With 2020 now well underway, the rumour mill shows no signs of stopping. We’ve some additional Canadian Premier League expansion rumours coming out of Ontario & Newfoundland. Click the button below to jump straight to the first update.
Who’s In
Who’s Out
Rumoured Changes
Updated: 17 Jan 2020
There are four groups right now that we are really excited about; I’ll say the West Coast, the middle of the Prairies, in (Quebec) and Ontario-based.
CPL Commissioner David Clanachan, December 23rd
CPL Quebec – With a stadium deal achieved, we expect Quebec City in 2021. Recent interviews with the President of Quebec Soccer indicate an expansion fee of $9 million may be a stumbling block.
Update (2 Jan): More recent rumours are starting to claim that a team in Quebec is ready to be announced for 2021. Whether that team is in Quebec City or elsewhere is not as clear, however, it is very encouraging.
Rumour Strength: Strong
Fraser Valley (Updated 2 Jan) – Although previously considered a lock for 2021, with play to occur at a new field located at the Langley Event Centre, recent rumours are starting to circulate that a team in the Fraser Valley is further off than anticipated, with some “sources” claiming 2022 a more likely target.
Rumour Strength: Moderate
Ottawa (Updated 17 Jan) – This has been the talk of the twittersphere over the past couple of days. According to the still developing series of rumours, Atletico Madrid is either about to sign the dotted line, or already has, with intention to be part of the Spring 2020 season.
TD Place remains the targeted stadium, despite the sour relationship that formed between OSEG & the CPL.
Although a Spring 2020 launch is still possible, I wouldn’t be too surprised if they joined for Fall 2020, or delayed until 2021 in order to “get it right.”
Unlike this week’s parody article, these rumours appear to have a lot of substance to them, and you can find a pretty thorough run down in yesterday’s, much more serious, article.
According to Rollins, there is a firm deadline of January 31st for a 2020 entry. If Ottawa does join, they may not be eligible for this year’s Voyageur’s Cup due to the late registration.
Rumour Strength: Very Strong
Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge (Updated 2 Jan) – Rumours surrounding a team in this area have been heating up lately, with recent claims placing K-W & (somewhere in) Quebec as being “ready to announce” for a 2021.
Thanks to John Jacques at Northern Tribune, we know for certain that Stuart Neely, the former coach of KW United & current Manager of Coach Education at Canada Soccer, is not connected to the new club.
Rumour Strength: Strong
CPL Laval – Despite surfacing on AFC Curtis, Bunbury remains relatively tight lipped on progress in Laval. Expansion expectations are pushed to 2022. As noted, the expansion fee is an additional road block for teams in Quebec.
Update (2 Jan): More recent rumours are starting to claim that a team in Quebec is ready to be announced for 2021. Whether that team is in Laval or elsewhere is not as clear, however, it is very encouraging.
Rumour Stength: Moderate
Saskatoon (Updated 8 Nov) – Latest rumours indicate Belan is targeting a 2022 launch.
Rumour Strength: Moderate
St John’s, NL (New 17 Jan) – A recent series of tweets suggest that there is a plan on the table to refurbish King George V Park for a 10,000 seat stadium for a future CPL team called NL United.
As the series of tweets begins with the words “an unreliable source” the strength of this rumour is highly questionable. We would hope they meant “unverified” as opposed to “unreliable,” but it still calls a number of things into question.
We do know the Newfoundland Soccer Association was planning to replace the turf at KGV, so a full renovation would be in line with their goals and this could show cooperation at the ground level for developments in Newfoundland.
That said, this rumour could all be smoke.
Rumour states a goal of 2021/2022.
Rumour Strength: Very Weak
Updated: 2 Jan 2020
Royal Beauport – According to justesoccer, Samir Ghrib, the head coach of Royal Beauport, claims the team is planning a move up to PLSQ in 2021. The move is being timed to, hopefully, coincide with obtaining the club obtaining the Canada Soccer National License.
Rumour Strength: Strong
Updated: 13 Dec 2019
At the beginning of summer, BC provided an update on their plans for L1BC. Many expect there will be a Voyaguer’s Cup spot for the league champion, although there is no public “guarantee” at this time.
The Highlanders have officially issued their release, which confirms they have dropped from USL2 and will be applying in January 2020 to participate in L1BC in 2021.
TSS FC Rovers should follow suit next year, but we continue to await word on other likely/potential teams.
Rumour Strength: Strong
Canadian Division 2
Updated: 2 Jan 2020
Recently a rumour has begun to circulate about the formation of a Canadian Division 2 league. Details are scarce, however, the Canadian USL2 clubs and the SK Soccer Series folks appear to be largely behind the discussion.
Some of the main points:
- Season running May to August
- National league, regionally based
- Main interest from:
- Highlanders FC
- TSS FC Rovers
- Calgary Foothills FC
- Saskatchewan Soccer Series
- Someone in Edmonton
- Someone in Kelowna
- Some groups in “Eastern Canada”
Everything else about this Division 2 league from the rumour (MSL2, Fury, etc) appears to be pure speculation, as Fudge (& others) build upon the initial idea.
Despite the CPL’s repeated talk of promotion and relegation with a future Division 2 league, this particular league is not a CPL/CSB product.
According to Rollins & Salisbury, talks about the Canadian Division 2 league have been happening since mid-summer. Discussions indicate the D2 league is more like a CPL proving-ground building off the Saskatchewan Soccer Series than a proper league of its own.
Rumours place the expanded Saskatchewan Soccer Series for 2020, with something more formal for 2021. As Highlanders have discussed plans to participate in the SSS this upcoming summer, this does appear to provide additional strength to (at least this portion) of the rumour.
Kevin Laramée, of Soccer Today, interviewed Simon Fudge seeking additional information. It provides a lot of great background, but little new information. Watch it below:
Rumour strength: Moderate
Challenge Cup Divisions
The BC Leagues (VISL, VMSL, FVSL) are currently in progress for the 2019-2020 season.
Many leagues in the Challenge Cup Divisions have promotion & relegation.
Promoted/New
LSEQ – St-Hubert and CS Fabrose both finished at the top of Men’s B, and should be promoted, however, actual promotion has not been confirmed.
MMSL – FC Northwest and CCS Sweatshack both finished at the top of Division 1, and should be promoted, however, actual promotion has not been confirmed.
Relegated/Dissolved
LSEQ – FS Salaberry and Brossard both finished at the bottom of Men’s A, and should be relegated, however, actual relegation has not been confirmed.
MMSL – World Soccer Academy and Forza-WSP both finished bottom of the Premier Division, and should be relegated, however actual relegation has not been confirmed.
No Change
AMSL – Calgary Villains Elite FC successfully defended Calgary Rangers Sportif FC‘s challenge.
For reference, Challenge Cup Divisions include:
- New Brunswick Premier Soccer League
- Nova Scotia Soccer League
- Newfoundland & Labrador Challenge Trophy
- Ligue de Soccer du Quebec (Pro/Rel)
- Ontario Open Cup
- Manitoba Major Soccer League (Pro/Rel)
- Saskatchewan Open Cup
- Alberta Major Soccer League (Pro/Rel)
- BC Provincial Cup
- Fraser Valley Soccer League, Premier Division (Pro/Rel)
- Pakenham Cup (2020)
- Soccer City Cup (2020)
- Vancouver Island Soccer League, Division 1 (Pro/Rel)
- Jackson Cup (2020)
- Vancouver Metro Soccer League, Premier Division (Pro/Rel)
- Imperial Cup (2020)
- Fraser Valley Soccer League, Premier Division (Pro/Rel)