The 1991 Canadian Soccer League season was the fifth season of play for the Canadian Soccer League, a Division 1 men's soccer league in the Canadian soccer pyramid.
Format and changes from previous season Prior to the 1991 season, the league placed four franchises under suspension – Ottawa Intrepid, Edmonton Brick Men, Victoria Vistas, and London Lasers – due to financial difficulties. Ultimately, Ottawa, Edmonton, and Victoria folded, while London requested a one-year leave of absence. To avoid similar problems that the now defunct NASL had in its final year of operation, the league approved a $175,000 salary cap per team to further limit costs.
In addition, CSL commissioner Dale Barnes retired in January after directing the league since its inception, with Hamilton Steelers owner, Mario DiBartolomeo, taking over the responsibilities on a temporary basis. The league also approved a travel equalization plan that dramatically reduced costs for Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Nova Scotia.
The Nova Scotia Clippers joined the league as an expansion franchise. In addition, the Kitchener Spirit changed their name to the Kitchener Kickers following an ownership change.
The league shifted to a single eight-team division, after previously operating two East and West geographical divisions since its inception, resulting in team's playing a balanced schedule for the first time in league history, playing each other clubs four times, twice at home and twice on the road. The point system was also updated along with FIFA's change to 3–1–0 (win–draw–loss). With the shift to a single division, the league reverted to six teams qualifying for the playoffs, with the top two finishers during the season receiving a bye to the semi-finals. The playoff format remained the same as the previous year.
Summary The regular season once again belonged to the Vancouver 86ers, who were only the second team to win 20 regular season games. In the playoffs, Vancouver won their fourth consecutive league title, defeating the Toronto Blizzard in the finals.
Regular season
Playoffs The playoffs were conducted with a total points system. Teams earned two points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. The team with the most points following the two-game series advanced. If the teams were tied on points, they played a 30-minute mini-game for a bonus point, followed by a penalty shootout if the mini-game remained tied.
Quarterfinal
Hamilton Steelers won the series in extra time, after the series was tied 2-2 on points.
North York Rockets won the series 4-0 on points.
Semifinal
Vancouver 86ers won the series 3-1 on points.
Toronto Blizzard won the series in extra time, after the series was tied 2-2 on points.
Final
Statistics Top scorers Rank Player Club Goals1 Domenic Mobilio Vancouver 86ers 252 Eddy Berdusco North York Rockets 143 John Berti Winnipeg Fury 124 Geoff Aunger Hamilton Steelers 10 Ted Eck Toronto Blizzard Marek Grabowski North York Rockets Dale Mitchell Toronto Blizzard8 John Kerr Hamilton Steelers 99 Alex Bunbury Montreal Supra 7 Gino DiFlorio Toronto Blizzard Justin Fashanu Toronto Blizzard Doug Muirhead Toronto BlizzardReference:
Top goaltenders
Rank Player Club GAA1 Paolo Ceccarelli North York Rangers 1.0532 Pat Onstad Toronto Blizzard 1.0623 Paul Dolan Vancouver 86ers 1.0634 Dino Perri Hamilton Steelers 1.3005 Pat Harrington Montreal Supra 1.320Reference:
Honours The following awards and nominations were awarded for the 1991 season.
Awards Award Player TeamMost Valuable Player Domenic Mobilio Vancouver 86ersRookie of the Year Scott Munson Kitchener KickersTop Newcomer Marek Grabowski North York RangersTop Goaltender Paolo Ceccarelli North York RangersFair Play AwardHamilton Steelers
League All-Stars Player Position Paolo Ceccarelli (North York Rockets) Goalkeeper Peter Sarantopoulos (North York Rockets) Defender Mark Watson (Hamilton Steelers) Defender Steve MacDonald (Vancouver 86ers) Defender Norman Odinga (Vancouver 86ers) Defender Carl Valentine (Vancouver 86ers) Midfielder Dale Mitchell (Toronto Blizzard) Midfielder Ivor Evans (Vancouver 86ers) Midfielder Eddy Berdusco (North York Rockets) Forward Domenic Mobilio (Vancouver 86ers) Forward Grant Needham (Montreal Supra) Forward
Reserves Player Position Paul Dolan (Vancouver 86ers) Goalkeeper Paul James (Toronto Blizzard) Defender Tony Nocita (Hamilton Steelers) Defender Nick De Santis (Montreal Supra) Midfielder Ted Eck (Toronto Blizzard) Forward
Front office Person Role Fiorigi Pagliuso (North York Rockets) Head coach Alan Errington (Vancouver 86ers) Assistant coach Bob Lenarduzzi (Vancouver 86ers) General manager
Player of the Month MonthPlayerClub June Dino Lopez Nova Scotia Clippers July Domenic Mobilio Vancouver 86ers August Domenic Mobilio Vancouver 86ersReference:
Player of the Week WeekPlayerClub 1 Dino Lopez Nova Scotia Clippers 2 Dale Mitchell Toronto Blizzard 3 Pat Harrington Montreal Supra 4 Doug Muirhead Vancouver 86ers 5 Ivor Evans Vancouver 86ers 6 Lyndon Hooper Toronto Blizzard 7 Peter Sarantopoulos North York Rockets 8 Paolo Ceccarelli North York Rockets 9 Norman Odinga Vancouver 86ers 10 Joseph Majcher North York Rockets 11 Domenic Mobilio Vancouver 86ers 12 Geoff Aunger Hamilton Steelers 13 Alex Bunbury Montreal Supra 14 Brett Pence Kitchener Kickers 15 Paul Peschisolido Hamilton SteelersReference:
Average home attendances Team 1 Vancouver 86ers 14 2 Montreal Supra 14 3 Hamilton Steelers 14 4 Winnipeg Fury 14 5 North York Rockets 14 6 Toronto Blizzard 14 7 Nova Scotia Clippers 14 8 Kitchener Kickers 14 Total Attendance 112Reference:
References
External links Canadian Soccer League 1991 Media Guide and Statistics 1991 CSL Stats