| Date | R | Home v Away | - |
|---|
Teams
Vaughan Azzurri
Sigma FC
North Toronto Nitros
Alliance United FC
North Mississauga SC
Prostars FC
Scrosoppi FC
Masters FA
Simcoe County Rovers FC
Woodbridge Strikers
Guelph United FC
Oakville Blue Devils
Darby FC
Pickering Town
Toronto FC U20
Unionville Milliken SC
FC London
Windsor City FC
Burlington
Hamilton United
St Catharines
BVB IA Waterloo
Wikipedia - League1 Ontario
League1 Ontario (L1ON) is a semi-professional men's soccer league in Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association and the Ontario Soccer Association.
League1 Ontario consists of three tiers – League1 Premier, League1 Championship, and League2 Ontario – with promotion and relegation between them. The top-two tiers consist of 12 and 10 teams respectively, while the lowest tier is uncapped in size.
In the Canadian soccer league system, the men's division is behind the fully-professional Canadian Premier League. It is part of League1 Canada, the national third tier with regional division, along with three other provincial leagues. The league champion qualifies for the Canadian Championship, Canada's domestic cup tournament. Dino Rossi serves as the commissioner of the league.
History
League1 Ontario was founded on November 15, 2013, in an announcement by the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) that it would pilot the semi-professional league in 2014 and 2015 as a key pillar of long-term player development in Canada. The league would be administered by DG Sports, who also operate the province's amateur Ontario Soccer League, with Dino Rossi serving as commissioner. OSA President Ron Smale stated that the league's core group of players are to consist of U-23s, with League1 complementing the newly formed Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) elite youth league as a pathway for professional player development.
On April 8, 2014, the OSA revealed its plans for the inaugural season of League1 which would begin during the final weekend in May 2014. The season featured 10 teams, chosen through a standards-based application process, which were: ANB Futbol, Durham Power FC, Internacional de Toronto, Kingston Cataraqui Clippers, Master's FA, Sigma FC, Toronto FC Academy, Vaughan Azzurri, Windsor Stars and Woodbridge Strikers. The league champion would face the champion of the Première ligue de soccer du Québec in the Inter-Provincial Cup to determine the national Division III champion.
Dylan Sacramento of Toronto FC Academy scored the first ever goal in the league with a 10th-minute strike against Vaughan Azzurri. In the same game, Mateo Restrepo received the league's first red card. On July 22, 2014, the league and the Ontario Soccer Association announced the termination of Internacional de Toronto's license agreement due to "failure to comply with agreed-upon league standards", with league matches rescheduled for the season to accommodate the change. Toronto FC Academy were crowned the inaugural league champions on October 4, 2014, after defeating the Cataraqui Clippers 3–1 to secure the top place in the regular season standings. Vaughan Azzurri and Sigma FC contested the inaugural League1 Cup on October 19, 2014, at BMO Field, with the Azzurri winning the single-game cup final 2–1 to be crowned champions.
As the number of teams in the league continued to grow through expansion, the league introduced a two-conference format with the winner of each conference facing off in a championship match. After the 2016 season, the Inter-Provincial Cup was cancelled, with the winners of League1 Ontario and the PLSQ instead advancing to the national Canadian Championship the following season, beginning in 2018.
In 2018, the league returned to a single division, introducing playoffs for the top finishers of the league to decide the league champion. The League Cup tournament was eliminated the following season.
On November 14, 2018, the Canadian Premier League announced its purchase of League1 Ontario. According to L1O commissioner Dino Rossi, L1O would serve as "CPL's official development league."
Due to restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the league cancelled the 2020 season and delayed the start of the 2021 season. In 2022, L1O joined League1 Canada as a founding member. League1 Canada is an alliance of soccer leagues that operate at the pro-am level.
In 2024, League1 Ontario restructured from a single league into a three-tier competition. First announced in January 2022, existing teams were divided into the top two tiers (Premier and Championship) and the lowest tier (League2) was created as an entry point for expansion clubs to the L1O system. The competition adopted promotion and relegation for clubs to move between the tiers. The 2024 season also saw the return of the L1 Cup, a league cup knockout tournament which features teams from all three tiers of the L1O system.
The tournament showcases the best of Canadian soccer talent, providing a platform for young and aspiring players to showcase their skills and compete at a high level. It is known for its intense competition, thrilling matches, and passionate fan base.
Canada League1 Ontario features both men's and women's divisions, ensuring equal opportunities for players of all genders. The tournament follows a league format, with teams competing against each other in a series of matches throughout the season. The top teams from each division advance to the playoffs, where they battle it out for the ultimate glory of being crowned champions.
The tournament not only promotes the development of soccer in Canada but also serves as a pathway for players to progress to higher levels of the sport. Scouts and talent agents often attend the matches, looking for potential prospects to join professional teams or national squads.
Canada League1 Ontario is not just about the competition on the field; it also fosters a sense of community and camaraderie among players, coaches, and fans. The tournament brings people together, creating a vibrant and electric atmosphere at the stadiums. It is a celebration of Canadian soccer culture, where fans proudly support their teams and cheer them on with unwavering enthusiasm.
Overall, Canada League1 Ontario is a premier soccer tournament that showcases the best of Canadian talent, provides a platform for players to shine, and fosters a sense of unity and passion within the soccer community. It is a must-attend event for soccer enthusiasts and a testament to the growing popularity and success of the sport in Canada.