CPL Newsroom

Beyond the Pitch: CanMNT defender Doneil Henry 🍁⚽

In the latest episode of CanPL.ca Newsroom’s Beyond the Pitch, CanPL.ca and OneSoccer’s Kristian Jack sits down for a career-spanning discussion with Canadian men’s national team centre back Doneil Henry. The pair delve into Henry’s past with the national team, his time in Korea, and that World Cup qualifying moment against Panama… All ahead of a massive three-match World Cup qualifying window for Canada starting Thursday away to Honduras (8pm ET, live on OneSoccer).

Forge FC snaps up Pacific FC duo + off-season player movement updates

In the first CanPL.ca Newsroom episode of 2022, hosts Marty Thompson, Charlie O’Connor Clarke, and Kristian Jack catch up with Forge FC's recent double signing of Pacific FC standouts Terran Cambpell (2021 Player of the Year nominee) and Alessandro Hojabrpour (2021 Best Under-21 Player of the Year winner) by speaking with them both – and Forge head coach Bobby Smyrniotis – to get an idea of how the deals came together.

Afterward, the gang goes team-by-team to recap off-season movement so far from the CPL's other six clubs.

Commissioner David Clanachan steps down, takes exclusive rights to Windsor CPL club

CanPL.ca and OneSoccer’s Kristian Jack speaks to Canadian Premier League Commissioner David Clanachan, who stepped down from his post on Monday as he was awarded exclusive rights to a CPL club in his hometown of Windsor/Essex County.

Clanachan speaks about his excitement at the Windsor project, his successes in a four-year tenure as CPL Commissioner, and much more.

Pacific FC: 2021 CPL Champions 🍁⚽🏆 Reaction, analysis & behind the scenes interviews

In the special CPL 2021 Final episode of the CanPL.ca Newsroom, hosts Marty Thompson, Charlie O’Connor Clarke, and Kristian Jack go behind the scenes for Pacific FC’s emotional North Star Shield-winning effort – a 1-0 win over Forge FC at Tim Hortons Field.

The gang breakdown PFC’s first title through the lens of a tense final… Before joining up with Pa-Modou Kah’s side on the field and in the champagne-soaked locker room after the match.

CPL Final LIVE preview show (feat. Daniel Krutzen & Lukas MacNaughton)

In the latest episode of CanPL.ca Newsroom’s Beyond the Pitch, CanPL.ca and OneSoccer’s Kristian Jack and Charlie O'Connor-Clarke host a massive hour-long preview show ahead of the 2021 CPL Final set to be played between Forge FC and Pacific FC at Tim Hortons Field (4:30pm ET/1:30pm PT, live on OneSoccer).

The pair get you excited and prepared for this massive match with some of their biggest stars – Daniel Krutzen of Forge FC and Lukas MacNaughton of Pacific FC. Plus, a surprise visit from none other than OneSoccer's Adam Jenkins!

Beyond The Pitch: Forge FC‘s Bobby Smyrniotis

In the latest episode of CanPL.ca Newsroom’s Beyond the Pitch, CanPL.ca and OneSoccer’s Kristian Jack sits down for a mesmerizing chat with Bobby Smyrniotis, head coach of Forge FC. The pair speak as Smyrniotis prepares to win a third Canadian Premier League title Sunday when Hamilton hosts Pacific FC at Tim Hortons Field (4:30pm ET/1:30pm PT, live on OneSoccer).

• 1:27 – Bobby's first soccer memory? Canada's 1986 World Cup campaign: "I still have the VHS somewhere."
• 4:24 – How a couple of simple pushups changed Smyrniotis' outlook on coaching forever.
• 7:38 – "Ajax is the idea," Bobby on bringing Dutch football back to Ontario
• 10:23 – "You bring that back here and you start getting these very good young players like Richie Laryea, Cyle Larin, Chris Nanco, Kyle Bekker... You start seeing all this natural talent."
• 11:39 – How has Smyrniotis has cultivated Forge's culture?
• 12:40 – "The biggest thing I'm proud of is we've created an identity [with Forge]."
• 14:35 – Smyrniotis on taking on football's "global food chain" and what his future holds.
• 17:23 – "I have two modes – it's football, football, football, and then family and my kids."
• 18:29 – Smyrniotis' thoughts on Sunday's massive final at Tim Hortons Field and the chance to lift a third North Star Shield: "It's a fantastic time to be part of Canadian soccer."

How Pacific & Forge became 2021‘s CPL Final-bound teams 🏆🍁⚽

In the latest episode of the CanPL.ca Newsroom, hosts Marty Thompson, Charlie O’Connor Clarke, Benedict Rhodes and Kristian Jack recap the 2021 CPL Playoffs semi-final matches: Pacific FC beating Cavalry FC 2-1 in extra time and Forge FC’s 3-1 dousing of York United.

First up: Tridents time! Kristian and co. question just how Pa-Modou Kah’s side got over the hump in this “just” semi-final. Plus, the controversial second goal… That left the Newsroom crew shrugging their shoulders.

Next up was the mighty Forge who muscled through a difficult 905 Derby semi-final to reach their third final. The gang, who were on location in Hamilton, dissect Forge’s ongoing x-factor, York’s big strides in an above-average year, and Kyle Bekker giving the visiting fans a bit of shtick!

Finally, the gang says goodbye to Cavalry and York by picking a combined best XI that is, uh, much harder than anyone realized it would be.

Newsroom LIVE pre-Playoffs preview (feat. Wheeldon Jr. Aparicio, Awuah & McNab)

CanPL.ca Newsroom hosts Charlie O'Connor-Clarke and Kristian Jack hosted a massive YouTube livstream show Thursday, reviewing the Canadian men's national team's massive win over Mexico in 2022 FIFA World Cup previewing the CPL Playoffs, starting with the semi-finals this weekend: Cavalry FC (2nd) hosts Pacific FC (3rd) at ATCO Field on Saturday, Nov. 20 (3 pm ET/1 pm MT, live on OneSoccer) and Forge FC (1st) hosts York United FC (4th) at Tim Hortons Field on Sunday, Nov. 21 (3 pm ET, live on OneSoccer).

 

Charlie and Kristian were joined by Pacific midfielder Manny Aparicio (14:20) Cavalry coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. (38:12), Forge defender Kwame Awuah (59:53), and York United head Angus McNab (1:11:40).

Beyond The Pitch: CanMNT & Beşiktaş midfielder Atiba Hutchinson 🍁⚽

In the latest episode of Beyond the Pitch, CanPL.ca & OneSoccer's Kristian Jack sits down with none other than Atiba Hutchinson, one of Canada's all-time best footballers, as the Beşiktaş midfielder prepares for the men's national team's latest run of 2022 FIFA World Cup final round qualifiers. Hutchinson discusses playing in Turkey, interest in English Premier League clubs, and what makes this Canada squad, just a handful of matches away from qualifying for their first World Cup in 35 years, so special to the 38-year-old veteran.

Canada's men's team will be next in action on Friday when they face Costa Rica in Edmonton (9:00pm ET/7:00pm MT live on OneSoccer).

Weekend Roundup: Marco Bustos joins show as CPL Playoffs are set

In the latest episode of the CanPL.ca Newsroom, hosts Marty Thompson, Charlie O’Connor Clarke, and Kristian Jack are joined by none other than Pacific FC attacker (and fan of the show) Marco Bustos to recap York United’s playoff-clinching weekend… And all the bizarre moments that followed.

First up, the gang recap York’s 2-1 905 Derby loss to Forge FC (2:00) and how a “gritty” York team could mount a playoff push against Forge in the first round. 

Next up was Valour FC’s devastating late stab at making the playoffs, coming from three goals down to draw FC Edmonton 3-3 (12:20). The gang sheds a tear for Bustos’ former club who was a William Akio header away from getting the win. Plus, what on earth do FCE coach Alan Koch and his Valour opposite Phil Dos Santos have to say after that final 15 minute frenzy?

HFX Wanderers FC’s 1-1 draw with Atlético Ottawa (22:11) was up next – Wanderers Grounds gave Halifax a push… But it wasn’t enough. Plus, of course, we had to discuss Matthew Arnone’s sending off which almost sent Marco back off his chair.

Finally, Cavalry FC vs. Pacific FC – the playoff preview that ended with a Cavs win. What can we say about a matchup that’s been evenly split (three wins each, one draw) going into an unprecedented winner-take-all semi-final slated for Calgary?