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| Founded | 1987 |
|---|---|
| Ceased | 1992 |
| Commissioner | Dale Barnes(1987–1991) |
| Divisions | East and West(1987–1990) |
| No. of teams | 6–11 |
| Country | Canada |
| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Most titles | Vancouver 86ers (4 championships) |
| Broadcaster | The Sports Network |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| International cups | North American Club Championship (1990) Professional Cup (1992) |
TheCanadian Soccer League was a Division 1 professionalsoccer league that operated for six seasons between 1987 and 1992. It was anationwide league that had teams in six provinces over the course of its history. It was the last top-division league in Canada until theCanadian Premier League began play in 2019.
Professional soccer existed in multiple form in Canada in the decades prior to the formation of the CSL. In 1926, theNational Soccer League was formed in Canada, which evolved into the modern edition of theCanadian Soccer League, but was more of a semi-professional nature.[1][2][3] From 1960 to 1961, theEastern Canada Professional Soccer League (ECPSL) operated in the country, at times attracting crowds of around 10,000 spectators.[1] From 1968 to 1984, the US-based North American Soccer League (NASL), a top division professional league, contained two Canadian teams at its inception (theToronto Falcons andVancouver Royals), rising to five Canadian teams at the time of its folding - theCalgary Boomers,Edmonton Drillers,Montréal Manic,Vancouver Whitecaps andToronto Blizzard.[1] In 1983, a fully professional Canadian-only league, theCanadian Professional Soccer League was formed, but it failed to last a full season before disbanding.[4]
Following the folding of the NASL, theCanadian Soccer Association created the Canadian Soccer League (CSL). It was the CSA's second attempt at a national professional league, following the failedCPSL in 1983.[5]The CSL was formed in the aftermath ofCanada's participation in the1986 World Cup finals tournament held in Mexico, for which Canada was an oddity as a country whose association was able to qualify a team despite not having a domestic professional league, or even a domestically based professional team with the demise in 1984 of the U.S.-basedNorth American Soccer League.[6] Founding league commissioner Dale Barnes voiced sentiment aptly when he said the league is to "bring our players home."[6] In its first season the league had 138 Canadian players across its eight teams[7] and most of the players from Canada’s 1986 World Cup squad joined the league.[8] Learning from the CPSL failure, the organizers attempted to lay the foundation more successfully, with several teams coming from existing franchises in the provincial leagues, including a team salary limit of $300,000 for players.[5][9]
In the league's inaugural season, eight teams were divided into two divisions. The East Division consisted ofNational Capital Pioneers,Hamilton Steelers,Toronto Blizzard, and theNorth York Rockets. The West Division comprised theCalgary Kickers,Edmonton Brick Men,Vancouver 86ers, and theWinnipeg Fury.[10] The league's inaugural match took place on June 7, 1987 in Aylmer, Quebec between theNational Capital Pioneers and theHamilton Steelers and finished in a 1–1 draw, in a steady drizzle, in front 2,500 spectators.[11][12][13] That season, Hamilton won their division both in the regular season and in the playoffs, as did Calgary. The final saw the top point-getting team in the regular season, Calgary, defeat the second-best side, Hamilton, 2–1 at home in a winner take all one game final.
The league gained a leap in credibility when an agreement was reached withTSN to broadcast aCSL Game of the Week, allowing a nationwide audience to view a game on domestic cable TV each Sunday evening.[14] Broadcasts featured play-by-play commentatorVic Rauter and analystGraham Leggat.[15][16] The league received sponsorship from companies such asGatorade,Gillette,Chrysler,Molson, andUmbro, among others.[17] Also the league adopted the standard FIFA points system (2–1–0, then 3–1–0) as well as allowing for draws instead of 'Americanizing' the points system with bonus points and two different categories for both wins and losses unlike theNASL or theAPSL which was to follow.[5]
Over the course of the league's six seasons, various teams joined the league includingMontreal Supra,Victoria Vistas,London Lasers,Kitchener Spirit, and theNova Scotia Clippers.[10] Financial instability was common with many teams folding during the years. Only four clubs - Vancouver, North York, Toronto, and Winnipeg - participated in all six seasons. In early 1991, league commissioner Dale Barnes retired before the start of the 1991 season, with Hamilton Steelers owner Mario DiBartolomeo becoming the interim league president.[17] The next year, Montreal Supra owner Frank Aliaga being named the new league president.[18]
TheVancouver 86ers became the dominant team in the league, winning the four consecutive league titles from 1988 to 1991.[19] In 1992, theWinnipeg Fury ended Vancouver's run, winning the final MITA Cup, before the league folded.[20]
The league and its franchises struggled with financial issues throughout its tenure. After the 1991 season, four franchises folded, which was the start of the end of the league.[21] The financial picture did not improve during the season, and with dysfunction about the most sustainable path for professional soccer, concerns about club stability – declining attendance and red ink continuing to mount in most markets, the resignation of Canadian soccer advocates such as Mario DiBartolomeo, Frank Aliaga, and Karsten von Wersebe.[22] Vancouver media reported that the Vancouver 86ers' owner was the only team to fully pay league dues during the final season and had injected $65,000 for the London Lasers to finish the season, and paid playoff travel and accommodation expenses for the Toronto Blizzard.[23]
On October 6, 1992, the day of the CSL final, it was announced that Vancouver joined theAPSL, a league trying to show the USSF it had the wherewithal, new higher standards for 1993 (financial capitalization, salary budget, $1 million operating budget, front office, coaching, market size etc.),[24][25] to be chosen as the Division 1 league by the USSF.[26][27] Vancouver cited financial stability and higher growth prospects with the league expected by some to become the USSF's Division 1 league as required by FIFA when awarded the United States the 1994 World Cup.[28][29]
Even with the Vancouver defection to the United States, the CSL planned to have seven clubs for the 1993 season as of mid-December 1992 including aBurnaby, B.C.-based team; however, opposition from the Vancouver 86ers stymied this ownership's efforts.[30] However, the Toronto Blizzard and Montreal Supra had also planned to join the APSL,[31][32] although it was not able to meet the financial requirements for the league and instead a new club,Montreal Impact formed and joined the APSL.[33][34] Meanwhile, Winnipeg and North York joined theCanadian National Soccer League.[10]
When the dust cleared, there were not six Canadian professional teams, the minimum for a league, that survived in any form for the 1993 season, and the league officially folded, bringing an end to the first truly national Canadian league to finish a season.[22] This was a major blow for theCanadian Soccer Association and Canadian soccer, as the CSL had been enormously successful in providing Canadian players with a higher level of competition than had been available at any other time than the North American Soccer League years. As of 2014, after the 1986 World Cup, players from the CSL cohort have still progressed thefurthest in World Cup Qualifying and formed the veteran core of the2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup winning squad.[citation needed]
Following the demise of the CSL, Canadian professional teams such as theMontreal Impact,Vancouver Whitecaps, andToronto Lynx continued to play in US-based professional leagues, with later teams such asToronto FC andOttawa Fury FC forming as well.[1] In 2019, a new Canadian professional league, theCanadian Premier League was launched, serving as the country's first national professional league since the end of the CSL.[35]
The Canadian Soccer League showcased 13 teams throughout its six-year history, debuting in 1987 with 8 clubs.[36] The league reached its peak of club participation and national exposure in the 1990 season with 11 clubs, while closing out its final season in 1992 with a low of 6 clubs.[36] Some clubs involved in the league, such as theVancouver 86ers andToronto Blizzard, existed prior to the formation of the CSL and would go on to play in other leagues after the CSL's demise in following the 1992 season.[36] Clubs participating in the CSL throughout its six years of existence included:
| Team | City | Seasons | Top league rank | Top playoff rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary Kickers / Calgary Strikers | Calgary, Alberta | 3 (1987–1989) | 1st | Champion |
| Edmonton Brick Men | Edmonton, Alberta | 4 (1987–1990) | 5th | Semi-final |
| Hamilton Steelers | Hamilton, Ontario | 5 (1987–1991) | 2nd | Final |
| Kitchener Spirit / Kitchener Kickers | Kitchener, Ontario | 2 (1990–1991) | 6th | Semi-final |
| London Lasers | London, Ontario | 2 (1990, 1992) | 5th | N/A |
| Montreal Supra | Montreal, Quebec | 5 (1988–1992) | 3rd | Semi-final |
| North York Rockets | North York, Ontario | 6 (1987–1992) | 2nd | Semi-final |
| Nova Scotia Clippers | Halifax, Nova Scotia | 1 (1991) | 6th | Quarter-final |
| National Capital Pioneers / Ottawa Intrepid | Ottawa, Ontario | 4 (1987–1990) | 3rd | Quarter-final |
| Toronto Blizzard | Toronto, Ontario | 6 (1987–1992) | 2nd | Final |
| Vancouver 86ers | Vancouver, British Columbia | 6 (1987–1992) | 1st | Champion |
| Victoria Vistas | Victoria, British Columbia | 2 (1989–1990) | 4th | Semi-final |
| Winnipeg Fury | Winnipeg, Manitoba | 6 (1987–1992) | 3rd | Champion |
| Season | Teams | Regular season leaders | Playoff Champions MITA Cup | Final score(s) | Playoff Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 8 | Calgary Kickers (West) Hamilton Steelers (East) | Calgary Kickers | 2–1 | Hamilton Steelers |
| 1988 | 9 | Vancouver 86ers (West) Hamilton Steelers (East) | Vancouver 86ers | 4–1 | Hamilton Steelers |
| 1989 | 10 | Vancouver 86ers (West) Toronto Blizzard (East) | Vancouver 86ers | 3–2 | Hamilton Steelers |
| 1990 | 11 | Vancouver 86ers (West) Toronto Blizzard (East) | Vancouver 86ers | 6–1 | Hamilton Steelers |
| 1991 | 8 | Vancouver 86ers | Vancouver 86ers | 5–3 | Toronto Blizzard |
| 1992 | 6 | Vancouver 86ers | Winnipeg Fury | 2–0 1–1 | Vancouver 86ers |
Twenty-six players from the Canadian Soccer League have since been inducted in theCanada Soccer Hall of Fame. From that group, 11 honoured members made their professional debuts in the Canadian Soccer League.
| Preceded by | Division 1 soccer league in Canada 1987–1992 | Succeeded by |
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