November 24, 2018 League 1 Ontario--2018 League 1 Ontario Awards Gala (by Rocket Robin)
Details of the 2018 League 1 Ontario Awards Gala held at the Fontana Primavera in Vaughan at 12:00pm.
This was a celebration of the league surviving and growing through its five years.
I counted 18 tables with 10 chairs at each table but I'd estimate there may have been 150 people here.
After the main course, MC Ari Soroka (the PA announcer for Oakville Blue Devils) started the awards
part of the afternoon.
First presentation was to the Women's First Team All Stars with each player present was given a
personalized framed certificate. This action was then repeated with the second and third team
all stars. That could have been quite a crowd of 11 players then another 22 but a majority were
missing for work and school commitments besides distance. Then time for the men's first then second
and third team all star players. This could have had even more as there were 18 players
named to the third team. (probably so all 17 men's teams could have at least one 'all-star').
The Women's division had 13 teams in 2018.
Next coach of the Year was presented. Mike Marcoccia won twice for coaching FC London's Men's
and Women's team. He coached both to first place regular season finishes. Ramon Monhammadi was
co-winner of the Women's award and that was for coaching Durham United to the League championship
in the playoffs including a semi-final upset over FC London. I spoke to Marcoccia after the
ceremony and asked if there were enough hours in the day as I know he's also a college coach--
the Fanshawe College women's team--he reminded me and said he took them to the national championships
this year. He said he loves coaching and loves the work. I said the only one comparable
is Vaughan's coach Carmen Isacco who does similar work with York University but has now been named
an assistant coach with York 9 FC of the CPL and will have to give up something.
[Looking through their website, Fanshawe swept through Ontario their league with a 10-0-0 regular
season, then won three playoff games to be the best college team in the province, went to the national
championships won three games and lost one to win the bronze medal! Jade Kovacevic was on the team
and scored 30 goals in the ten games she played].
The Fair Play Awards were presented next. Vaughan Azzurri players won both awards with Sarah Wong
winning the Women's award and Matthew Arnone for the Men.
The Golden Boot Awards were then presented. Jade Kovacevic won after an injury plagued season
with FC London. This is the third year in a row she's won. Anthony Novak won while playing for
Oakville Blue Devils.
The Goaltender of the Year was presented next. Sara Petrucci of Durham United FA won the Women's
award and Roberto Stillo of Woodbridge Srikers won for the men. MC Ari Soroka joked that his
team may be renamed 'Woodbridge Stoppers'.
Defender of the Year awards were given to Diamond Simpson of Woodbridge Strikers for the Women and
Dominic Samuel of Sigma FC won for the Men.
The Young Player of the Year Award-Woman was presented to Markela Bejleri of Aurora FC. The Men's
award was shared by both Marko Maletic of FC London and Kunle Dada-Luke of Toronto FC III.
This would be the third year in a row that TFC III have won with Kota Sakurai winning in 2016
and who now is attending Ivy Leageue school Dartmouth College and Cyrus Rollocks won in 2017 but
is now with L1O team Master's FA. 2015's winner was ANB Futbol's Adonijah Reid who ended up
being drafted by MLS FC Dallas and played this season on loan with USL Ottawa Fury.
It's kind of sad that TFC III won't be back in 2019. They rushed through their L1O schedule to
finish a month early and waived their place in the playoffs to start playing in the American
USSDA league joining the other MLS teams. So far in the season all their age groups are dominating
the league. Their games in L1O using a mostly U-19 roster were more competitive because they
were playing against 'men'. Dada-Luke spent an almost equal number of games with TFC's
USL team. I asked TFC III's head coach Danny Dichio after the ceremony that TFC II still has
plans to move their home games to their own training ceremony in Downsview. (I'm still undecided
if I'll cover them next season).
The MVP Award was given out next. Jade Kovacevic of FC London won the Women's title and
Dylan Sacramento of Vaughan Azzurri won the Men's. Sacramento was at home in Winnipeg but
some teammate showed him on his phone being presented with the award. I couldn't hear what
he was saying but I found it funny that I could see his face. I'd just been reading about
the hologram Roy Orbison on a singing tour and wonder if that will be the new technology
in a few years.
Next up was a pause before giving out the Goal of the Year Award. There was a technical delay
in setting up the projector/computer to show the candidates once again. I'd seen the goals
for consideration a few days before on-line on the L1O website. There were about 20 for both
men and women. Federico Leal of Woodbridge had three goals for consideration. I don't know if that
was such a great idea as he could lose out to vote splitting. The nominees were to be narrowed
down to five finalists but I didn't never see what they were although since the 'voting' was
tabulated on the site I guess it was up to me to narrow it down. The winner was chosen by league
insiders and coaches I'd expect to stop any ballot stuffing like last year.
Winner for the Women was Mahira Ali of Oakville Blue Devils in a game against Aurora on August 11th.
She scored four goals that day in a 6-1 win but the winning goal had her on a rush and deking around
a defender then cutting in the box and cutting past another defender and then turning the
original defender inside out again before rolling the ball into the net. I remember voting
for that goal last week out of the 20.
Winner for the Men was Jack Sears of Darby FC. It was a Darby FC corner kick that was partially cleared
but Sears charged forward and chipped a 25 yarder down the middle over the defenders and the ball dropped
over the goalie into the right corner of the net. I had a problem pinning this goal down but I recogized
the opposing team as Alliance United because of their orange shirts, and L'Amoreaux Stadium in Scarborough.
Nope not a regular season or playoff game then I thought to look up League Cup games and found it was
a first round game played May 8th. Sears only L1O time was the 28 minutes he played in this game
and 5 minutes in a league game.
Last awards were team awards for championships. For women Woodbridge Strikers won the L1O Cup and
Durham United FA won the League Championship (for being playoff champs). On the men's side
Vaughan Azzurri won both the L1O Cup and the League Championship. The League Championship earns
them a place in next year's Voyageurs Cup played against the PLSQ (Quebec) champs, the Canadian
MLS teams, Ottawa Fury of USL, and the seven teams in the new CPL league. It will be interesting
to see the Vaughan roster next year as I can see them being raided by the new league.
Dino Rossi gave a speech to give out the first ever 'Builder's Award' to Ontario Soccer Association
past president Ron Smale for his early support of organizing League 1 Ontario. This segued into
discussing the acquisition of L1O by the owners of the Canadian Premier League to use L1O as a
development league. Rossi also outlined how the L1O having a Women's Division was a determining
factor of the L1O acquisition.
MP3 File...Dino Rossi's presentation of the Builder's Award and closing message...9 minutes 51 seconds
My own coverage of the league was again unbalanced with me attending 56 Men's games and only 1 Women's game.
The restroom at this banquet hall has an all Michael Buble playlist. The three times I visited to wash my hands
or use the facilities his songs were playing. The walls are partioned which made finding electric plugs
difficult to find and thin so we could hear the singing for the function next door--someone's birthday
that sprung for an Elvis impersonator.
On the way out I asked Rossi if he could say if there'd be any new teams next year. I thought he'd decline to answer
because those things are usually decided at their winter meetings. He did say they weren't expecting to add
any teams to the men's side but there might be more women's team. Hmmm it took me until I got home to realize
that would mean one LESS men's team as TFC III have already left the league.
There weren't any reps from the CPL here except John Gibson and he didn't say anything except congratulate the
top goaltenders. I was expecting more mention of the league at today's function but there was just a mention
in Rossi's closing comments. I'd counted 14 L1O players successfully passing through the second round of the CPL
trials held across Canada and the recent CPL U-Sport draft had the various teams choose 6 of the 21 players
selected overall including the first four selections. I wouldn't say that these are even the best players
in the league.
At about the time this ceremony was ending the Canadian U-17 Women's team were winning their quarterfinal game
against Germany at the FIFA tournament in Uruguay. Some of the players on the roster played at younger age
levels of L1O teams.
The pictures: I only included pictures of the award winners if the player was actually in attendance.
The awards table before the meal began. The orange gift bags were given to individual trophy winners.
Women's First Team All Stars
Women's Second and Third Team All Stars
Men's First Team All Stars
Men's Second and Third Team All Stars
Gary Miller (Technical Director of the OSA) (on left) presents the Coach of the Year Award
to Michael Marcoccia of FC London for both the Men's and Women's teams.
John Misley (Chief Executive Officer of the OSA) presents the Golden Boot to Jade Kovacevic of FC London.
Anthony Novak of Oakville Blue Devils is presented with the Golden Boot by John Misley.
John Gibson the Director of Interprovincial Affairs of the Canadian Premier League presents Robert Stillo
of Woodbridge Strikers with the Goalkeeper of the Year Award.
Camille of Peel Regional Police presents Defender of the Year Award to Diamond Simpson of Woodbridge Strikers.
Peter Auruso, the new president of the OSA presents Markela Bejleri of Aurora FC with
the Young Player of the Year Award.
(Two winners chosen) Marko Maletic of FC London (left) with Kunle Dada-Luke of Toronto FC III (right) are
presented by Peter Auruso with the Young Player of the Year Award.
Dino Rossi the Commissioner of L1O presents Jade Kovacevic of FC London with the MVP Award.
Dylan Sacramento of Vaughan Azzurri accepts the MVS Award from Dino Rossi via cellphone!
Melissa from the L1O office presents Jack Sears from Darby FC with the Goal of the Year Award.
Mahira Ali of Oakville Blue Devils is presented with the Goal of the Year Award by Melissa.
Woodbridge Strikers players hold up the Womens's L1O Cup Trophy.
Vaughan Azzurri players and officials hold up both the Men's L1O Cup and L1O Championship Trophy.
Tamara Brown of Durham United holds up the L1O Championship Trophy.
Ron Smale the past president of the OSA is presented with the first ever Builder's Award by Dino Rossi.
The Fontana Primavera Hospitality & Convention Centre
.
.