| Season | 1990 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Vancouver 86ers |
| Division Leaders | Toronto Blizzard (East) Vancouver 86ers (West) |
| Matches | 143 |
| Goals | 390 (2.73 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | John Catliff (19) |
| Best goalkeeper | Pat Harrington (0.43 GAA) |
←1989 1991 → | |
The1990 Canadian Soccer League season was the fourth season of play for theCanadian Soccer League, a Division 1 men's soccer league in theCanadian soccer pyramid.
TheKitchener Spirit andLondon Lasers joined theCanadian Soccer League as an expansion teams for the 1990 season, with both joining the East Division.[1][2] Meanwhile, theCalgary Strikers folded following the 1989 season.[3]
As a result of those team changes, the league had a seven-team East Division and a four-team West Division. Consequently, the league did not have a balanced home and away schedule between conferences. West Division teams played each other four times each, twice each home and away, while playing the East Division teams twice, once each home and away. Eastern Division teams played other East Division teams three times, while playing the West Division teams twice, once each home and away.
The playoff format was also modified with eight teams (five from the East and three from the West) now qualifying for the post-season, as opposed to six in the previous years. The fifth place team from the East wouldcross over and play in the West Division playoff bracket. In addition, the playoff format was changed from anaggregate score system to atotal points system. Teams would play a two-game series, with teams earning two points for a victory, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss, regardless of the score. If the teams were tied on points (e.g. each team won a game, or both games were ties), then the first tiebreaker was the teams playing a thirty-minute mini-game. If the mini-game resolved nothing, then penalty kicks were used as the second tiebreaker. In the mini-game, each team named a new lineup, could include three more substitutes and re-activate any players who sat out of Game Two for caution accumulation. Game Two home teams, the higher seeds, had an advantage as they had their entire 22-man active list available while away teams often traveled with as few as 14 players for economic reasons. The playoff final remained a one-off match, as in previous years, hosted by the top seed, or team with the best league record, in 1990.
Vancouver won their third consecutive West Division title, while Toronto won their second East Division title in a row. Once again, Vancouver and Hamilton met in the finals for the third consecutive season, with Vancouver winning the title for the third time in a row.
As 1989 league champions, theVancouver 86ers competed in the North American Club Championship against the champions of theAmerican Professional Soccer League, theMaryland Bays. Vancouver defeated Maryland 3–2 in the final played in Burnaby to capture the title.[4][5]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toronto Blizzard | 26 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 52 | 15 | +37 | 39 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Montreal Supra | 26 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 30 | 12 | +18 | 37 | |
| 3 | Hamilton Steelers | 26 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 44 | 35 | +9 | 29 | |
| 4 | Kitchener Spirit | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 30 | 36 | −6 | 23 | |
| 5 | North York Rockets | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 34 | 36 | −2 | 23 | |
| 6 | Ottawa Intrepid | 26 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 21 | 49 | −28 | 13 | |
| 7 | London Lasers | 26 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 26 | 68 | −42 | 11 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vancouver 86ers(O) | 26 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 69 | 26 | +43 | 40 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Victoria Vistas | 26 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 42 | 32 | +10 | 31 | |
| 3 | Winnipeg Fury | 26 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 22 | 37 | −15 | 22 | |
| 4 | Edmonton Brick Men | 26 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 44 | −24 | 18 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vancouver 86ers(O) | 26 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 69 | 26 | +43 | 40 |
| 2 | Toronto Blizzard | 26 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 52 | 15 | +37 | 39 |
| 3 | Montreal Supra | 26 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 30 | 12 | +18 | 37 |
| 4 | Victoria Vistas | 26 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 42 | 32 | +10 | 31 |
| 5 | Hamilton Steelers | 26 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 44 | 35 | +9 | 29 |
| 6 | Kitchener Spirit | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 30 | 36 | −6 | 23 |
| 7 | North York Rockets | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 34 | 36 | −2 | 23 |
| 8 | Winnipeg Fury | 26 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 22 | 37 | −15 | 22 |
| 9 | Edmonton Brick Men | 26 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 44 | −24 | 18 |
| 10 | Ottawa Intrepid | 26 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 21 | 49 | −28 | 13 |
| 11 | London Lasers | 26 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 26 | 68 | −42 | 11 |
The playoffs were conducted with atotal points system. Teams earned two points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. The team with the most points following the two-game series advanced. If the teams were tied on points, they played a 30-minute mini-game for a bonus point, followed by a penalty shootout if the mini-game remained tied.
| Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||||||
| 1W | Vancouver 86ers | 2 | 2 | 4 PTS | ||||||||||||||
| 5E | North York Rockets | 0 | 1 | 0 PTS | ||||||||||||||
| 1W | Vancouver 86ers | 2 | 6 | 3 PTS | ||||||||||||||
| West Division | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2W | Victoria Vistas | 2 | 1 | 1 PTS | ||||||||||||||
| 2W | Victoria Vistas(p) | 1 | 3 (5) | 2+1 PTS | ||||||||||||||
| 3W | Winnipeg Fury | 4 | 2 (4) | 2 PTS | ||||||||||||||
| 1W | Vancouver 86ers | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3E | Hamilton Steelers | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2E | Montreal Supra | 1 | 0 | 0 PTS | ||||||||||||||
| 3E | Hamilton Steelers | 2 | 1 | 4 PTS | ||||||||||||||
| 3E | Hamilton Steelers | 1 | 3 | 3 PTS | ||||||||||||||
| East Division | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4E | Kitchener Spirit | 0 | 3 | 1 PTS | ||||||||||||||
| 1E | Toronto Blizzard | 1 | 1 (3) | 2 PTS | ||||||||||||||
| 4E | Kitchener Spirit(p) | 2 | 0 (4) | 2+1 PTS | ||||||||||||||
| September 12, 1990 | North York Rockets | 0–2 | Vancouver 86ers | North York, Ontario |
| [[6] Report] | Mitchell Catliff | Stadium:Esther Shiner Stadium Attendance: 1000 |
| September 16, 1990 | Vancouver 86ers | 2–1 | North York Rockets | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Catliff Evans | [[7] Report] | Enrico Todesco | Stadium:Swangard Stadium Attendance: 3340 |
Vancouver 86ers won the series 4–0 on points.
| September 12, 1990 | Winnipeg Fury | 4–1 | Victoria Vistas | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Mike Mosher Cambridge Holness Dave Foley | [[8] Report] | Bridge | Stadium:Winnipeg Stadium Attendance: 1155 |
| September 15, 1990 | Victoria Vistas | 3–0 (Match Voided)[note 1] (a.e.t.) | Winnipeg Fury | Victoria, British Columbia |
| David Ravenhill Ken Andrews Aunger | [[9] Report] | Stadium:Royal Athletic Park Attendance: 1980 |
| September 20, 1990 | Winnipeg Fury | 2–3 (a.e.t.) (4–5p) | Victoria Vistas | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Nocita Dave Foley | [[10] Report] | Rick Jaskins Steve Cecchi | Stadium:Winnipeg Stadium Attendance: 839 |
Victoria Vistas won the series in a shootout, after the series was tied 2–2 on points.
| September 12, 1990 | Hamilton Steelers | 2–1 | Montreal Supra | Hamilton, Ontario |
| Fashanu | [[8][11] Report] | Keith | Stadium:Brian Timmis Stadium Attendance: 2650 |
| September 15, 1990 | Montreal Supra | 0–1 | Hamilton Steelers | Montreal, Quebec |
| [[12] Report] | Fashanu | Stadium:Claude Robilliard Stadium Attendance: 1573 |
Hamilton Steelers won the series 4–0 on points.
| September 12, 1990 | Kitchener Spirit | 2–1 | Toronto Blizzard | Kitchener, Ontario |
| Colville Hunter Madeley | [[8][13] Report] | Peschisolido | Stadium:Centennial Stadium Attendance: 1029 |
| September 16, 1990 | Toronto Blizzard | 1–0 (a.e.t.) (3–4p) | Kitchener Spirit | Etobicoke, Ontario |
| Eck | [[14] Report] | Stadium:Centennial Park Stadium Attendance: 2960 Referee: Bernie Huxter | ||
| Penalties | ||||
| Gray Marco Antonucci Pignatiello Fenwick | ||||
Kitchener Spirit won the series in a shootout, after the series was tied 2–2 on points.
| September 22, 1990 | Victoria Vistas | 2–2 | Vancouver 86ers | Victoria, British Columbia |
| Evans Steve Cecchi | [[15] Report] | Mobilio Evans | Stadium:Royal Athletic Park Attendance: 3775 |
| September 30, 1990 | Vancouver 86ers | 6–1 | Victoria Vistas | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Mobilio Mitchell Evans McKinty Sammy Saundh | [[16] Report] | Aunger | Stadium:Swangard Stadium Attendance: 5883 |
Vancouver 86ers won the series 3–1 on points.
| September 22, 1990 | Kitchener Spirit | 0–1 | Hamilton Steelers | Kitchener, Ontario |
| [[17] Report] | John Coyle | Stadium:Centennial Stadium Attendance: 1325 |
| September 30, 1990 | Hamilton Steelers | 3–3 | Kitchener Spirit | Hamilton, Ontario |
| Fashanu Billy Domazetis | [[18] Report] | Hardley Scott Mike Carter Scott | Stadium:Brian Timmis Stadium Attendance: 1956 |
Hamilton Steelers won the series 3–1 on points.
| October 8, 1990 | Vancouver 86ers | 6–1 | Hamilton Steelers | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| 19:30 | Catliff Evans Mitchell Mobilio | [[19][20] Report] | Billy Domazetis | Stadium:Swangard Stadium Attendance: 6348 Referee:Tony Evangelista |
| Rank | Player | Club | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montreal Supra | 0.43 | |
| 2 | Toronto Blizzard | 0.58 | |
| 3 | Vancouver 86ers | 1.08 | |
| 4 | Victoria Vistas | 1.13 | |
| 5 | Victoria Vistas | 1.16 | |
| Reference:[21] | |||
The following awards and nominations were awarded for the 1990 season.[21]
| Award | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | Montreal Supra | |
| Canadian Player of the Year | Vancouver 86ers | |
| Rookie of the Year | London Lasers | |
| Top Newcomer | Victoria Vistas | |
| Top Goaltender | Montreal Supra | |
| Fair Play Award | Edmonton Brick Men | |
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | |
| Defender | |
| Defender | |
| Defender | |
| Defender | |
| Midfielder | |
| Midfielder | |
| Midfielder | |
| Forward | |
| Forward | |
| Forward |
Reserves
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | |
| Defender | |
| Defender | |
| Midfielder | |
| Forward |
Front office
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | |
| Assistant Coach | |
| General Manager |
| Pos. | Team | GP | Average Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vancouver 86ers | 26 | 4,218 |
| 2 | Winnipeg Fury | 26 | 4,194 |
| 3 | Montreal Supra | 26 | 2,711 |
| 4 | Toronto Blizzard | 26 | 2,221 |
| 5 | Victoria Vistas | 26 | 1,725 |
| 6 | Hamilton Steelers | 26 | 1,574 |
| 7 | Edmonton Brick Men | 26 | 1,474 |
| 8 | Kitchener Spirit | 26 | 1,338 |
| 9 | Ottawa Intrepid | 26 | 1,357 |
| 10 | North York Rockets | 26 | 1,061 |
| 11 | London Lasers | 26 | N/A |
| Total Attendance | 286 | 2,187 | |
| Reference:[20] | |||