Sixteen Players Selected in 2023 CPL-U SPORTS Draft
December 15, 2022 - Canadian Premier League (CPL) News Release
Toronto, ON - Sixteen U SPORTS student athletes are one step closer to the professional game after they were selected by Canadian Premier League clubs in Thursday's 2023 CPL-U SPORTS Draft presented by Degree.
The live broadcast of the show, hosted by OneSoccer's Adam Jenkins and streamed live on OneSoccer and CBC Sports' YouTube channels, saw all eight CPL clubs each select two players from a prospect list of 199 U SPORTS athletes who declared for the draft, the biggest prospect pool in league history. The draft was open to any U SPORTS underclassmen with one to four years of U SPORTS eligibility remaining, provided they were in good standing with their school's athletic program and educational institution and were planning to return to school the following year.
With the first two picks of the draft, expansion side Vancouver FC selected defender Anthony White from the University of Toronto and forward Ameer Kinani from Toronto Metropolitan University. From there, selection order was based on the 2022 order of finish, with the last-placed team selecting first. CPL champion Forge FC selected last in both rounds. Vancouver did not have a pick in the second round.
Once selected, players may be invited to pre-season training with their prospective club, where they can compete for a roster spot for the 2023 CPL season.
Round 1
Vancouver FC: Anthony White | University of Toronto | DF | 2nd Year
Vancouver FC: Ameer Kinani | Toronto Metropolitan University | FW | 1st Year
Halifax Wanderers: Anthony Stolar | Cape Breton University | DF | 2nd Year
York United FC: Christopher Campoli | Ontario Tech University | MF | 4th Year
Valour FC: Guillaume Pianelli Balisoni | Université du Québec à Trois Rivières | DF | 3rd Year
Pacific FC: Eric Lajeunesse | University of British Columbia | DF | 1st Year
Cavalry FC: William Omoreniye | University of Calgary | MF | 1st Year
Atlético Ottawa: Junior Agyekum | Thompson Rivers University | MF | 2nd year
Forge FC: Miles Green | McMaster University | MF | 4th year
Round 2
Halifax Wanderers: Aiden Rushenas | Dalhousie University | GK | 2nd Year
York United FC: Trivine Esprit | Ontario Tech University | MF | 1st Year
Valour FC: Samuel Laplante | Université du Québec à Trois Rivières | DF | 1st Year
Pacific FC: Brandon Torresan | Trinity Western University | DF | 2nd Year
Cavalry FC: Eryk Kobza | University of Calgary | DF | 4th Year
Atlético Ottawa: Mohamed Bouzidi | Carleton University | FW | 1st Year
Forge FC: Milo Djuricic | York University | DF | 4th Year
The CPL-U SPORTS draft plays a key role in the player development pathway in Canada, serving as a critical link between the Canadian university and professional games since its inaugural iteration in 2018. The draft provides a unique opportunity for student athletes to earn professional experience while maintaining their eligibility to return to U SPORTS competition.
Previous CPL-U SPORTS draft picks include former Cavalry FC defender Joel Waterman, who was recently named to Canada Soccer's Men's National Team for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022©, as well as former Cavalry FC midfielder Victor Loturi, who is now representing Ross Country in the Scottish Premiership; Zach Verhoven, a member of the CPL's reigning regular season champion Atlético Ottawa; and Aboubacar Sissoko, a member of the reigning CPL champion Forge FC squad.
Canadian Premier League Stories from December 15, 2022
- Vancouver FC Selects First, Second Overall in 2023 CPL-U SPORTS Draft - Vancouver FC
- Sixteen Players Selected in 2023 CPL-U SPORTS Draft - CPL
- Wanderers Select Stolar and Rushenas in CPL - U SPORTS Draft - HFX Wanderers FC
- Forge FC Selects Two Players in the 2023 CPL-U Sports Draft - Forge FC
- Pacific FC Selects a Pair of Defenders in 2023 CPL-U SPORTS Draft - Pacific FC
- Cavalry FC Select William Omoreniye and Eryk Kobza in 2023 U SPORTS Draft - Cavalry FC
- Atlético Selects Agyekum, Bouzidi in 2023 CPL-U SPORTS Draft - Atletico Ottawa
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