The 2011 Canadian Soccer League season (known as the Givova Canadian Soccer League for sponsorship reasons) was the 14th since its establishment where a total of 28 teams from Ontario and Quebec took part in the league. The season began on Saturday 6 May 2011, and concluded on 29 October 2011. Toronto Croatia won their fourth championship (seventh including Canadian National Soccer League titles) in a 1–0 victory over Capital City F.C. in the CSL Championship final at Centennial Park Stadium in Toronto. The regular season saw SC Toronto claim their second regular season title, while Mississauga Eagles FC B won their first Second Division championship. The season saw an increase in membership to 14 teams the largest number since the 2002 season. The new entries saw the return of professional soccer to the communities of Windsor, Mississauga, and Ottawa.
After one season as commissioner Domenic Di Gironimo resigned with Vincent Ursini returning to be named his successor. The 2011 season witnessed the fruits of the CSL player developmental system as nine CSL players were selected to represent the Canada U-17 in the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship. While 14 CSL players participated in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup, and 4 players were selected to represent the Canada U-20 in the 2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. To further implement their developmental system the league formed a working relationship with the newly formed Canadian Academy of Futbol (CAF), which required their member clubs to form affiliations with academy teams.
The ownership structure of the league was reformed into an incorporated body as the CSL Association Inc in order to bring about a slow process of equalization to the status of teams, while compensating the equity owners who had heavily invested in league throughout the years. The reserve division was renamed the Second Division and grew to a record number of 14 clubs. As a result, in the increase of teams the division was further split into an East and West division. The second division continued its traditional support role as reserve teams to First Division squads, and as an entry-level division for teams that haven't met the standards for a first division club. Their television deal with Rogers TV included a new broadcasting record of 70 regular season matches, and have expanded their original coverage of Toronto teams to include the cities of London, Brantford, Mississauga, and Ottawa.
Changes from 2010 The CSL operated 2 divisions in 2011; First and Second. The reserve division has been referred to in some media releases as CSL II.
The Givova Cup play-offs were announced to include the top 8 teams. The quarter-final round was played over 2 legs and standard seeding with 1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6 and 4 v 5.
Teams A total of 14 teams contested in the league, including 11 from the 2010 season and three expansion teams.
The league featured two expansion teams, Mississauga Eagles FC, an Ottawa-based team called Capital City, and the return of Windsor Stars. Hamilton Croatia and Milltown FC did not return for the 2011 season after failing to meet the membership deadline for the 2011 season. The Milltown ownership announced future plans to form a men's non-amateur league under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Soccer Association.
In further changes, two teams changed their name prior to this season. Brampton Lions competed under the name of Brampton United, while Portugal FC were renamed SC Toronto.
Team City Stadium Manager Brampton City United Brampton, Ontario (Bramalea) Victoria Park Stadium Armando Costa Brantford Galaxy Brantford, Ontario Steve Brown Sports Complex Tomo Dančetović Capital City F.C. Ottawa, Ontario Terry Fox Stadium Shaun Harris London City London, Ontario (Westmount) Cove Road Stadium Luka Shaqiri Mississauga Eagles FC Mississauga, Ontario Hershey Centre Josef Komlodi Montreal Impact Academy Montreal, Quebec Saputo Stadium Philippe Eullaffroy North York Astros Toronto, Ontario (North York) Esther Shiner Stadium Gerardo Lezcano SC Toronto Toronto, Ontario (Liberty Village) Lamport Stadium Carmine Isacco Serbian White Eagles Toronto, Ontario (Etobicoke) Centennial Park Stadium Mirko Medić (player-coach) St. Catharines Wolves St. Catharines, Ontario (Vansickle) Club Roma Stadium Carlo Arghittu TFC Academy Toronto, Ontario (Liberty Village) Lamport Stadium Danny Dichio Toronto Croatia Toronto, Ontario (Etobicoke) Centennial Park Stadium Velimir Crljen York Region Shooters Vaughan, Ontario (Maple) St. Joan of Arc Turf Field Filipe Bento Windsor Stars Windsor, Ontario Windsor Stadium Steve Vagnini Coaching changes TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming coachDate of appointmentBrantford GalaxyLazo DžepinaSackedJuly 7, 201110th in July Tomo DančetovićJuly 11, 2011
Results
Positions by round
Standings
Goal scorers RankScorerClubGoals1 Stefan VukovićTFC Academy182 Richard WestBrampton United17 Tihomir MaletićToronto Croatia174 Kadian LeckyYork Region Shooters155 Alexandros HalisSC Toronto146 Sullivan SilvaCapital City F.C.127 Jarek WhitemanSC Toronto11 Miloš ŠćepanovićSerbian White Eagles118 Alessandro RiggiMontreal Impact Academy10 Alex BraleticSerbian White Eagles9 Matthew ContinoSt. Catharines Wolves99 Ranko GolijaninBrantford Galaxy8
Playoffs The top 8 teams will qualify for the 2-legged Quarter-finals with the winners advancing to the one game semi-finals to be hosted by the highest remaining seeds.
Quarterfinals
Toronto won the series on goals on aggregate, 8–1.
Capital City won the series on goals on aggregate, 3–2.
York Region won the series in a penalty shootout, 4–2.
Serbia won the series on goals on aggregate, 8–0.
Semifinals
Givova CSL Championship
GK 1 Sandi Matika RB 7 Halburto Harris CB 4 Sven Arapovic CB 3 Josip Keran LB 15 Ainsley Deer RM 22 Daniel Niksic CM 14 Agustin De Medina CM 23 Tonci Pirija (c) LM 8 Hayden Fitzwilliams ST 11 Marin Vučemilović-Grgić ST 10 Tihomir Maletic Substitutes:GK 13 Antonio Ilic DF 6 Mario Kulis DF 20 Nicholas Goddard MF 21 Lee Hagedorn FW 9 Hugo Herrera FW 18 Bozenko Lesina FW 19 Niko Pesa Manager: Velimir Crljen
GK 1 Clint Irwin (c) RB 3 Julien Edwards CB 12 Casey Cordray CB 5 Joel BagbyLB 17 Francis LeTourneau RM 24 Taurean Manders CM 13 Kenny Caceros LM 4 Collin Harrison FW 15 Sullivan Silva FW 8 Emir Zmic FW 9 Will Beauge Substitutes:GK 22 Karl Gouabe DF 2 Taylor Benjamin DF 11 Sam Roca MF 7 Laszlo Csongor FW 14 Garrett Webb FW 18 Junior Ellis FW 25 Akil DeFreitas Manager: Shaun Harris
Assistant referees: Matt Meloche Scott Decker Fourth official: Justin Tasev
CSL Executive Committee and Staff The 2011 CSL Executive Committee. Position Name NationalityCommissioner: Vincent Ursini CanadianDirector of Media and PR: Stan Adamson EnglishLeague Administrator: Pino Jazbec CanadianDirector of Officials: Tony Camacho Portuguese
Individual awards
The annual CSL awards ceremony was held at the Mississauga Convention Centre in Mississauga, Ontario on 14 November 2011. The majority of the awards went to league champions Toronto Croatia. Tihomir Maletic received his second consecutive MVP award, and Sven Arapovic was given the Defender of the Year for his contributions in establishing Toronto's solid defensive record. Velemir Crljen went home with the Coach of the Year, while club president Joe Pavicic was given the Harry Paul Gauss award.
The Golden Boot was taken by Stefan Vukovic of TFC Academy, and Scott Cliff of SC Toronto was voted the Goalkeeper of the Year. Capital City FC produced the Rookie of the Year with Akil DeFreitas, who later went abroad to the Veikkausliiga. Niagara United received their first Fair Play award for being the most disciplined team throughout the season. The CSL Referee Committee selected David Barrie, a veteran national referee with the Referee of the Year. Rogers TV producer Jeremy Milani was given a special service award for promoting CSL matches throughout the years. Award Player (Club) CSL Most Valuable Player Tihomir Maletic (Toronto Croatia) CSL Golden Boot Stefan Vukovic (TFC Academy) CSL Goalkeeper of the Year Award Scott Cliff (SC Toronto) CSL Defender of the Year Award Sven Arapovic (Toronto Croatia) CSL Rookie of the Year Award Akil DeFreitas (Capital City FC) CSL Coach of the Year Award Velimir Crljen (Toronto Croatia) Harry Paul Gauss Award Joe Pavicic (Toronto Croatia) CSL Referee of the Year Award David Barrie CSL Fair Play Award Niagara UnitedSpecial Award Jeremy Milani
Second Division
The CSL Second Division was originally set up to be the Reserve League. In 2011, that was adjusted to include an academy team, Kingston Prospect FC and 2 clubs (Niagara United and Kitchener Waterloo United FC) which didn't meet the standards for a First Division club by the deadline date. Currently there are no formal plans for promotion and relegation. One rule that was implemented in the 2011 season was that teams must have a maximum of 4 U-23 players in their rosters. The division expanded to a record number of 14 teams, and was split into an East and West division. Other new additions to the division was the return of Toronto Croatia's reserve squad, and the debut of London City's reserve team. During the regular season both Niagara United, and SC Toronto B secured their Second Division titles. While in the postseason Mississauga Eagles B defeated Brampton United B to claim their first CSL D2 Championship.
Teams Team City Stadium Manager Brampton City United B Brampton, Ontario Victoria Park Stadium Mike DiMatteo Brantford Galaxy B Brantford, Ontario Steve Brown Sports Complex Peter PompoinoKitchener Waterloo United FC Waterloo, Ontario Budd Park Lazo Džepina London City B London, Ontario Cove Road Stadium Aldo Caranci Mississauga Eagles FC B Mississauga, Ontario Hershey Centre Josef Komlodi Alex Szczotka Niagara United Niagara Falls, Ontario Kalar Sports Park James McGillivray North York Astros B Toronto, Ontario Esther Shiner Stadium Kerwin Skeete Kingston Prospect FC Kingston, Ontario St. Joan of Arc Turf Field Jimmy Hamrouni SC Toronto B Toronto, Ontario Lamport Stadium Patrice Gheisar Serbian White Eagles B Toronto, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium Niki Budalić St. Catharines Wolves B St. Catharines, Ontario Club Roma Stadium Clayton Rosario TFC Academy II Liberty Village, Toronto Lamport Stadium Jim Brennan Toronto Croatia B Toronto, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium York Region Shooters B Vaughan, Ontario St. Joan of Arc Turf Field
Second Division East Standings
Second Division West Standings
Final
Top Goal Scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Jorgo Nika SC Toronto B162 Derek PatersonNiagara United143 Terence Linatoc SC Toronto B104 Alex DeMatos North York Astros B105 Brendan WoodfullTFC Academy B106 Jeremy CaranciLondon City B97 Donavan WilsonBrampton City United B98 Jordan Hamilton TFC Academy B99 Omar NakeebMississauga Eagles FC B810 Jonathan SinghBrampton City United B7 Updated: 23 October 2016 Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20111114235010/http://canadiansoccerleague.com/
Individual awards
Award Player (Club) CSL Most Valuable Player Jorgo Nika (SC Toronto B) CSL Golden Boot Jorgo Nika (SC Toronto B) CSL Goalkeeper of the Year Award Ryan Pumier (KW United FC) CSL Defender of the Year Award Oliver Spring (SC Toronto B) CSL Rookie of the Year Award Jeremy Caranci (London City B) CSL Coach of the Year Award James McGillivray (Niagara United)
International Friendlies Toronto Croatia participated in the 2nd Croatian World Club Championship in order to defend their title. They successfully claimed their second championship after defeating Canberra Croatia.
References
External links Canadian Soccer League