2002 Canadian Professional Soccer League season

Canadian Professional Soccer League
Season2002
ChampionsOttawa Wizards
Regular Season title
Matches played133
Goals scored456 (3.43 per match)
Top goalscorerDarren Tilley (Mississauga Olympians)
Best goalkeeperGeorge Azcurra
Biggest home winOttawa Wizards 8-1 St. Catharines Wolves (July 7, 2002)
Biggest away winNorth York Astros 0-8 Mississauga Olympians (June 16, 2002)
Highest scoringMississauga Olympians 6-4 St. Catharines Wolves (July 19, 2002)
← 2001
2003 →

The 2002 Canadian Professional Soccer League season was the fifth season for the Canadian Professional Soccer League. The season began on May 23, 2002, and concluded on October 20, 2002, with Ottawa Wizards becoming the first expansion franchise to win the CPSL Championship (known as the Rogers CPSL Cup for sponsorship reasons) by defeating the North York Astros 2–0.[1] For the first time the final was hosted at Esther Shiner Stadium, which granted the hosts the North York Astros a wildcard match.[2] As the league was divided into the Eastern and Western Conferences the Wizards clinched the Eastern title, while Toronto Croatia won the Western Conference. The expansion of the league saw the return of professional soccer to Hamilton, and the addition of another Toronto franchise.[3][4] On February 26, 2002, the CPSL signed a player agreement deal with the Toronto Lynx of the USL A-League, which provided the Lynx access in order to use CPSL talent and provide players an opportunity to play at a higher level.[5][6]

  1. ^ Baines, Time. "Triple the fun for Wizards". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Ottawa Sun. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  2. ^ "North York and The Astros look to October: Esther Shiner Stadium will be the site of the CPSL playoffs". CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League. 2003-08-22. Archived from the original on 2003-08-22. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  3. ^ Peters, Ken. "CPSL preseason story on Hamilton Thunder from The Spectator". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  4. ^ Laskaris, Sam. "Scarborough Mirror-Guardian May 5th, 2002 Preseason story on Metro Lions". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Scarborough Mirror-Guardian. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  5. ^ "CPSL signs Player Agreement with Toronto Lynx". CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League. February 16, 2002. Archived from the original on 2002-08-05. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  6. ^ Da Costa, Norman. "Hartrells defy odds to keep Lynx alive". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Toronto Star. Retrieved 2016-12-31.