are to consist of U-23s, with League1 complementing the newly formed Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) elite youth league as a pathway for professional player development.[6]
On April 8, 2014, the OSA revealed its plans for the inaugural season of League1 to feature 10 teams, chosen through a standards-based application process, with the first games to take place during the final weekend in May 2014. The founding 10 clubs would be: ANB Futbol, Durham Power FC, Internacional de Toronto, Kingston Cataraqui Clippers, Master's FA, Sigma FC, Toronto FC Academy, Vaughan Azzurri, Windsor Stars and Woodbridge Strikers.[7]
Dylan Sacramento of Toronto FC Academy scored the first ever goal in the league with a 10th-minute strike against Vaughan Azzurri.[8] In the same game, Mateo Restrepo received the league's first red card.[8]
On July 22, 2014, the league and the Ontario Soccer Association announced the termination of Internacional de Toronto's license agreement due to "failure to comply with agreed-upon league standards,"[9][10] with league matches rescheduled for the season to accommodate the change.
Toronto FC Academy were crowned the inaugural league champions on October 4, 2014 after defeating the Cataraqui Clippers 3–1 to secure the top place in the regular season standings.[11][12] Vaughan Azzurri and Sigma FC contested the inaugural League1 Ontario Cup on October 19, 2014 at BMO Field, with the Azzurri winning the single-game cup final 2–1 to be crowned champions.[13][14]
In January 2015, L1O announced the launch of a women's division that would include seven teams. In the same release the number of men's teams would go up to 12 for the new season.[15] Expansion continued for the 2016 season by adding four teams to each division[16] and the introduction of a conference format in the men's division.[17]
On November 14, 2018, the Canadian Premier League announced its purchase of League1 Ontario. According to L1O commissioner Dino Rossi, L1O would serve as "CPL's official development league."[18]
Due to restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the league cancelled the 2020 season[19][20] and delayed the start of the 2021 season.[21]
On January 25, 2022, League1 Ontario announced a major restructuring of the men's and women's competitions to commence in 2024.[22] The league will be split into three tiers (Premier, Championship, and League2) with promotion and relegation between the tiers.[23] Future expansion clubs will enter at the League2 level and will have to win to earn promotion to the Championship and then Premier divisions. Also in 2024 will be the return of the L1 Cup, a league cup knockout tournament which will feature teams from all three tiers in the L1O system.[23]
Men's division[edit]
Season | Teams | Regular season | Play-offs | L1 Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 9 | Toronto FC Academy | — | Vaughan Azzurri |
2015 | 12 | Oakville Blue Devils | — | Woodbridge Strikers |
2016 | 16 | Vaughan Azzurri (East) FC London (West) |
Vaughan Azzurri | Vaughan Azzurri |
2017 | 16 | Oakville Blue Devils (W) Woodbridge Strikers (E) |
Oakville Blue Devils | Woodbridge Strikers |
2018 | 17 | FC London | Vaughan Azzurri | Vaughan Azzurri |
2019 | 16 | Oakville Blue Devils | Master's Futbol | — |
2020 | 17 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
2021 | 15[note 1] | Vaughan Azzurri (E) Guelph United (W) |
Guelph United | — |
Competition format[edit]
The League1 Ontario regular season runs from May through October using a single table format, with each team playing one match against all other teams. The top eight teams compete in the league playoffs at the end of the season.[24] Since 2017, the league champion has qualified for the Canadian Championship.
A league cup tournament known as the L1 Cup was played from 2014 until 2018. The knockout tournament ran concurrently with the regular season, with cup games usually taking place during mid-week.
Beginning in 2019, the Supporters Trophy was created by the Rogue Street Elite supporter group of North Mississauga SC to be given to the regular season champions.[25]
Clubs[edit]
Current clubs[edit]
Of the 22 current clubs, 3 are based in Toronto, 11 are based elsewhere in the Greater Toronto Area, and the rest are based in other cities in Southern Ontario. There are no clubs based in Northern Ontario[note 2] or Eastern Ontario.[note 3]
|
- ^ Originally, 21 clubs were set to participate, but some clubs opted out of the main division due to scheduling impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some clubs participated in a separate short-season division.
- ^ Thunder Bay Chill, Northern Ontario's only club at a comparable level to L1O, plays in USL League Two.
- ^ Ottawa South United had been in L1O but switched to the Première Ligue de soccer du Québec prior to the 2020 season.
- ^ Unless otherwise noted, this information was obtained from team directories on the league website
- ^ Blue Devils FC was known as Oakville Blue Devils FC until the 2021 season
- ^ The 2020 season was cancelled delaying their debut to the following year
- ^ North Toronto Nitros was on hiatus in 2018 & 2019, and returned in 2020[27]
- ^ Pickering FC was known as Durham United FC/FA until the end of 2019
- ^ Durham United was on hiatus in 2018 & returned in 2019[28]
- ^ Windsor TFC was known as Windsor Stars until the end of 2016
Former clubs[edit]
Former teams | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | City | Stadium | First season | Final season |
ANB Futbol | King | The Country Day School | 2014 | 2015 |
Aurora FC[note 1] | Aurora | Stewart Burnett Park | 2016 | 2020 |
Internacional de Toronto | Toronto | Lamport Stadium | 2014 | |
Kingston Clippers[note 2] | Kingston | Tindall Field, Queen's University | 2014 | 2016 |
Ottawa South United[note 3] | Manotick (Ottawa) | Quinn's Pointe | 2017 | 2019 |
Sanjaxx Lions | Toronto | Monarch Park Stadium | 2015 | 2018 |
Toronto FC III[note 4] | Toronto | BMO Training Ground | 2014 | 2018 |
Toronto Skillz FC | Toronto | Birchmount Stadium | 2016 | 2021 |
Timeline[edit]
Organization[edit]
Regulations[edit]
League1 Ontario was founded with a series of values, objectives and standards all aimed at furthering the league's stated objective of improving player development in Ontario and Canada. Some of these regulations include:[30]
- Standards-based club licensing, renewed annually (not a franchise/ownership model). Standards include technical, organizational, facility and financial criteria.
- Maximum of 3 non-Canadian players per club.
- 18-man game day rosters must include a minimum of 8 U-23 players.
- Starting 11 must include a minimum of 4 U-23 players.
- Maximum of 5 substitutions per match.
Reserve division[edit]
In 2019, L1O launched a men's U21 Reserve Division open to existing League1 Ontario or Ontario Player Development League license holders. The inaugural year will consist of a 12-game summer season and a separate 10-game fall season. Nine teams will participate in the 2019 summer season with a possibility of more teams joining for the fall.[31]
Women's division[edit]
Season | Teams | Regular season | Play-offs | L1 Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | 7 | Durham United FC | — | North Mississauga SC |
2016 | 9 | FC London | — | Vaughan Azzurri |
2017 | 11 | FC London | — | FC London |
2018 | 13 | FC London | Durham United FA | Woodbridge Strikers |
2019 | 14 | Oakville Blue Devils FC | FC London | — |
2020 | 13 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
2021 | 7[note 1] | FC London | Woodbridge Strikers | — |
Competition format[edit]
The League1 Ontario regular season runs from May through September using a single table format, with each team playing one match against all other teams. The top four teams compete in the league playoffs at the end of the season.[32]
A single-elimination cup tournament runs concurrently with the regular season, with cup games taking place during mid-week.
Beginning in 2019, the Ron Smale Cup was created by the supporters group of North Mississauga SC to be given to the regular season champions.[25]
Clubs[edit]
Current clubs[edit]
Currently there are 17 clubs, of which two are based in Toronto, nine are based elsewhere in the Greater Toronto Area, and seven are based in other cities in Southern Ontario. There are no clubs based in Northern Ontario or Eastern Ontario.
|
|
- ^ Originally, 15 clubs were set to participate, but some clubs opted out of the main division due to scheduling impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some clubs participated in a separate short-season division.
- ^ Blue Devils FC was known as Oakville Blue Devils FC until the end of 2020
- ^ The 2020 season was cancelled delaying their debut to the following year
- ^ Pickering FC was known as Durham United FA until the end of 2019
Former clubs[edit]
Former teams | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | City | Stadium | First season | Final season |
ANB Futbol | King | The Country Day School | 2015 | |
Aurora FC | Aurora | Stewart Burnett Park | 2016 | 2020 |
DeRo United Futbol Academy | Scarborough (Toronto) | L'Amoreaux Park | 2018 | 2019 |
Kingston Clippers | Kingston | Tindall Field, Queen's University | 2016 | |
Ottawa South United | Manotick (Ottawa) | Quinn's Pointe | 2019 | |
ProStars FC | Brampton | Victoria Park | 2015 | |
Sanjaxx Lions | Toronto | Monarch Park Stadium | 2015 | 2017 |
Toronto Azzurri Blizzard | Toronto | Azzurri Village | 2017 | 2018 |
West Ottawa SC | Kanata (Ottawa) | Wesley Clover Park | 2017 | 2018 |
Timeline[edit]
Players who earned national team caps while in League1 Ontario[edit]
The following players have earned a senior national team cap while playing in League1 Ontario (the year of their first cap while playing in the league is listed). Players who earned caps before or after playing in League1 Ontario are not included, unless they also earned caps while in the league. This section also does not include youth caps (U23 or below).
See also[edit]
- Canadian soccer league system
- Première Ligue de soccer du Québec
- League1 British Columbia
- USL League Two
References[edit]
- ^ "Competitive S4L Leagues". Ontario Soccer. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
League1 Ontario sits as the highest level of soccer for Ontario-based players and is defined as a semi-professional league
- ^ Davidson, Neil (April 28, 2017). "League 1 kicks off Ontario soccer season, offering a chance to rise up the ranks". Chat News Today. Canadian Press. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
League 1 Ontario and the PLSQ league in Quebec are sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association as Division 3 leagues.
- ^ "L1O Commissioners address 2020 cancellation, potential Fall return". League1 Ontario. June 6, 2020.
- ^ Thompson, Marty (March 5, 2020). "L1O tweaks make for 'more impactful' 2020 season: commissioners". League1 Ontario.
- ^ Jacques, John (December 17, 2020). "Carmelina Moscato Steps Down As League1 Ontario Women's Commissioner". Northern Tribune.
- ^ "OSA to pilot semi-pro League1 Ontario in 2014–2015". Ontario Soccer Association. November 15, 2013. Archived from the original on July 6, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
- ^ "OSA announces League1 Ontario teams". Ontario Soccer Association. April 8, 2014. Archived from the original on May 18, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
- ^ a b "Toronto FC Academy 1 – Vaughan Azzurri 1". League1 Ontario.
- ^ "Notification". League1 Ontario. July 22, 2014. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
- ^ "OSA statement on Internacional de Toronto". Ontario Soccer Association. July 22, 2014. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
- ^ Tim Kelly (October 6, 2014). "Toronto FC Academy 3 – Kingston Cataraqui Clippers 1". League1 Ontario. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
- ^ "TFC Academy Triumphs". Toronto FC. October 4, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
- ^ Hylton, Kamal (October 20, 2014). "L1 Cup Final: Vaughan Azzurri 2 – Sigma F.C. 1". League1 Ontario. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
- ^ Kamal Hylton (October 19, 2014). "Vaughan Azzurri crowned 2014 League1 Cup champions". Red Nation Online. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
- ^ "League1 Ontario Announces 12-Team 2015 Men's Division". League1 Ontario. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
- ^ "League1 Ontario Announces Eight New Teams For Upcoming Season". League1 Ontario. Archived from the original on December 21, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ "League1 Ontario growing again in 2016". League1 Ontario. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ "Canadian Premier League acquires League1 Ontario". Sportsnet. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
- ^ Thompson, Marty (June 6, 2020). "League1 Ontario's 2020 'Summer season' cancelled, officials target Fall start". League1 Ontario.
- ^ Thompson, Marty (September 4, 2020). "League1 Ontario cancels 'Fall season' plans for 2020". League1 Ontario.
- ^ "League1 Ontario 2021 season now slated to start July 29th". Canadian Premier League. June 15, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ "League1 Ontario reveals league pyramid, pro/rel system for 2024 season". Canadian Premier League. January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ a b Jacques, John (January 25, 2022). "Seven Things To Know About The League1 Ontario Restructure". Northern Tribune. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ "2018 League1 Ontario Season To Feature New Format, Divisional Configuration And Several Exciting New Additions". League1 Ontario. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
- ^ a b "Supporters Like No Others". League1 Ontario. September 13, 2019.
- ^ "May 5, 2018 League 1 Ontario—North Mississauga Panthers vs Pro Stars FC game report (by Rocket Robin)". Rocket Robbin Soccer in Toronto. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- ^ "Three New Teams Join 2020 League1 Ontario Men's And Women's Divisions". League1 Ontario. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ "Durham United FA Return to League1 Ontario Men's Division for 2019". League1 Ontario. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ^ "Windsor TFC finds new head coach". iHeartRadio. CKLW. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
- ^ "League1 Ontario Presentation, April 9, 2014" (PDF). Vaughan Azzurri. April 9, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ^ "League1 Ontario Announces Men's U21 Reserve Division". League1 Ontario. April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
- ^ "2018 League1 Ontario Season To Feature New Format, Divisional Configuration And Several Exciting New Additions". League1 Ontario. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
- ^ Saul, Duncan (September 15, 2014). "Agard always wanted to be a Golden Jaguar". Stabroek News.
- ^ "Losing is not an option, says coach Shabazz". Guyana Chronicle. April 28, 2015.
- ^ Gallo, Anthony (August 2, 2016). "Men's 2016 East Division All-Stars Roster: A Closer Look". League1 Ontario.
- ^ a b @sigmafc (June 2, 2015). "Congrats to Emery Welshman, Daniel Whyte & Anthony Whyte on their call ups to the Guyanese MNT" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Toney, Rawle (November 8, 2017). "Three debutants in Golden Jaguars squad for Soca Warriors friendly". Guyana Chronicle.
- ^ "Canada-based Midfielders to attend PAK Football team camp". Football Pakistan. November 5, 2018.
- ^ a b "Canadian defender Justin Springer proud to wear the colours of St. Kitts & Nevis". The Sports Network. November 18, 2018.
- ^ Reid, Brady (January 7, 2020). "Canada vs. Barbados — Match Preview". Waking the Red.
- ^ @torontoskillz (March 9, 2019). "Congratulations to Toronto Skillz's player Tristan Marshall" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Baptiste, Neto (September 5, 2019). "Benna Boys in Jamaica for Nation's League opener". Antigua Observer.
- ^ "Two NRBs in 23-man squad for Kyrgyzstan series". The Daily Star. August 24, 2021.
- ^ a b "Lady Jags Kayla DeSouza named League 1 Ontario Defender-of-the-Year". Guyana Chronicle. November 25, 2015.
- ^ "Farkhunda Muhtaj". Facebook. Afghans of Toronto. January 14, 2022.
- ^ a b Gallo, Anthony (December 31, 2016). "Forty-Nine League1 Players (Incl. Alumni) Represented Canada In 2016". League1 Ontario.
- ^ a b "CANADACONCACAF Olympic Qualifying rosters announced". The Equalizer. February 8, 2016.
- ^ a b Davidson, Neil (February 22, 2017). "Coach Herdman picks young squad to defend Algarve Cup". CBC Sports.