2003 Canadian Professional Soccer League season

Football league season

Canadian Professional Soccer LeagueSeason| 2003

|

Champions| Brampton Hitmen
Regular Season title|

* Ottawa Wizards (Eastern Conference)
* Hamilton Thunder (Western Conference)

Matches played| 117
Goals scored| 405 (3.46 per match)
Top goalscorer| Carlo Arghittu (St. Catharines Wolves)
Best goalkeeper| Simon Eaddy
Biggest home win| Toronto Supra 9-1 Durham Flames (September 24, 2003)
Biggest away win|

* Durham Flames 2-5 Metro Lions (September 14, 2003)
* Durham Flames 4-5 Vaughan Sun Devils (August 10, 2003)
* Durham Flames 2-5 Ottawa Wizards (July 19, 2003)

← 2002

2004 →

The 2003 Canadian Professional Soccer League season was the sixth season for the Canadian Professional Soccer League. The season began on May 24, 2003 and concluded on October 5, 2003 with the Brampton Hitmen defeating Vaughan Sun Devils 1-0 to capture the CPSL Championship (known as the Rogers CPSL Cup for sponsorship reasons).[1] The victory marked Brampton's first championship title, and the final was played at Cove Road Stadium in London, Ontario.[2] During the regular season the Ottawa Wizards and the Hamilton Thunder won their respective conferences. Ottawa became the second CPSL franchise to go undefeated throughout the regular season.

Unfortunately the season was plagued with controversy as the Wizards withdrew from the playoff competition, due to a dispute with the CPSL Executive Committee.[3][4] Another controversy stemmed from a quarterfinal match between Brampton and Toronto Croatia, where Toronto won the match on penalties, but was reversed by the league due to Toronto using an ineligible coach and general manager.[5] On a positive note the league's television program the CPSL Soccer Show recorded the highest ratings of any other Sunday program shown on Rogers TV.[6][7]

## Changes from 2002 season

[edit]

The 2003 season saw the league decrease by one team due to the fact that the York Region Shooters merged with the Vaughan Sun Devils to unite the York Region territory.[8][9] The Montreal Dynamites moved to the Montreal suburb of Laval and changed their team name accordingly.

## Teams

[edit]

Team | City | Stadium | Manager

|
|
|

Brampton Hitmen | Brampton, Ontario (Bramalea) | Victoria Park Stadium | Steve Nijjar[10]
Durham Flames | Oshawa, Ontario (Vanier) | Oshawa Civic Stadium | Steve Hamill[11]
London City | London, Ontario (Westmount) | Cove Road Stadium | Harry Gauss[12]
Hamilton Thunder | Hamilton, Ontario | Brian Timmis Stadium | Manuel Gomes[13]
Metro Lions | Toronto, Ontario (Scarborough) | Birchmount Stadium | Aldwyn McGill[14]
Mississauga Olympians | Mississauga, Ontario (Erin Mills) | Erin Mills Twin Arenas | Darren Tilley[15]
Tony Laferrara
Laval Dynamites | Laval, Quebec | Centre Sportif Bois-de-Boulogne | Jawad El Andaloussi[16]
North York Astros | Toronto, Ontario (North York) | Esther Shiner Stadium | Pavel Zaslavski[17]
Ottawa Wizards | Ottawa, Ontario (Carp) | OZ Optics Stadium | Klaus Linnenbruegger[18]
St. Catharines Wolves | St. Catharines, Ontario (Vansickle) | Club Roma Stadium | Lucio Ianiero[19]
Toronto Croatia | Mississauga, Ontario (Streetsville) | Memorial Park | Velimir Crljen
Toronto Supra | Toronto, Ontario (Brockton) | Centennial Park Stadium | José Testas[20]
Vaughan Sun Devils | Vaughan, Ontario (Thornhill) | Dufferin District Field | Dave Benning[21]

### Coaching changes

[edit]

Team  | Outgoing coach  | Manner of
departure  | Date of
vacancy  | Position in table  | Incoming coach  | Date of
appointment

|
|
|
|
|
|

Hamilton Thunder | Duncan Wilde[22] | resigned  | July 22, 2003 | 1st, Western Conference  | Ivan Marković[22] | July 22, 2003
Hamilton Thunder | Ivan Marković[13] | resigned  | August 7, 2003 | 2nd, Western Conference  | Manuel Gomes[13] | August 7, 2003
Ottawa Wizards | Hubert Busby Jr.[23] | resigned  | September 10, 2003  | 1st, Eastern Conference  | Klaus Linnenbruegger[18] | September 11, 2003

Brampton

Vaughan

London

Streetsville

Mississauga

Durham

Ottawa

St. Catharines

Hamilton

TORONTO

class=notpageimage|

Location of CPSL teams outside of Toronto for the 2003 CPSL season.
Western Conference  Eastern Conference

Metro Lions

Toronto Supra

North York Astros

Vaughan Sun Devils

class=notpageimage|

Location of CPSL teams in Toronto for the 2003 CPSL season.
Western Conference  Eastern Conference

|

## Final standings

[edit]

### Eastern Conference

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Ottawa Wizards | 18  | 13  | 5  | 0  | 53  | 10  | +43  | 44  | Qualification for Playoffs
2  | Toronto Supra | 18  | 10  | 6  | 2  | 50  | 29  | +21  | 36
3  | Vaughan Sun Devils | 18  | 7  | 7  | 4  | 41  | 30  | +11  | 28
4  | Laval Dynamites | 18  | 8  | 3  | 7  | 33  | 41  | −8  | 27  |
5  | Metro Lions | 18  | 5  | 3  | 10  | 26  | 29  | −3  | 18
6  | Durham Flames | 18  | 1  | 1  | 16  | 28  | 73  | −45  | 4

Updated to match(es) played on October 2, 2003. Source: http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports03/03cpwkfn.htm
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

### Western Conference

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Hamilton Thunder | 18  | 11  | 4  | 3  | 38  | 19  | +19  | 37  | Qualification for Playoffs
2  | Brampton Hitmen | 18  | 10  | 3  | 5  | 38  | 25  | +13  | 33
3  | Toronto Croatia | 18  | 9  | 1  | 8  | 27  | 30  | −3  | 28
4  | St. Catharines Roma Wolves | 18  | 8  | 2  | 8  | 26  | 34  | −8  | 26  |
5  | North York Astros | 18  | 4  | 5  | 9  | 20  | 33  | −13  | 17
6  | Mississauga Olympians | 18  | 4  | 4  | 10  | 19  | 30  | −11  | 16
7  | London City | 18  | 3  | 4  | 11  | 26  | 42  | −16  | 13

Updated to match(es) played on October 2, 2003. Source: http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports03/03cpwkfn.htm
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

## Rogers CPSL Championship playoffs

[edit]

### Quarterfinals

[edit]

Brampton Hitmen v Toronto Croatia September 30, 2003 |  Brampton Hitmen | 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 p)|  Toronto Croatia | Brampton, Ontario

|
|
|
|

8:30 ET | Ruben Flores 36' | (Report) | Orlin Chalmers 3' | Stadium: Victoria Park Stadium
Attendance: 150
Referee: Manuel Orellano (Ontario
| Penalties|

* Hugo Herrera
* Jonathan Bustamante
* Maximiliano Andrada
* Adolfo Mella
* Phil Ionadi

|  |

* Orlin Chalmers
* Antonijo Zupan
* Hayden Fitzwilliams
* Kevin Rickets
* Jure Pavic

Toronto Supra v Vaughan Sun Devils October 1, 2003 |  Toronto Supra | 3–4 (a.e.t.)|  Vaughan Sun Devils | Toronto, Ontario

|
|
|
|

6:45 ET |

* Michael Diluca  38'
* Danny Amaral 73'
* Danny Amaral 92'

| (Report) |

* Bayete Smith 41'
* Elvis Thomas 44'
* Aundrea Rollins  90'
* Aundrea Rollins  100'

| Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium
Attendance: 85
Referee: Frank Marciello (Ontario

### Semifinals

[edit]

London City v Brampton Hitmen October 3, 2003 |  London City | 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–5 p)|  Brampton Hitmen | London, Ontario

|
|
|
|

8:30 ET | Atilla Salamon  83' | (Report) | Hugo Herrera 37' | Stadium: Cove Road Stadium
| Penalties|

* Stu Pow
* Haidar Al-Shaïbani
* unknown
* Erik Elmauer

|  |

* Roy Blanche
* Adolfo Mella
* Kurt Mella
* Hugo Herrera
* Ruben Flores

Hamilton Thunder v Vaughan Sun Devils October 4, 2003 |  Hamilton Thunder | 0–2|  Vaughan Sun Devils | London, Ontario

|
|
|
|

5:30 ET |  | (Report) |

* Matthew Palleschi 10'
* Bayete Smith 44'

| Stadium: Cove Road Stadium
Attendance: 175
Referee: Angelo Gertzakis (Ontario

### Rogers CPSL Championship

[edit]

October 5

3:15 ET

Vaughan Sun Devils| 0–1| Brampton Hitmen

|
|

| Report | Kurt Mella  27'

Cove Road Stadium, London, Ontario

Attendance: 175

Referee: Michael Lambert (Ontario)

|  |

|

GK | 1 | Rob Tilley |  |
RB | 22 |  Angelo Pollastrone[24] |  |
CB | 4 | Jorge Molina |  |  90'
LB | 25 | Danny Sanna |  |
RM | 11 |  Cameron Medwin |  |
CM | 5 | Tony Marshall |  |  76'
CM | 6 | Chris Turner |  |
CM | 10 |  Willy Giummarra |  |  61'
LM | 7 | Aundrea Rollins
ST | 24 |  Matthew Palleschi |  |
ST | 18 |  Joey Todaro[25] |  |  64'
Substitutes:
DF | 16 | Wilson Hugo |  |  76'
DF | 17 | Fitzroy Powell |  |
MF | 9 |  Jason De Thomasis[26] |  |
MF | 23 | Ricardo Forno |  |  61'
FW | 13 |  Paul Sinisi[27] |  |  90'
FW | 14 | Eke Chibueze |  |
FW | 20 | Lorenzo Sibio |  |  64'
Manager:
Tony De Thomasis
|  |  |

|

GK | 1 |  Roy Blanche[28]
RB | 19 | Sean Roberts (c)
CB | 11 |  Alvaro Vaquez[29] |  |
LB | 5 |  Milodrag Akmadzic
RM | 18 | Lovemore Ncube |  |
CM | 6 | Robert Fran |  |
CM | 12 |  Jonathan Bustamante[30] |  |
LM | 2 | Maximiliano Andrada |  |
FW | 10 |  Adolfo Mella |  |  92'
FW | 3 |  Hugo Herrera |  |
FW | 17 | Kurt Mella |  |  56'
Substitutes:
GK | 0 | Ricardo Esgro |  |
DF | 7 | Diego Da Silva |  |
DF | 9 |  Sean Holmes[31] |  |
MF | 15 | Scott Houston |  |
FW | 20 | Yusif Deem Jamamdo |  |  92'
FW | 13 |  Phil Ionadi |  |  56' 89'
FW | 14 |  Ruben Flores |  |  89'
Manager:
Pernell Mason

Assistant referees:
Amato De Luca
Joe Fletcher
Fourth official:
Silviu Petrescu

|

## 2003 scoring leaders

[edit]

Full article: CSL Golden Boot[32]
Position  | Player's name  | Nationality  | Club  | Goals

|
|
|
|

1 | Carlo Arghittu | Canada  | St. Catharines Wolves  | 18
2  | Danny Amaral | Canada  | Toronto Supra  | 17
Michael Diluca  | Canada  | Toronto Supra
3 | Jahmo Welch  | Canada  | Durham Flames  | 13
4 | Phil Ionadi | Canada  | Brampton Hitmen  | 12
5  | Charles Gbeke | Canada  | Ottawa Wizards  | 10
Hugo Herrera | Argentina  | Brampton Hitmen
Joey Todaro  | Canada  | Vaughan Sun Devils
6  | Darryl Gomez | Saint Kitts and Nevis  | Metro Lions  | 9
Alen Marcina | Canada  | Ottawa Wizards
Kevin Nelson | Trinidad and Tobago  | Ottawa Wizards

## CPSL Executive Committee

[edit]

A list of the 2003 CPSL Executive Committee.[33]

Position  | Name  | Nationality

|
|

President & Chairman: | Vincent Ursini |  Canadian
League Administrator/Director of Media: | Stan Adamson[34] |  English
Director at Large: | Walter Kirchner |  Romanian
Director of Discipline: | Clifford Dell[35] |  Canadian
Director of Officials: | Tony Camacho |  Portuguese
Administrative Co-ordinator: | Josie Storto |  Canadian
Community Services: | Peter Li Preti |  Canadian
Legal Counsel: | Ira Greenspoon |  Canadian
Marketing: | Cary Kaplan |  Canadian

## Individual awards

[edit]

Carlo Arghittu won the CSL Golden Boot

The annual CPSL awards ceremony was held at German-Canadian Club on October 5, 2003 in London, Ontario.[36] The Ottawa Wizards finished on top with the most wins with two awards.[37] The undefeated Eastern Conference champions produced the Rookie of the Year with McDonald Yobe, a former Malawian international. After conceding the lowest number of goals the league voted New Zealand journeyman Simon Eaddy with the Goalkeeper of the Year award. Phil Ionadi a former CNSL and USL A-League veteran captained the Brampton Hitmen to a CPSL Championship, and in returned was named the MVP.

Carlo Arghittu of St. Catharines Wolves another former CNSL and USL A-League veteran was given the Golden Boot for finishing as the league's top goalscorer. Domagoj Sain was given his second consecutive Defender of the Year award. After a disastrous 2002 season Toronto Supra brought in Jose Testas a former Primeira Liga, and Segunda Divisão player to manage the club. Testas immediately changed the club into a championship contender by finishing second in their division, and for his achievement was granted the Coach of the Year award. The Durham Flames received their second Fair Play award for being the most disciplined team. While Michael Lambert who officiated the championship final was given his second Referee of the Year award.

Award  | Player (Club)

|

CPSL Most Valuable Player  | Phil Ionadi (Brampton Hitmen)
CPSL Golden Boot  | Carlo Arghittu (St. Catharines Wolves)
CPSL Goalkeeper of the Year Award  | Simon Eaddy (Ottawa Wizards)
CPSL Defender of the Year Award  | Domagoj Sain (Toronto Croatia)
CPSL Rookie of the Year Award  | McDonald Yobe (Ottawa Wizards)
CPSL Coach of the Year Award  | José Testas (Toronto Supra)
CPSL Referee of the Year Award  | Michael Lambert
CPSL Fair Play Award  | Durham Flames

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "October 5, 2003 CPSL Rogers Cup Final Brampton vs Vaughan from CPSL website". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
2. ^ "October 2, 2003 CPSL setup to Rogers Cup Weekend from CPSL website". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
3. ^ "Welcome to the OTTAWA Wizards". 2004-02-02. Archived from the original on 2004-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-01.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
4. ^ "October 9, 2003 CPSL disipline [sic] for Ottawa Wizards from CPSL website". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
5. ^ "October 1, 2003 CPSL Toronto Croatia vs Brampton (League decision)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
6. ^ Glover, Robin. "May 15, 2003 CPSL press conference in Toronto". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
7. ^ "August 23, 2004 CPSL Vince Ursini interview (from NUKE soccer)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
8. ^ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-10-19. Archived from the original on 2003-10-19. Retrieved 2017-01-01.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
9. ^ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-11-25. Archived from the original on 2003-11-25. Retrieved 2017-01-01.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
10. ^ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-11-21. Archived from the original on 2003-11-21. Retrieved 2017-07-29.
11. ^ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-10-18. Archived from the original on 2003-10-18. Retrieved 2017-07-29.
12. ^ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-10-18. Archived from the original on 2003-10-18. Retrieved 2017-07-29.
13. ^ a b c Brown, Josh (7 August 2003). "Thunder coach returns to Croatia". Hamilton Spectator. pp. E2.
14. ^ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-11-21. Archived from the original on 2003-11-21. Retrieved 2017-07-29.
15. ^ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-11-21. Archived from the original on 2003-11-21. Retrieved 2017-07-29.
16. ^ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-10-18. Archived from the original on 2003-10-18. Retrieved 2017-07-29.
17. ^ "North York Astros Soccer Club Powered by Goalline Sports Administration Software". 2009-06-01. Archived from the original on 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
18. ^ a b "Former Wizards Coach Returns". Ottawa Citizen. 11 September 2003. pp. B7.
19. ^ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-10-20. Archived from the original on 2003-10-20. Retrieved 2017-07-29.
20. ^ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-10-20. Archived from the original on 2003-10-20. Retrieved 2017-07-29.
21. ^ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-11-21. Archived from the original on 2003-11-21. Retrieved 2017-07-29.
22. ^ a b "Hamilton coach resigns". National Post. 22 July 2003. pp. S8.
23. ^ Cleary, Martin (10 September 2003). "Wizards' coach bolts on owner: Busby claims role undermined by Sezerman". Ottawa Citizen. pp. D3.
24. ^ "Canada Soccer". canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 2019-10-20.
25. ^ "Canada Soccer". canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 2019-10-20.
26. ^ "Jason De Thomasis". publish.uwo.ca. Retrieved 2019-10-20.
27. ^ "FOUR FANS PREPARE FOR KICK-OFF". Toronto Argonauts. 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2019-10-20.
28. ^ "Canada Soccer". canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 2019-10-20.
29. ^ "Canada Soccer". canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 2019-10-20.
30. ^ "CNSC Toronto Croatia Roster". May 11, 2007. Archived from the original on January 31, 2008.
31. ^ "Drake University Athletics - Sean Holmes - 2010 Men's Soccer Coaching Staff - Drake University". godrakebulldogs.com. Retrieved 2019-10-20.
32. ^ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2004-12-30. Archived from the original on December 30, 2004. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
33. ^ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-11-21. Archived from the original on 2003-11-21. Retrieved 2017-01-01.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
34. ^ "2001 - May 8 - Stan Adamson". May 8, 2001. Archived from the original on November 24, 2001. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
35. ^ "2001 - April 17 - Message from DOO; Volunteers; Dell". April 17, 2001. Archived from the original on November 8, 2001. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
36. ^ Glover, Robin. "October 5, 2003 CPSL Awards Banquet". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-06-04.
37. ^ "October 5, 2003 CPSL Awards Dinner from CPSL site". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-06-04.

## External links

[edit]

* Rocket Robin's Home Page of the 2003 CPSL Season

* v
* t
* e

Canadian Soccer League

Teams|

* Hamilton City
* Scarborough SC
* Serbian White Eagles
* Spanish Future Stars
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Former teams|

* Brampton Stallions
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* Capital City
* Caribbean Selects
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* Durham Flames
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* Dynamo Toronto
* FC Ukraine United
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* Kingston
* Kingsman SC
* Laval Dynamites
* London City SC
* Milltown
* Milton SC
* Mississauga Eagles FC
* Mississauga Eagles
* Montreal Impact Academy
* Niagara United
* North York Astros
* Ooty Black Pearl
* Ottawa Wizards
* Royal Toronto FC
* SC Real Mississauga
* SC Toronto
* SC Waterloo Region
* St. Catharines Wolves
* TFC Academy
* Toronto Atomic FC
* Toronto Croatia
* Trois-Rivières Attak
* Weston United
* Windsor Stars
* York Region Shooters (1998)
* York Region Shooters

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Other|

* CSL Championship
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* Soccer portal
* Multimedia

*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template