March 15, 2013 CSL--CSL Readies for New Season (from CSL web site)
CSL READIES FOR NEW SEASON - April kickoff will be earliest on record The Canadian Soccer League lost a team going into its well-attended Annual General Meeting on March 3, but gained a new one with the approval of SC Burlington from one of the fastest growing soccer communities in Ontario. TFC Academy withdrew its franchise from the CSL in the wake of the de-sanctioning announcement by the Canadian Soccer Association on February 13. The annual meeting had an up-beat mood of optimism that the dispute will be settled in good time to kickoff a six-month long campaign late April, to be the earliest start to the season on record. With the number of teams yet to be confirmed, the membership approved a playoff format of the top eight teams in the First Division qualifying for a playoff spot, the playoff openers being four one-game knockout quarterfinals, to be followed by one game for each of the semifinals and the CSL Championship Final played late October. Kingston FC have renewed a contract with impressive head coach Colm Muldoon, and the club has signed a number of CIS players to professional and amateur contracts, including former Golden Gaels captain midfielder Jordan Brooks, midfielder Nathan Klemencic and defenders Joe Zupo and David Tom. Kingston has secured the Queen’s University west campus for their home games, setting up double headers with the First Division team and reserve team playing in the CSL Second Division on Sunday afternoons starting May 5, a 1 pm start. Tryouts are scheduled for March 18, 19, 20. While several CSL clubs have complete rosters already under contract for the upcoming season, there are some with openings, including St. Catharines Roma Wolves which has arranged open tryouts for March 11, 13 and 16. Arrangements can be made by contacting karen.costiff@sympatico.ca at Club Roma.in the Garden City. The North York Astros coaching staff are now looking at new players for the upcoming season – send a few details to astros@northyorkastros.ca, while CSL champions Toronto Croatia expect to sign several more players of the 17 to 23 age group following the club’s decision to enter a reserve team in the CSL Second Division. Players should send a message to torontocroatiareserves@live.ca. Montreal Impact has announced a fourth academy player signed to an MLS pro contract. Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau joins the first team to follow academy standouts Karl Quimette, defender Maxime Tissot and midfielder Wandrille Lefevre. Crepeau,18, is the youngest player to be signed to the Impact MLS squad. He took part in the first team training and was included in the tour of Italy last November.