February 4, 2025...Locked In: All six divisions in the 2025 season (from League1 Ontario website)
4 February 2025
Locked In: All six divisions in the 2025 season
With approximately two months until the start of the new League1 Ontario campaign, here’s a reminder of the team allocations.
It was a busy offseason for League1 Ontario clubs as several prepared for the new campaign following promotion, relegation,
rebrands, expansion, or elected elevation to a division above.
For starters, there are three new clubs competing in this year’s Premier Divisions after they won promotion at the end
of the 2024 season.
Waterloo United – then BVB IA Waterloo – were the first to lock in promotion after securing the Women’s Championship
title. The club is returning to its roots in 2025 by competing as Waterloo United in League1 Ontario, while maintaining
a relationship with Borussia Dortmund at youth level.
Men’s Championship runners-up FC London received automatic promotion after division winners TFC Academy opted out
of the 2025 season. Third-place finishers St Catharines Roma Wolves then won a dramatic Pro/Rel Playoff and swapped
league positions with their Premier opponents Guelph United.
North Mississauga’s Women’s Premier team avoided the drop by beating Scrosoppi in their Pro/Rel Playoff,
but Blue Devils – who will compete as Oakville Soccer Club following a merger between the two teams – were automatically
relegated to the Championship after finishing bottom of the top-flight standings.
Another brand change will see Darby compete as Whitby as the club aims to improve consistency across its player pathway.
Both Whitby teams will compete at Championship level.
Coming up from League2 are Sudbury Cyclones and The Borough, who will both take on Whitby and co. in the 2025 Men’s
Championship after promotion winners Vaughan Azzurri B and Alliance United B opted to stay in the third tier.
Debut seasons
We also welcome York United Academy to the Men’s Championship after they were granted a license to field a squad
largely composed of U20 players.
League1 Ontario has already seen several former players run out for the Nine Stripes in the Canadian Premier League,
and the academy squad reinforces this pathway to the professional game for young players in the province.
There are new clubs in League2 as well, with Railway City and Cambridge United set to field teams in both the men’s
and women’s divisions.
It was recently announced that Sudbury Cyclones are expanding their women’s program to field a first
team in the Women’s League2 Division, building on from their U21 side that competed in the 2024 Ontario Women’s
Soccer League.
Saying goodbye
In August it was announced that the Men’s Championship title winners, TFC Academy, would not be returning to League1
Ontario this season following a restructuring of the MLS NEXT age group levels.
ProStars will sadly not be competing in 2025 after nine seasons in League1 Ontario. After the Brampton club debuted
in men’s and women’s competition in 2015, the men’s team competed in every L1ON campaign while the women’s team were
on hiatus and returned to participate the last three seasons.
Due to the close proximity of their exit and the start of the season, the League1 Ontario Board of Directors have
decided their positions will not be filled. This means there will be 11 teams in the Men’s Premier and nine in the
Women’s Championship with each team receiving a bye week.
Who to watch in 2025?
NDC Ontario have been a force to be reckoned with since their first League1 Ontario season in 2022. Last year they
finished eight points clear at the top of the Women’s Premier Division to claim their second title.
Their closest competitors in the standings, FC London and North Toronto, will both be looking to knock NDC off their
perch but will be without some significant stars after they were signed by professional Northern Super League teams
in the offseason.
Woodbridge Strikers’ women’s side have a new head coach in Gabe Cremonese, who has big shoes to fill after his predecessor
Dave Porco was a 2024 Coach of the Year Finalist.
On the men’s side, FC London confirmed the return of talisman Ryan Baker (pictured above). The London captain was
the 2024 Defender of the Year and an MVP Finalist, and his signing marks a statement of intent from the new Premier
Division team.
Eyes will also be on Simcoe County Rovers this year; they will be led by former CANMNT player Doneil Henry as head coach,
and the latest recruit to his coaching staff is former La Liga player João Victor. Ex-Simcoe coach Zico Mahrady has taken
the reins at The Borough for the 2025 season.
Burlington and Scrosoppi both had an impressive 2023 season but went in different directions in 2024. The Bayhawks will
be aiming for a stronger campaign under new head coach Mark Worton, with Scrosoppi looking to defend their crown.
Published On: 4 February 2025
League1 Ontario staff
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