Canadian National Soccer League
Season1997
Champions
League cupToronto Supra
Matches played24
Goals scored49 (2.04 per match)
Biggest home winToronto Supra 6-0 London City (July 13)
Biggest away winLondon City 0-8 Toronto Supra (June 20)
Highest scoringLondon City 0-8 Toronto Supra (June 20)
← 1996

The 1997 Canadian National Soccer League season was the seventy-fifth season for the Canadian National Soccer League. The season began on June 4, 1997, and concluded on October 8, 1997, with St. Catharines Roma Wolves defeating Toronto Supra in a two-game series for the CNSL Championship.[1][2] While the league cup was awarded to Toronto Supra due to several irregularities on behave of Kosova Albanians.

The season was noteworthy with the return of Toronto Croatia, and Hamilton White Eagles after the Canadian International Soccer League (Puma League) decided to merge with the CNSL. A notable departure was Toronto Italia a well-distinguished club that had another opportunity in 1998 to return to the professional scene but failed to settle disputes regarding territory and league policy.[3][4] The league operated as a private league for the final time, and under the banner of the CNSL as it reconciled its relationship with the Ontario Soccer Association in 1998.[5] The following season it would operate as the Canadian Professional Soccer League sanctioned by the Ontario Soccer Association to implement the Image of the Game report to provide a suitable professional soccer structure in Ontario and potentially throughout the country.[6][7]

Overview

Summary

The number of clubs participating in the 1997 season remained at seven with several notable additions and departures.[8] The additions revolved around the merger between the Canadian International Soccer League (Puma League) and the Canadian National Soccer League (CNSL) which enabled the CNSL to replace the departing clubs. The merger marked the return of Toronto Croatia, Hamilton White Eagles, along with the addition of Kosova Albanians as a new entry.[9][10] The Caribbean Stars opted against joining the CNSL as it lacked the financial resources to compete in the league.[11] The departing clubs were Oakville Canadian Western while Scarborough Astros merged with North York Talons and played their home matches in North York, and Scarborough.

A notable absentee was Toronto Italia an entity with a historical significance in Canadian soccer.[10] The departure stemmed from a variety of issues originally with the Ontario Soccer Association's decision to decertify the CNSL, and a feud involving Toronto Croatia over an alleged debt from the 1995 season.[12][13][14] As the USISL A-League expanded to include the Toronto Lynx the CNSL began to automatically serve as an unofficial feeder system with Italia's head coach Peter Pinizzotto, and several CNSL players being recruited to the Lynx's inaugural roster.[10][15] The league would ultimately receive this official recognition in the 2002 season under its successor league as both parties would form a player exchange program.[16][17] Throughout the regular season, controversies abounded as a league meeting was convened in the final quarter of the season, which resulted in the suspension of Hamilton, and North York for the remainder of the season.[18] The primary reason for their suspension revolved around the harassment of match officials, and unpaid league fees and fines.[18] The league meeting also produced a revised schedule where the final five matches were canceled, which allowed the remaining clubs a berth in the postseason.[19]

Teams

Team City Stadium Manager
Hamilton White Eagles Hamilton, Ontario Brian Timmis Stadium
Kosova Albanians North York, Ontario Esther Shiner Stadium Jose Valencia[20]
London City London, Ontario Cove Road Stadium Steve Roney[21]
North York Talons North York, Ontario

Scarborough, Ontario

 Esther Shiner Stadium

Birchmount Stadium

 Jorge Armua[22]
St. Catharines Roma Wolves St. Catharines, Ontario (Vansickle) Club Roma Stadium Dino Perri[23]
Toronto Croatia Etobicoke, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium Zlatko Haramincic
Toronto Supra Toronto, Ontario Lamport Stadium Cesar Garcia[24]

Final standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 St. Catharines Roma Wolves (C, O) 7 7 0 0 18 4 +14 21 Qualification for semifinals
2 Toronto Croatia 7 2 2 3 6 8 −2 8
3 Toronto Supra 4 2 1 1 15 2 +13 7
4 Kosova Albanians 5 1 2 2 6 8 −2 5 Qualification for first round
5 London City 7 0 1 6 4 27 −23 1
6 Hamilton White Eagles 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0[lower-alpha 1] Suspended by the league
7 North York Talons 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0[lower-alpha 2]
Updated to match(es) played on September 7, 1997. Source: [25]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners
Notes:
  1. ↑ Record at time of suspension: 2–1–3 (7 points); 7GF; 8GA
  2. ↑ Record at time of suspension: 1–0–3 (3 points); 5GF; 7GA

Playoffs

First round

September 14, 1997 Kosova Albanians 0–3 London City North York, Ontario
18:00 ET (Report)
  • Peter Paterson 81'
  • John Williams 85'
  • Howard Buchanan 89'
 Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 30
Referee: Mike Long
September 19, 1997 London City 1–2 Kosova Albanians London, Ontario
20:00 ET (Report) Stadium: Cove Road Stadium

Series tied 1–1. Kosova wins two 15 minute half mini game 1–0 to win tiebreaker.

Semifinals

September 12, 1997 Toronto Supra 4–0 Toronto Croatia Toronto, Ontario
20:00 ET
(Report) Stadium: Lamport Stadium
Attendance: 80
Referee: Graham Williams
September 17, 1997 Toronto Croatia 1–4 Toronto Supra Etobicoke, Ontario
20:00 ET 5' (o.g.) (Report)
Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium
Attendance: 50
Referee: Yakov Keimakh

Toronto Supra wins series 2 games to 0.

September 24, 1997 St. Catharines Roma Wolves 2–1 Kosova Albanians St. Catharines, Ontario
20:00 ET (Report) Stadium: Club Roma Stadium
September 29, 1997 Kosova Albanians 3–3 St. Catharines Roma Wolves North York, Ontario
20:00 ET
  • Garvin Huston 50'
  • Sean Carasquero 68'
  • Jose Pisco 78'
 (Report)
  • Hughes 3'
  • Bobby Pretto 62'
  • Gary McGuchan 64'
 Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 30
Referee: Yakov Keimakh

St. Catharines Roma Wolves wins series 1 game to 0 (with draw).

Finals

Toronto Supra0–0St. Catharines Roma Wolves
Report
Referee: Madi Tamashi

Assistant referees:
Ivan Calic
Yakov Keimakh
St. Catharines Roma Wolves4–3Toronto Supra
 Report
Club Roma Stadium, St. Catharines, Ontario
Attendance: 400
Referee: Graham Williams

Assistant referees:
Stuart Kelly
Ken Thomas

St. Catharines won 4–3 on aggregate.

Cup

The cup tournament was a separate contest from the rest of the season, in which all seven teams took part. All the matches were separate from the regular season. Teams played each other once home and away in the Cup competition, and the first-place team would win the Cup competition.

Originally Kosova won the tournament after finishing first in the standings as a result of a greater goal differential.[31] Shortly after league executives ordered a single finals match to determine the champion. The decision was influenced after Kosova's president was required to provide a performance cheque for a player who was involved in an altercation with a referee in an earlier match.[32] League executive Michael Di Biase reported that the club officials failed in properly address the request.[33] Though Toronto Croatia finished with similar results they were disqualified after using an ineligible player. As Hamilton, and North York was suspended from league play the suspension also included their participation in the cup tournament.

In the postseason semifinal match against St. Catharines Roma Wolves, the game was delayed when Kosova's president declared his club as cup champions after presenting a trophy to Kosova.[34] Consequently, the league officials canceled the final match and automatically declared Toronto Supra as league cup champions. In response to the decision, Kosova protested the league's actions and subsequently withdrew from the CNSL.

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Kosova Albanians 8 4 2 2 21 11 +10 14 Qualification for Playoffs
2 Toronto Supra (C) 8 4 2 2 21 14 +7 14
3 Toronto Croatia 8 4 2 2 14 12 +2 14
4 St. Catharines Roma Wolves 8 3 1 4 13 13 0 10
5 London City 8 1 1 6 9 28 −19 4
Updated to match(es) played on September 7, 1997. Source: http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/97cnsl14.htm
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions

Matches

June 29, 1997 Toronto Supra 8–1 London City Toronto, Ontario
19:30
Report Gebczynski 40' Stadium: Lamport Stadium
Attendance: 150
Referee: Gene Bainbridge
July 4, 1997 Toronto Supra 4–2 St. Catharines Roma Wolves Toronto, Ontario
20:30 Stadium: Lamport Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Angus Black
July 9, 1997 St. Catharines Roma Wolves 3–0 Hamilton White Eagles St. Catharines, Ontario
20:15 Report Stadium: Club Roma Stadium
July 9, 1997 Toronto Croatia 2–0 North York Talons Etobicoke, Ontario
20:00
  • Darko Pantolon 27'
  • Ante Musa 30'
 Report Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Hugh Elliott
July 12, 1997 Kosova Albanians 0–1 North York Talons North York, Ontario
20:00 Report Gary DeLeon 46' Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Referee: Teddy Tanashi
July 18, 1997 Toronto Supra 3–0 North York Talons Toronto, Ontario
20:30
  • Handsor 71', 79'
  • Marcelo Castillo 88'
 Report Stadium: Lamport Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Hugh Grant
July 20, 1997 North York Talons 1–1 Toronto Croatia North York, Ontario
16:00 Gary DeLeon 54' Report Ante Musa 20' Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 60
Referee: Peter Eleftehoglou
July 20, 1997 Hamilton White Eagles 1–1 St. Catharines Roma Wolves Hamilton, Ontario
19:30 Report Stadium: Brian Timmis Stadium
July 23, 1997 North York Talons 0–3 Kosova Albanians Scarborough, Ontario
20:00 Report Stadium: Birchmount Stadium
July 26, 1997 Kosova Albanians 1–1 St. Catharines Roma Wolves North York, Ontario
20:00 Gentian Cara 63' Report Gary McCuchan 42' Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 80
Referee: Yakov Keimakh
July 27, 1997 North York Talons 0–2 London City North York, Ontario
16:00 Report Dominique 9', 41' Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 30
Referee: Yakov Keimakh
July 27, 1997 Hamilton White Eagles 0–1 Toronto Supra Hamilton, Ontario
19:30 Report Stadium: Brian Timmis Stadium
July 30, 1997 Toronto Croatia 3–1 Toronto Supra Etobicoke, Ontario
20:00
  • Iglic 4'
  • Bulku 40'
  • John Marsonovic 79'
 Report Mella 87' Stadium: Brian Timmis Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Graham Williams
July 30, 1997 St. Catharines Roma Wolves 1–2 Kosova Albanians St. Catharines, Ontario
20:15 Report Stadium: Club Roma Stadium
August 2, 1997 Kosova Albanians 2–4 Toronto Supra North York, Ontario
20:00
  • Martin Quiroz 8'
  • Garvin Huston 41'
 Report
  • Mella 1'
  • Henrique Ferreira 38'
  • Jason Faria 82'
  • Moore 91'
 Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 80
Referee: Yakov Keimakh
August 9, 1997 Kosova Albanians 4–4 Toronto Croatia North York, Ontario
20:00
  • Yuri Castillo 15'
  • Biron Vargas 20', 35'
  • Marco Ponce 47'
 Report
  • Tomi Milkovic 50'
  • Ante Musa 62'
  • Ivica Zelic 64'
  • Zoran Maryanovic 73'
 Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Referee: Yakov Keimakh
August 13, 1997 Toronto Croatia 1–0 Kosova Albanians Etobicoke, Ontario
20:00 Zoran Marjanovic 34' Report Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Yakov Keimakh
August 22, 1997 Toronto Supra 0–3 Kosova Albanians Toronto, Ontario
20:30 Report
  • Garvin Huston 34'
  • Gentian Cara 79'
  • Biron Vargas 87'
 Stadium: Lamport Stadium
Attendance: 100
August 27, 1997 Toronto Croatia 3–2 London City Etobicoke, Ontario
20:00
  • Ante Bralo 5'
  • Ante Musa 19'
  • Leo Marasovic 84'
 Report
  • Michael Gauthier 27'
  • Tonino Commisso 78'
 Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Ken Thomas
August 29, 1997 London City 0–2 Kosova Albanians London, Ontario
20:00 Report Stadium: Cove Road Stadium
September 7, 1997 Kosova Albanians 7–0 London City North York, Ontario
18:00
  • Biron Vargas 13', 51', 57', 90'
  • Francis Rigoult 34'
  • Garvin Huston 55'
  • Sean Carasquero 91'
 Report Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Valentine Karagine

References

  1. ↑ "Canadian National Soccer League 1993 to 1997" (PDF). Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  2. ↑ Jeanneret, Mark (October 9, 1997). "Wolves script storybook ending". St. Catharines Standard. p. D4.
  3. ↑ Bailey, David (October 22, 1998). "CPSL's Faltering First Steps". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Canada Kicks. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  4. ↑ Bailey, David (April 24, 1998). "Italia Out - Let's Get On With It". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Canada Kicks. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  5. ↑ Ault, Bill (August 25, 1997). "National Dream - The OSA's hopes for the CPSL are national". Canada Kicks. Archived from the original on October 23, 1999. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  6. ↑ "About the CPSL". 2001-04-19. Archived from the original on April 19, 2001. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  7. ↑ Jose, Colin (2001). On - Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Vaughan, Ontario: Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. pp. 114, 117.
  8. ↑ Da Costa, Norman (May 28, 1997). "CNSL AT 76". Toronto Star. p. B13.
  9. ↑ "Club Roma kicks off CNSL season tomorrow". St. Catharines Standard. June 3, 1997. p. C3.
  10. 1 2 3 Jeanneret, Mark (April 19, 1997). "Soccer: CNSL picks up three teams". St. Catharines Standard. p. C3.
  11. ↑ McGill, Aldwyn. Aldwynable - Vintage Midget. Star Soccer Review. p. 88.
  12. ↑ "Pro Soccer in London, Ontario". 2001-05-02. Archived from the original on May 2, 2001. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  13. ↑ Da Costa, Norman (May 9, 1997). "Toronto Italia out of business; CNSL in battle". Toronto Star. p. C10.
  14. ↑ Bailey, David (April 24, 1998). "Italia Out Let's Get On With It - CPSL moves closer to kickoff". Canada Kicks.
  15. ↑ Mauntah, Richard (April 4, 1997). "Lynx go on the prowl for fans". Financial Post. p. 48.
  16. ↑ Da Costa, Norman (April 19, 2002). "Hartrells defy odds to keep Lynx alive". Toronto Star.
  17. ↑ "2002 - Feb. 26 - CPSL signs Player Agreement with Toronto Lynx". 2002-08-05. Archived from the original on August 5, 2002. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  18. 1 2 Jeanneret, Mark (August 14, 1997). "Two teams given the boot". St. Catharines Standard. p. C1.
  19. ↑ Jeanneret, Mark (August 16, 1997). "White Eagles, Talons officially suspended; Wolves near title". St. Catharines Standard. p. D3.
  20. ↑ Glover, Robin (July 12, 1997). "CNSL game between Kosova Albanians and North York Talons". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  21. ↑ Glover, Robin (July 13, 1997). "CNSL game between Toronto Supra and London City". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  22. ↑ "North York Astros Soccer Club Powered by Goalline Sports Administration Software". 2009-06-01. Archived from the original on June 1, 2009. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  23. ↑ Jeanneret, Mark (October 9, 1997). "Wolves script storybook ending". St. Catharines Standard. p. D4.
  24. ↑ Glover, Robin (July 18, 1997). "CNSL game between Toronto Supra and North York Talons". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  25. ↑ "Canadian National Soccer League 1997 Season Summary | SoccerStats.us". soccerstats.us. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  26. 1 2 "Canada Soccer". canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  27. 1 2 "Canada Soccer". canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  28. 1 2 "Dino Perri - Men's Soccer Coach". McMaster University Athletics. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  29. 1 2 "HWCDSB alumni and trustee inducted into Hamilton Soccer Hall of Fame". www.hwcdsb.ca. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  30. 1 2 "Luciano Beradocco". Niagara College. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  31. ↑ Glover, Robin. "September 7, 1997". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  32. ↑ Glover, Robin. "July 12, 1997". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  33. ↑ Glover, Robin. "September 14, 1997". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  34. ↑ Glover, Robin (September 29, 1997). "CNSL game Kosova Albanians and St Catharines Roma Wolves". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
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