CPL Newsroom

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?

York & Valour put up season-defining playoff hunt wins, ‘Angry Forge‘ strikes again 💥💥

In the latest episode of the CanPL.ca Newsroom, hosts Marty Thompson, Charlie O’Connor Clarke, and Kristian Jack cap one of the more enjoyable CPL weekends ever – from goals to controversial calls to, of course, the massive playoff implications that came with them.

First up, our trio had to – had to – address York United’s massive 2-1 win over Pacific FC at Starlight Stadium where the hosts succumbed to some controversial calls and, Lukas MacNaughton’s missed penalty. Why did he take it and what’s next for a PFC side set to miss their talismanic defender. Also, how about Lowell Wright and York United who took pole position for the fourth and final playoff spot with the win.

Next up is Valour FC’s massive 4-2 win over Cavalry FC. Powered by William Akio, how did they become the first team to score four goals against Cavalry in CPL history and what has Phil Dos Santos done to power their team back into the playoff hunt going into a massive final matchday against FC Edmonton?

Finally, the gang caps HFX Wanderers’ massive 4-1 loss to Forge FC. What went wrong for Stephen Hart’s side in their second big loss of the week and what about “angry Forge” who looked bitter after their heartbreaking loss to CF Montreal.

CanWNT savours celebration, York left frustrated in CPL playoff chase

In the latest episode of the CanPL.ca Newsroom, hosts Marty Thompson, Charlie O’Connor Clarke, Kristian Jack, Benedict Rhodes and Emily Wilson recap the beginning of the Canadian women’s national team’s celebration tour and the ongoing fight for the playoffs in the CPL – starting with York United’s frustrating draw away to Atlético Ottawa.

Beyond The Pitch: CanWNT‘s Janine Beckie & Atlético Ottawa‘s Drew Beckie 🍁⚽

In the latest episode of CanPL.ca’s Beyond The Pitch, CanPL.ca and OneSoccer’s Kristian Jack sits down with the Beckies – Atlético Ottawa defender Drew Beckie and his sister, Canadian women's national team and Manchester City star Janine Beckie. The trio discusses everything from the siblings' humble beginnings in Saskatchewan to both breaking into the professional ranks to Janine's gold medal-winning run at Tokyo 2020 and the resulting celebration tour set to kick off this Saturday when Canada's women's team plays New Zealand at TD Place in Ottawa (3:00pm ET live on OneSoccer).