1997 Canadian National Soccer League season

Canadian National Soccer League 1997 St. Catharines Roma Wolves (regular season) St. Catharines Roma Wolves (playoffs, 3rd title) Toronto Supra League cup Toronto Supra 6-0 London City (July 13) London City 0-8 Toronto Supra (June 20) 24 London City 0-8 Toronto Supra (June 20) 49 1996 The 1997 Canadian National Soccer League season was the seventy-fifth season for the Canadian National Soccer League. The season began on June 4, 1997, and concluded on October 8, 1997, with St. Catharines Roma Wolves defeating Toronto Supra in a two-game series for the CNSL Championship.Canadian National Soccer League 1993 to 1997 http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/CNSL-1993-1997.pdf April 21, 2020Jeanneret Mark October 9, 1997 Wolves script storybook ending D4 St. Catharines Standard While the league cup was awarded to Toronto Supra due to several irregularities on behave of Kosova Albanians. The season was noteworthy with the return of Toronto Croatia and Hamilton White Eagles after the Canadian International Soccer League (Puma League) decided to merge with the CNSL. A notable departure was Toronto Italia, a well-distinguished club that had another opportunity in 1998 to return to the professional scene but failed to settle disputes regarding territory and league policy.http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/98cpsl45.htm CPSL's Faltering First Steps Bailey David October 22, 1998 www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com Canada Kicks 2019-07-16http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/98cpsl03.htm Italia Out - Let's Get On With It Bailey David April 24, 1998 www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com Canada Kicks 2019-07-16 The league operated as a private league for the final time, and under the banner of the CNSL as it reconciled its relationship with the Ontario Soccer Association in 1998.http://www.canadakicks.com/1997/NEWS380.HTM National Dream - The OSA's hopes for the CPSL are national Ault Bill August 25, 1997 Canada Kicks https://web.archive.org/web/19991023040250/http://www.canadakicks.com/1997/NEWS380.HTM October 23, 1999 2019-07-13 The following season, it would operate as the Canadian Professional Soccer League, sanctioned by the Ontario Soccer Association, to implement the Image of the Game report to provide a suitable professional soccer structure in Ontario and potentially throughout the country.http://www.cpsl.org/aboutcpsl.htm About the CPSL 2001-04-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20010419002517/http://www.cpsl.org/aboutcpsl.htm April 19, 2001 2019-07-13On - Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario Jose Colin Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum 2001 Vaughan, Ontario 114, 117 Overview Summary The number of clubs participating in the 1997 season remained at seven with several notable additions and departures.Da Costa Norman May 28, 1997 CNSL AT 76 B13 Toronto Star The additions revolved around the merger between the Canadian International Soccer League (Puma League) and the Canadian National Soccer League (CNSL), which enabled the CNSL to replace the departing clubs. The merger marked the return of Toronto Croatia and Hamilton White Eagles, along with the addition of Kosova Albanians.June 3, 1997 Club Roma kicks off CNSL season tomorrow C3 St. Catharines StandardJeanneret Mark April 19, 1997 Soccer: CNSL picks up three teams C3 St. Catharines Standard The Caribbean Stars opted against joining the CNSL as it lacked the financial resources to compete in the league.McGill Aldwyn Aldwynable - Vintage Midget Star Soccer Review 88 The departing clubs were Oakville Canadian Western, while Scarborough Astros merged with North York Talons and played their home matches in North York and Scarborough. A notable absentee was Toronto Italia, an entity with historical significance in Canadian soccer. The departure stemmed from a variety of issues, originally with the Ontario Soccer Association's decision to decertify the CNSL, and a feud involving Toronto Croatia over an alleged debt from the 1995 season.http://www.geocities.com/london_ontario_soccer_fan/london.html Pro Soccer in London, Ontario 2001-05-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20010502081248/http://www.geocities.com/london_ontario_soccer_fan/london.html May 2, 2001 2019-07-06Da Costa Norman May 9, 1997 Toronto Italia out of business; CNSL in battle C10 Toronto StarBailey David April 24, 1998 Italia Out Let's Get On With It - CPSL moves closer to kickoff Canada Kicks As the USISL A-League expanded to include the Toronto Lynx, the CNSL began to automatically serve as an unofficial feeder system, with Italia's head coach Peter Pinizzotto and several CNSL players being recruited to the Lynx's inaugural roster.Mauntah Richard Lynx go on the prowl for fans April 4, 1997 Financial Post 48 The league would ultimately receive official recognition in the 2002 season under its successor league, as both parties would form a player exchange program.Da Costa Norman April 19, 2002 Hartrells defy odds to keep Lynx alive Toronto Starhttp://www.cpsl.org/releases/2002/2002feb26.htm 2002 - Feb. 26 - CPSL signs Player Agreement with Toronto Lynx 2002-08-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20020805174325/http://www.cpsl.org/releases/2002/2002feb26.htm August 5, 2002 2019-07-06 Throughout the regular season, controversies abounded as a league meeting was convened in the final quarter of the season, which resulted in the suspension of Hamilton and North York for the remainder of the season.Jeanneret Mark August 14, 1997 Two teams given the boot C1 St. Catharines Standard The primary reason for their suspension revolved around the harassment of match officials and unpaid league fees and fines. The league meeting also produced a revised schedule where the final five matches were canceled, which allowed the remaining clubs a berth in the postseason.Jeanneret Mark August 16, 1997 White Eagles, Talons officially suspended; Wolves near title D3 St. Catharines Standard Teams TeamCityStadiumManagerHamilton White EaglesHamilton, OntarioBrian Timmis StadiumKosova AlbaniansNorth York, OntarioEsther Shiner StadiumJose Valenciahttp://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/cnsl9712.htm CNSL game between Kosova Albanians and North York Talons Glover Robin July 12, 1997 www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com 2019-07-07London City London, OntarioCove Road StadiumSteve Roneyhttp://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/cnsl9713.htm CNSL game between Toronto Supra and London City Glover Robin July 13, 1997 www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com 2019-07-07North York TalonsNorth York, Ontario Scarborough, OntarioEsther Shiner Stadium Birchmount StadiumJorge Armuahttp://www.northyorkastros.ca/page.php?page_id=13527 North York Astros Soccer Club Powered by Goalline Sports Administration Software 2009-06-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20090601082652/http://www.northyorkastros.ca/page.php?page_id=13527 June 1, 2009 2019-07-07St. Catharines Roma WolvesSt. Catharines, Ontario (Vansickle)Club Roma StadiumDino PerriJeanneret Mark October 9, 1997 Wolves script storybook ending D4 St. Catharines StandardToronto CroatiaEtobicoke, OntarioCentennial Park StadiumZlatko HaramincicToronto SupraToronto, Ontario Lamport StadiumCesar Garciahttp://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/cnsl9714.htm CNSL game between Toronto Supra and North York Talons Glover Robin July 18, 1997 www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com 2019-07-07 Canada Southern Ontario 400 center Location of CNSL teams outside of Toronto for the 1997 CNSL season.10px Canada Southern Ontario 42.9837 -81.2497 London right Blue pog.svg Canada Southern Ontario 43.183333 -79.233333 St. Catharines right Blue pog.svg Canada Southern Ontario 43.251389 -79.830278 Hamilton top Blue pog.svg Canada Southern Ontario 43.64 -79.42 TORONTO right Red pog.svg Canada Toronto 400 center Location of CNSL teams in Toronto for the 1997 CNSL season.10px Canada Toronto 43.694 -79.265 North York right Blue pog.svg Canada Toronto 43.65 -79.58 Toronto Croatia top Blue pog.svg Canada Toronto 43.775556 -79.446667 Kosova right Blue pog.svg Canada Toronto 43.638889 -79.423056 Toronto Supra bottom Blue pog.svg Final standings main WDL Q STC St. Catharines Roma Wolves TRC Toronto Croatia TRS Toronto Supra KSV Kosova Albanians LON London City HAM Hamilton White Eagles Record at time of suspension: 2–1–3 (7 points); 7GF; 8GA NYT North York Talons Record at time of suspension: 1–0–3 (3 points); 5GF; 7GA 7 0 0 18 4 C,O 2 2 3 6 8 2 1 1 15 2 1 2 2 6 8 0 1 6 4 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 green1 Qualification for semifinals green2 Qualification for first round black2 Suspended by the league Q Q Q P P X X 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. September 7, 1997 http://soccerstats.us/c/canadian-national-soccer-league/1997/ Canadian National Soccer League 1997 Season Summary SoccerStats.us soccerstats.us 2020-04-22 Playoffs First round September 14, 1997 18:00 ET Kosova Albanians 0–3 (Report) London City Peter Paterson 81 John Williams 85 Howard Buchanan 89 Esther Shiner Stadium North York, Ontario 30 Mike Long September 19, 1997 20:00 ET London City 1–2 (Report) Kosova Albanians Cove Road Stadium London, Ontario Series tied 1–1. Kosova wins two 15 minute half mini game 1–0 to win tiebreaker. Semifinals September 12, 1997 20:00 ET Toronto Supra 4–0 (Report) Toronto Croatia Handsor 3 Mike Deluca 27 Mella 32 Gary Bryant 67 Lamport Stadium Toronto, Ontario 80 Graham Williams September 17, 1997 20:00 ET Toronto Croatia 1–4 (Report) Toronto Supra 5 o.g. Moore 10, 13, 37 Mella 63 Centennial Park Stadium Etobicoke, Ontario 50 Yakov Keimakh Toronto Supra wins series 2 games to 0. September 24, 1997 20:00 ET St. Catharines Roma Wolves 2–1 (Report) Kosova Albanians Club Roma Stadium St. Catharines, Ontario September 29, 1997 20:00 ET Kosova Albanians 3–3 (Report) St. Catharines Roma Wolves Garvin Huston 50 Sean Carasquero 68 Jose Pisco 78 Hughes 3 Bobby Pretto 62 Gary McGuchan 64 Esther Shiner Stadium North York, Ontario 30 Yakov Keimakh St. Catharines Roma Wolves wins series 1 game to 0 (with draw). Finals 1997 10 3 y 20:00 ET Toronto Supra 0–0 Report St. Catharines Roma Wolves Lamport Stadium Toronto, Ontario Madi Tamashi GK 1CAN Piotr Libicz RB 18 CAN Chris HandsorCB 3 Leonardo SimonCB 2 McIver BroomesLB 5 Carlos Manuel LebellosRM 20 Luiz Ganhao 45CM 8POL Czeslaw Zajac CM 6CAN Frank Cardona LM 7Mike DeLuca 45ST 9CAN Paul Moore ST 11 CAN Adolfo Mella 80Substitutes:MF 19CAN Kirby Mitchellhttps://canadasoccer.com/index.php?pid=2224&t=profile& Canada Soccer canadasoccer.com 2019-07-01 45DF 15 Bart Ostawaski MF 21 Gerry Bryant 80DF 14 CAN Jason Fariahttps://canadasoccer.com/index.php?pid=1105&t=profile& Canada Soccer canadasoccer.com 2019-07-01 MF 17 Miguel Ferreira 45Manager: Cesar Garcia GK 1CAN Dino Perrihttps://marauders.ca/coaches.aspx?rc=83 Dino Perri - Men's Soccer Coach McMaster University Athletics en 2019-07-01 RB 2 John McNeil 61CB 7 Tony CarbonaraCB 9CAN Gary Hughes LB 3CAN Salvatore Borgh RM 13 CAN Lucio Ianiero CM 16 Keith MooreCM 20CAN Bobby Pretto https://www.hwcdsb.ca/162338--HWCDSB-alumni-and-trustee-inducted-into-Hamilton-Soccer-Hall-of-Fame HWCDSB alumni and trustee inducted into Hamilton Soccer Hall of Fame www.hwcdsb.ca en 2019-07-01 LM 22 Gary McGuchan ST 19CAN Jerry Cipriani ST 11 Jamie Perfetti Substitutes:MF 14Anwar Ahmed 61FW 15 CAN Luciano Beraroccohttps://www.goknights.ca/sports/msoc/coaches/Luciano_Beradocco?view=bio Luciano Beradocco Niagara College en 2019-07-01 Manager:CAN Dino Perri Assistant referees: Ivan Calic Yakov Keimakh 1997 10 8 y 20:15 ET St. Catharines Roma Wolves 4–3 Report Cipriani 1, 15 Gary McGuchan 31 Arghittu 39 Mella 10 Handsor 38 Moore 48 Toronto Supra Club Roma Stadium St. Catharines, Ontario 400 Graham Williams GK 1CAN Dino Perri RB 2 John McNeil CB 7 Tony CarbonaraCB 9CAN Gary Hughes LB 3CAN Salvatore Borgh RM 20 CAN Bobby Pretto CM 16 Keith MooreLM 22 Gary McGuchan ST 18CAN Carlo Arghittu 88ST 13 CAN Lucio IanieroST 19 CAN Jerry Cipriani 79Substitutes:GK 1Lee Burrows MF 14Anwar Ahmed MF 26Gary Weinhandl MF 8Jamie Perfetti 79FW 15 CAN Luciano Berarocco 88Manager:CAN Dino Perri GK 1CAN Piotr Libicz RB 4 Miguel FerreiraCB 3 Leonardo SimonCB 2 McIver BroomesLB 5 Carlos Manuel Lebellos 45RM 7 Mike DeLuca 45CM 8POL Czeslaw Zajac CM 10CAN Chris Handsor LM 6CAN Frank Cardona ST 9CAN Paul Moore ST 11 CAN Adolfo Mella Substitutes:MF 19CAN Kirby Mitchell DF 14 Max Valenzuela MF 21 Gerry Bryant 45DF 14 CAN Jason Faria 45MF 16 Luiz Ganhao Manager: Cesar Garcia Assistant referees: Stuart Kelly Ken Thomas St. Catharines won 4–3 on aggregate. Cup The cup tournament was a separate contest from the rest of the season, in which all seven teams took part. All the matches were separate from the regular season. Teams played each other once, home and away, in the Cup competition, and the first-place team would win the Cup competition. Originally Kosova won the tournament after finishing first in the standings as a result of a greater goal differential.http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/cnsl9727.htm September 7, 1997 Glover Robin www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com 2019-07-13 Shortly after, league executives ordered a single finals match to determine the champion. The decision was influenced after Kosovo's president was required to provide a performance cheque for a player who was involved in an altercation with a referee in an earlier match.http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/cnsl9712.htm July 12, 1997 Glover Robin www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com 2019-07-13 League executive Michael Di Biase reported that the club officials failed to properly address the request.http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/cnsl9729.htm September 14, 1997 Glover Robin www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com 2019-07-13 Though Toronto Croatia finished with similar results, they were disqualified after using an ineligible player. As Hamilton and North York were suspended from league play, the suspension also included their participation in the cup tournament. In the postseason semifinal match against St. Catharines Roma Wolves, the game was delayed when Kosova's president declared his club as cup champions after presenting a trophy to Kosova.http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/cnsl9731.htm CNSL game Kosova Albanians and St Catharines Roma Wolves Glover Robin September 29, 1997 www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com 2019-07-13 Consequently, the league officials canceled the final match and automatically declared Toronto Supra as league cup champions. In response to the decision, Kosova protested the league's actions and subsequently withdrew from the CNSL. Standings main WDL 5 Q KSV Kosova Albanians TRS Toronto Supra TRC Toronto Croatia STC St. Catharines Roma Wolves LON London City 4 2 2 21 11 4 2 2 21 14 C 4 2 2 14 12 3 1 4 13 13 1 1 6 9 28 green1 Qualification for Playoffs Q Q 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. September 7, 1997 http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/97cnsl14.htm Matches June 13, 1997 20:00 London City 0–4 Report North York Talons Cove Road Stadium London, Ontario June 18, 1997 20:15 St. Catharines Roma Wolves 2–1 Report North York Talons Club Roma Stadium St. Catharines, Ontario June 29, 1997 19:30 Toronto Supra 8–1 Report London City Handsor 14 Gerald Gallacher 22 o.g. Ionadi 28 Moore 37, 44 Cardona 80 Kirby Mitchell 82 Mella 87 Gebczynski 40 Lamport Stadium Toronto, Ontario 150 Gene Bainbridge July 2, 1997 20:15 St. Catharines Roma Wolves 2–0 Report London City Club Roma Stadium St. Catharines, Ontario July 4, 1997 20:30 Toronto Supra 4–2 St. Catharines Roma Wolves Lamport Stadium Toronto, Ontario 100 Angus Black July 9, 1997 20:15 St. Catharines Roma Wolves 3–0 Report Hamilton White Eagles Club Roma Stadium St. Catharines, Ontario July 9, 1997 20:00 Toronto Croatia 2–0 Report North York Talons Darko Pantolon 27 Ante Musa 30 Centennial Park Stadium Etobicoke, Ontario 100 Hugh Elliott July 11, 1997 20:00 London City 2–1 Report Toronto Croatia Cove Road Stadium London, Ontario July 12, 1997 20:00 Kosova Albanians 0–1 Report North York Talons Gary DeLeon 46 Esther Shiner Stadium North York, Ontario Teddy Tanashi July 16, 1997 20:15 St. Catharines Roma Wolves 0–1 Report Toronto Croatia Club Roma Stadium St. Catharines, Ontario July 18, 1997 20:30 Toronto Supra 3–0 Report North York Talons Handsor 71, 79 Marcelo Castillo 88 Lamport Stadium Toronto, Ontario 100 Hugh Grant July 20, 1997 16:00 North York Talons 1–1 Report Toronto Croatia Gary DeLeon 54 Ante Musa 20 Esther Shiner Stadium North York, Ontario 60 Peter Eleftehoglou July 20, 1997 19:30 Hamilton White Eagles 1–1 Report St. Catharines Roma Wolves Brian Timmis Stadium Hamilton, Ontario July 23, 1997 20:00 North York Talons 0–3 Report Kosova Albanians Birchmount Stadium Scarborough, Ontario July 25, 1997 20:00 London City 2–2 Report Toronto Supra Cove Road Stadium London, Ontario July 26, 1997 20:00 Kosova Albanians 1–1 Report St. Catharines Roma Wolves Gentian Cara 63 Gary McCuchan 42 Esther Shiner Stadium North York, Ontario 80 Yakov Keimakh July 27, 1997 16:00 North York Talons 0–2 Report London City Dominique 9, 41 Esther Shiner Stadium North York, Ontario 30 Yakov Keimakh July 27, 1997 19:30 Hamilton White Eagles 0–1 Report Toronto Supra Brian Timmis Stadium Hamilton, Ontario July 30, 1997 20:00 Toronto Croatia 3–1 Report Toronto Supra Iglic 4 Bulku 40 John Marsonovic 79 Mella 87 Brian Timmis Stadium Etobicoke, Ontario 100 Graham Williams July 30, 1997 20:15 St. Catharines Roma Wolves 1–2 Report Kosova Albanians Club Roma Stadium St. Catharines, Ontario August 2, 1997 20:00 Kosova Albanians 2–4 Report Toronto Supra Martin Quiroz 8 Garvin Huston 41 Mella 1 Henrique Ferreira 38 Jason Faria 82 Moore 91 Esther Shiner Stadium North York, Ontario 80 Yakov Keimakh August 6, 1997 20:00 Toronto Croatia 1–3 Report St. Catharines Roma Wolves Centennial Park Stadium Etobicoke, Ontario August 8, 1997 20:00 London City 2–3 Report St. Catharines Roma Wolves Cove Road Stadium London, Ontario August 9, 1997 20:00 Kosova Albanians 4–4 Report Toronto Croatia Yuri Castillo 15 Biron Vargas 20, 35 Marco Ponce 47 Tomi Milkovic 50 Ante Musa 62 Ivica Zelic 64 Zoran Maryanovic 73 Esther Shiner Stadium North York, Ontario Yakov Keimakh August 13, 1997 20:00 Toronto Croatia 1–0 Report Kosova Albanians Zoran Marjanovic 34 Centennial Park Stadium Etobicoke, Ontario 100 Yakov Keimakh August 15, 1997 20:30 Toronto Supra 0–0 Report Toronto Croatia Lamport Stadium Toronto, Ontario 100 August 22, 1997 20:30 Toronto Supra 0–3 Report Kosova Albanians Garvin Huston 34 Gentian Cara 79 Biron Vargas 87 Lamport Stadium Toronto, Ontario 100 August 27, 1997 20:00 Toronto Croatia 3–2 Report London City Ante Bralo 5 Ante Musa 19 Leo Marasovic 84 Michael Gauthier 27 Tonino Commisso 78 Centennial Park Stadium Etobicoke, Ontario 100 Ken Thomas August 27, 1997 20:15 St. Catharines Roma Wolves 1–2 Report Toronto Supra Club Roma Stadium St. Catharines, Ontario August 29, 1997 20:00 London City 0–2 Report Kosova Albanians Cove Road Stadium London, Ontario September 7, 1997 18:00 Kosova Albanians 7–0 Report London City Biron Vargas 13, 51, 57, 90 Francis Rigoult 34 Garvin Huston 55 Sean Carasquero 91 Esther Shiner Stadium North York, Ontario 100 Valentine Karagine References External links RSSSF CNSL page thecnsl.com - 1997 season Category:1997 in domestic association football leagues Canadian National Soccer League 1997