April 18, 2011 CSL--CSL releases 2011 Schedule (from CSL news release)
CSL Pre-season Update
For Immediate Release
ACADEMY OPENER
CSL First Division schedule has Toronto vs Montreal in televised season opener at Lamport Stadium
Playoff details released
TORONTO - Monday, April 18 - Lamport Stadium in Toronto's west-end will set the scene for the kickoff of a new CSL season on Friday, May 6, an early
beginning for Canada's only professional league when two academy teams from Toronto FC and Montreal Impact play the first of 182 games that make up the
CSL's First Division schedule.
It will be a televised event, one of more than 50 CSL games shown by Rogers TV during the six-month campaign, including the CSL Championship Final at the
end of October.
The CSL has also announced its playoff format that sees the top eight of 14 teams coming together at the end of the regular season for a 2-leg home and
away quarterfinal series. The winners will advance on total points over the two games, adopting the same arrangement as in 2010, a highly successful
playoff series won by first-year Brantford Galaxy, a 3-0 defeat in the final of the now absent Hamilton Croatia. The eight playoff teams will be seeded
and scheduled 1vs 8, 2 vs.7, 3 vs.6 and 4 vs.5 in the quarterfinal matches.
Montreal will be involved in the second game of the schedule when they move to Windsor Stadium for a game with the Stars on Saturday, May 7. That's also
an evening clash with a 7 pm start and the home opener for Windsor brings pro soccer back to the border city following a three-year absence.
CSL champions Brantford Galaxy will open their season at home against Serbian White Eagles on Sunday, May 15. Both teams are known for bringing talented
European professionals to Canada and the Serbs also benefited by the move when they won the CSL title in 2008.
In addition to Windsor -- which is owned by restaurateur Filip Rocca, an MVP standout defender for the earlier Border Stars team -- the new teams in the
CSL First Division are Capital City FC of Ottawa and Mississauga Eagles. Capital City FC is owned by Neil Malhotra, an entrepreneur with strong local
roots, the Claridge Homes family business which is today Ottawa's largest condominium developer and 2nd largest homebuilder. Mississauga Eagles FC
is owned by the Erin Mills Soccer Club and will be coached by the highly regarded Hungarian-born Josef Komlodi.
There are name changes from 2010 with newly-branded Brampton City Utd (formerly Brampton Lions) under new owners Michael DiMatteo and Leal Jose, and
SC Toronto, which is still owned by Isac Cambas, is the former Portugal FC.
There are two additional new teams in the CSL for 2011. KW United FC and Niagara United SC have both been entered into the CSL Second Division and that
schedule, which includes the CSL reserve teams, will be released late April.
The following opening CSL First Division matches are scheduled May 6 to15 and the complete 2011 CSL First Division schedule can be seen
at www.canadiansoccerleague.com A complete season press kit and accreditation for media entry to all CSL games will be provided at the league's annual
Pre-season Press Conference and Lunch at the BMO Field on Thursday, May 5 at 12 noon.
Fri May 6 Lamport Stadium 8:00 pm TFC Academy Montreal Impact Academy
Sat May 7 Windsor Stadium 7:00 pm Windsor Stars Montreal Impact Academy
Sun May 8 St. Joan Of Arc 6:00 pm York Region Shooters Serbian White Eagles
Sun May 8 Centennial Stadium 8:00 pm TFC Academy Mississauga Eagles FC
Fri May 13 Lamport Stadium 8:00 pm SC Toronto Montreal Impact Academy
Sat May 14 Windsor Stadium 7:00 pm Windsor Stars Brampton City Utd
Sat May 14 Hershey Centre 8:00 pm Mississauga Eagles FC Montreal Impact Academy
Sun May 15 Lions Park 6:00 pm Brantford Galaxy Serbian White Eagles
Sun May 15 St. Joan of Arc 6:00 pm York Region Shooters London City
Sun May 15 Esther Shiner Stadium 6.00 pm North York Astros TFC Academy
Sun May 15 Centennial Stadium 8:00 pm Toronto Croatia St. Catharines Wolves
Canadian Soccer League
Ligue canadienne de soccer
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Tel: 905 564-2297 Toll Free 1 888 216-9913 Fax: 905 671-6450
csl@canadiansoccerleague.ca www.canadiansoccerleague.ca
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