History
The CSL's first season was in 2006. The forerunner of the CSL, the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) played its first season in 1998 by amalgamating four teams from the Canadian National Soccer League namely St. Catharines Wolves, North York Astros, London City, and Toronto Croatia with four (4) expansion franchises (Mississauga, York Region Shooters (1998), Glen Shields and Toronto Olympians).
In 2006, the change to the CSL was more than merely a cosmetic alteration. An international division was added, a new set of rules, regulations and a new constitution were established, the schedule format was changed, and the relationship with the OSA and QSF was upgraded; in early 2008, the CSL and the OSA established a "Memorandum of Understanding" which provided the CSL with an increased level of autonomy and independence from the governing body.
The league was re-branded and managed by former Hamilton Bulldogs president, Cary Kaplan (First CSL Commissioner), and veteran soccer executive Stan Adamson (Executive Director) from its inception.
2007 saw the debut of the Trois-Rivières Attak, replacing the Laval Dynamites franchise. The team was the junior/reserve side for the Montreal Impact USL Squad. In 2008, Toronto FC of Major League Soccer, and owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, entered their Academy Team (TFC Academy) into the CSL. As a result, the CSL is now affiliated with two of Canada's top three professional soccer franchises.
On May 12, 2009, the CSL formally announced that they had received conditional approval to be in membership with the CSA as Canada's national professional league. The vote by the CSA Board was unanimous by all provinces and territories. This the first league to receive this endorsement from the CSA in 16 years.
Following four and a half years as Commissioner, Cary Kaplan resigned following the 2009 Championship Game. Domenic De Gironimo was named as his replacement. Shortly following the completion of the 2010 final, De Gironimo announced his resignation from the league after only one season at the helm; citing irreconcilable differences.
Vince Ursini, who previously was Chairman of the former CNSL/CPSL until 2004, followed him in 2011. Mississauga, Ottawa and Windsor were all added to the CSL under Ursini's watch, making the leagues membership at 14, the highest in several years.
Read more about this topic: Canadian Soccer League
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