The 2014 Canadian Soccer League season was the 17th since its establishment where a total of 20 teams from Ontario took part in the league. The season began on May 24, 2014, and concluded on October 26, 2014. York Region Shooters won their second championship in a 5–4 victory in a penalty shootout over Toronto Croatia in the CSL Championship final held at Esther Shiner Stadium in Toronto. York Region became the second club in the league's history to produce a perfect season, and championship after the Toronto Olympians in the 1999 season.
The league's strained relationship with the Canadian Soccer Association continued before the launch of the 2014 season with the CSA expelling the CSL from its membership over alleged violations of rules and regulations in order to make way for a lesser structure in Ontario. After failing to specify which rule violations were made and without providing a formal hearing in order to discuss the issues the CSL in response filed litigation against the CSA. The league operated as a private league for the first time since the 1997 season in its predecessor league the Canadian National Soccer League. Though they did join the newly formed Soccer Federation of Canada, which provides private soccer entities the services needed such as administration of players, non-playing personnel, match officials and insurance.
Once the CSL was de-sanctioned the league decreased in membership to 10 teams in the first division with Windsor Stars joining the newly formed League1 Ontario, while founding member St. Catharines Roma Wolves disbanded their professional team while still operating their youth teams. Meanwhile, the second division increased in size to 10 teams with Milton SC joining along with the addition of Winstars Shooters the reserve team for the York Region Shooters after its affiliation arrangement with the Winstars Soccer Academy. The league formed an working relationship with the American Soccer League in order to assist in areas of competition and business. While its youth development system continued its progress with more than 40 former CSL players being selected for various national teams in the last four seasons. This Week in the CSL the league's weekly television show hosted by producer Alex Bastyovanszky continued covering the CSL with Ethnic Channels Group distributing the program.
First division Teams All of the 10 teams playing in the first division this year are returning from the 2013 season. From the previous year, two teams are not part of the league anymore: Windsor Stars, who will be part of the newly formed League1 Ontario, and St. Catharines Roma Wolves.
Team City Stadium Manager Brampton United Brampton (Bramalea) Victoria Park Stadium Juan Barreto Burlington SC Burlington Nelson Stadium William Etchu Tabi Kingston FC Kingston Queen's West Field Colm Muldoon London City London Hellenic Com Centre Tomo Dancetovic Niagara United Niagara Falls Kalar Park Sports Field Bruno Reis North York Astros Toronto (North York) Esther Shiner Stadium Jorge Collazo SC Waterloo Region Waterloo Warrior Field Lazo Džepina Serbian White Eagles Toronto (Liberty Village) Lamport Stadium Uroš Stamatović Toronto Croatia Mississauga Hershey Field Velimir Crljen York Region Shooters Vaughan (Maple) St. Joan of Arc Field Darryl Gomez Coaching changes TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming coachDate of appointment North York Astros Josef Komlodi Resigned July 17, 2014 5th in July Igor Pisanjuk July 17, 2014North York AstrosIgor PisanjukEnd of interim spellAugust 4, 20146th in AugustJorge CollazoAugust 4, 2014
Results
Positions by round
Standings
Goal scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1 Marin Vučemilović-GrgićLondon City202 Dražen VukovićSC Waterloo Region163 Guillaume SurotLondon City124 Jose De SousaNorth York Astros105 Joey MeloNorth York Astros96 Cătălin LichioiuKingston FC8 Sahjah Reid Serbian White Eagles8 Leaford AllenBrampton City United7 Mademba BaKingston FC Pero MenaloToronto Croatia
Playoffs
Bracket
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
CSL Championship
Second division
Standings
Goal scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Mademba BaKingston FC B312 Nikola MiokovicSC Waterloo B183 Aleksandar StojanovskiYork Region Shooters B94 Stephane AssengueKingston FC B8 Roshane Clarke Toronto Croatia B Aleksandar StojiljkovićSC Waterloo Region B Marcelo TantaloYork Region Shooters B Camilo VelozaBurlington SC B5 Jinmi IsmailKingston FC B7 Derek PatersonNiagara United B
Playoffs Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
CSL Executive Committee and Staff The 2014 CSL Executive Committee. Position Name NationalityChairman: Vincent Ursini CanadianDirector of Media and PR: Stan Adamson EnglishLeague Administrator: Pino Jazbec CanadianDirector of Officials: Tony Camacho Portuguese Director for Youth: Phil Ionadi Canadian
Individual awards The annual CSL awards ceremony was held on October 25, 2014 in North York, Toronto. After winning the CSL Golden Boot London City's Marin Vučemilović-Grgić received his second MVP award. Burlington SC received the Defender and Goalkeeper of the Year with former Serbian football veterans Vladimir Vujasinović and Nikola Stanojevic chosen as its recipients. Stanojevic was co-recipient with Josip Keran, a former Druga HNL player with Toronto Croatia. Aleksandar Stojiljković, former Serbian SuperLiga player was chosen as the Rookie of the Year.
After making the transition to head coach, and leading York Region Shooters to an undefeated season Darryl Gomez was voted the Coach of the Year. The league's Director for Youth Phil Ionadi was given the Harry Paul Gauss award. Marco Jaramilio was selected by the CSL Referee Committee as the Referee of the Year, and Kingston FC were recognized for their solid discipline on the field of play with the Fair Play and Respect award. Award Player (Club) CSL Most Valuable Player Marin Vučemilović-Grgić (London City) CSL Golden Boot Marin Vučemilović-Grgić (London City) CSL Goalkeeper of the Year Award Vladimir Vujasinović (Burlington SC) CSL Defender of the Year Award Josip Keran (Toronto Croatia) Nikola Stanojevic (Burlington SC) CSL Rookie of the Year Award Aleksandar Stojiljković (SC Waterloo) CSL Coach of the Year Award Darryl Gomez (York Region Shooters) Harry Paul Gauss Award Phil Ionadi (CSL Director for Youth) CSL Referee of the Year Award Marco Jaramillo CSL Fair Play Award Kingston FC
References