2022 Forge FC season explained

Club:	Forge FC
Season:	2022
Stadium:	Tim Hortons Field
Chrtitle:	Chairman
Chairman:	Bob Young
Mgrtitle:	Head coach
Manager:	Bobby Smyrniotis
League:	Canadian Premier League
League Result:	2nd
Cup1:	CPL Playoffs
Cup1 Result:	Champions
Cup2:	2020 Canadian Championship
Cup2 Result:	Runners-up
Cup3:	2022 Canadian Championship
Cup3 Result:	Quarter-finals
Cup4:	CONCACAF Champions League
Cup4 Result:	Round of 16
League Topscorer:	Woobens Pacius (10)
Season Topscorer:	Woobens Pacius (13)
Highest Attendance:	13,715 (June 4 vs. Toronto FC)
Lowest Attendance:	1,187 (July 23 vs. Valour FC)
Prevseason:	2021
Nextseason:	2023
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The 2022 Forge FC season was the fourth season in the history of Forge FC. In addition to the Canadian Premier League, the club competed in the 2022 Canadian Championship and the previously delayed final of the 2020 Canadian Championship.

Forge FC began its season in February by competing against Mexican club Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Champions League, becoming the first Canadian Premier League club to play in the competition.^[1]

On October 30, Forge FC defeated Atlético Ottawa 2–0 in the 2022 Canadian Premier League Final to claim their third CPL title.^[2]

Final squad

No.	Name	Nationality	Position(s)	Date of birth (age)	Previous club
Goalkeepers
1	Triston Henry		GK	October 30, 2022	Sigma FC
29	Christopher Kalongo		GK	October 30, 2022	Sigma FC
Defenders
2	Jonathan Grant		RB	October 30, 2022	Nyköpings BIS
3	Ashtone Morgan		LB	October 30, 2022	Real Salt Lake
4	Dominic Samuel		CB / RB	October 30, 2022	Sigma FC
5	Daniel Krutzen		CB / LB	October 30, 2022	Reading United
23	Garven-Michée Metusala		CB / FB	October 30, 2022	A.S. Blainville
24	Rezart Rama		CB	October 30, 2022	Nottingham Forest
81	Malik Owolabi-Belewu		DF	October 30, 2022	S.P.A.L.
Midfielders
10	Kyle Bekker		AM / CM	October 30, 2022	North Carolina FC
12	Sebastian Castello		MF	October 30, 2022	Sigma FC
13	Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson			October 30, 2022	IFK Värnamo
20	Kwasi Poku		MF	October 30, 2022	Toronto FC II
21	Alessandro Hojabrpour		AM	October 30, 2022	Pacific FC
22	Noah Jensen		MF	October 30, 2022	Oakland University
33	Aboubacar Sissoko		MF	October 30, 2022	Indy Eleven
Forwards
7	David Choinière		LW / RW	October 30, 2022	Montreal Impact
9	Terran Campbell		ST / LW	October 30, 2022	Pacific FC
11	Chris Nanco		ST / RW / LW	October 30, 2022	Bethlehem Steel
14	Emery Welshman		ST	October 30, 2022	Hapoel Ra'anana A.F.C.
17	Woobens Pacius		FW	October 30, 2022	CF Montréal Academy
19	Tristan Borges		RW / LW / AM	October 30, 2022	OH Leuven
77	Jordan Hamilton		ST	October 30, 2022	Sligo Rovers
Unknown
	Luc Finelli			October 30, 2022	Sigma FC
	Daniel Firek			October 30, 2022	Sigma FC
	Gabriel Goransson			October 30, 2022	Sigma FC
	Matthew Paiva			October 30, 2022	Sigma FC

Transfers

In

No.	Pos.	Player	From club	Fee/notes	Date	Source
9			Pacific FC	Free		^[3]
21			Pacific FC	Free		^[4]
3			Real Salt Lake	Free		^[5]
20			Toronto FC II	Free		^[6]
33			Indy Eleven	Free
28			Sigma FC	Signed to a development contract		^[7] ^[8]
22			Oakland University	Free		^[9]
16			UAB Blazers	Free
			UQTR	Selected 7th overall in the 2022 CPL–U Sports Draft
8			Providence College	Free
36			Toronto FC Academy	Free		^[10]
			FC Edmonton	Free
81			S.P.A.L.	Free		^[11]
24			Nottingham Forest	Free		^[12]
6			Sigma FC	Short-term contract		^[13]
8			Vaughan Azzurri	Short-term contract
77			Sligo Rovers	Free		^[14]

Loans in

No.	Pos.	Player	Loaned from	Fee/notes	Date	Source
99			Independiente	Season-long loan		^[15]
19			OH Leuven	Undisclosed		^[16]

Draft picks

Forge FC made the following selections in the 2022 CPL–U Sports Draft. Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract will be listed as transfers in.

Round	Selection	Pos.	Player	Nationality	University
1	7	DF	Guillaume Pianelli		UQTR
2	15	MF	Mohamed Alshakman		McMaster University

Out

No.	Pos.	Player	To club	Fee/notes	Date	Source
9			Vaughan Azzurri	Undisclosed		^[17] ^[18]
18			Muaither SC	Free		^[19]
15			Atlético Ottawa	Free		^[20]
8			US Touarga	Undisclosed		^[21] ^[22]
6			St. Louis City 2	Free		^[23]
3			Serbian White Eagles	Undisclosed		^[24] ^[25]
16			Toronto FC II	Contract expired		^[26]
27				Undisclosed
				Undisclosed
8			Pacific FC	Undisclosed		^[27]
31			Toronto FC II	Undisclosed		^[28] ^[29]
24			K.S.C. Lokeren-Temse	Free		^[30]

Loans out

No.	Pos.	Player	Loaned to	Fee/notes	Date	Source
			FC Edmonton	Season-long loan	April 5, 2022
16			FC Edmonton	Season-long loan	April 5, 2022

Club

On January 2, Forge FC reorganized its ownership under the newly announced Hamilton Sports Group, an entity that also took over the ownership of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the master licence for Tim Hortons Field. Bob Young continued as the club's chairman and largest shareholder while also welcoming new investment from Hamilton-based steel company Stelco (represented by its chairman and CEO Alan Kestenbaum), club CEO Scott Mitchell, and Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson.^[31]

Kits

Forge FC unveiled its 2022 home kit on March 17 and away kit on March 31.^{[32] [33]} The 2022 CONCACAF Champions League began before the new kits were unveiled, requiring the club to continue to wear its 2021 kit for its matches in the competition.^[34]

Supplier: Macron / Sponsor: Tim Hortons

Pre-season and friendlies

Forge FC split its pre-season, playing friendlies both before and after the club's CONCACAF Champions League matches against Cruz Azul.^{[35] [36] [37] [38]}

Competitions

Matches are listed in Hamilton local time: Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4) from March 13 until November 5, and Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5) otherwise.

Canadian Premier League

See main article: 2022 Canadian Premier League season.

Playoff matches

2020 Canadian Championship

See main article: article and 2020 Canadian Championship. The 2020 Canadian Championship Final was delayed nearly two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[39]

2022 Canadian Championship

See main article: article and 2022 Canadian Championship.

CONCACAF Champions League

See main article: article and 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.

Round of 16

Statistics

Squad and statistics

|-|-! colspan="14" | Player(s) on loan but featured this season|-|-! colspan="14" | Player(s) transferred out during this season|-|-|}

Goal scorers

width=10	Rank	width=10	Nat.	Player	width=10	Pos.	width=80	Canadian Premier League	width=80	CPL Playoffs	width=80	2020 Canadian Championship	width=80	2022 Canadian Championship	width=80	CONCACAF Champions League	width=80	TOTAL
1			FW	10	2	0	1	0	13
2			FW	6	0	1	0	0	7
			FW	6	0	0	1	0	7
			FW	4	2	0	0	1	7
5			MF	4	0	0	0	0	4
6			MF	2	1	0	0	0	3
			MF	3	0	0	0	0	3
8			MF	2	0	0	0	0	2
			FW	2	0	0	0	0	2
10			MF	1	0	0	0	0	1
			FW	1	0	0	0	0	1
			DF	1	0	0	0	0	1
			DF	1	0	0	0	0	1
			MF	1	0	0	0	0	1
Own goals				3	0	0	0	0	3
Totals				47	5	1	2	1	56

Clean sheets

width=10	Rank	width=10	Nat.	Player	width=80	Canadian Premier League	width=80	CPL Playoffs	width=80	2020 Canadian Championship	width=80	2022 Canadian Championship	width=80	CONCACAF Champions League	width=80	TOTAL
1			10	1	0	1	0	12
Totals			10	1	0	1	0	12

Disciplinary record

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	Canadian Premier League		CPL Playoffs		2020 Canadian Championship		2022 Canadian Championship		CONCACAF Champions League		TOTAL
1	GK			3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
2	DF			2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
3	DF			3	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
4	DF			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
7	FW			1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
9	FW			2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
10	MF			4	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	6	2
11	FW			0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
12	MF			0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
13	MF			1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
14	FW			2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	0
17	FW			3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
19	FW			7	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	8	0
20	MF			6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	7	0
21	MF			4	0	1	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	8	0
23	DF			4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
24	DF			8	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	0
33	MF			5	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	7	0
81	DF			1	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Totals				56	1	6	1	5	0	7	0	2	0	76	2

Honours

Canadian Premier League Awards

Name	Award	Status	Source
Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson	Defender of the Year		^[40] ^[41]
	Player of the Year
	Players' Player of the Year
Kyle Bekker	Players' Player of the Year
Woobens Pacius	Players' Player of the Year
	Canadian U-21 Player of the Year
Bobby Smyrniotis	Coach of the Year

Monthly Awards

!Month!Name!Award!Source

July	Bobby Smyrniotis	Manager of the Month	^[42]
July	Woobens Pacius	Player of the Month	^[43]
October	Bobby Smyrniotis	Manager of the Month	^[44]
October	David Choinière	Player of the Month	^[45]

Sources

• Web site: Club roster: 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League . 10 . . February 7, 2022 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220208003904/https://stconcacafwp001.blob.core.windows.net/media/rredlpru/22_sccl-rosters-r16_feb7.pdf#page=10 . February 8, 2022 . live.
• News: Forge Season in Review . Kevin . Anderson . 13th Man Sports . November 6, 2022 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221106233835/https://13thmansports.ca/2022/11/06/forge-season-in-review/ . November 6, 2022 . live.
• Forge FC 2022 Season in Review: Part One - Defensive Third . Anthony (host) . Urciuoli . Forge FC . YouTube . November 16, 2022 . September 25, 2023.
• Forge FC 2022 Season in Review: Part Two - Middle Third . Anthony (host) . Urciuoli . Forge FC . YouTube . November 21, 2022 . September 25, 2023.
• Forge FC 2022 Season in Review: Part Three - Final Third . Anthony (host) . Urciuoli . Forge FC . YouTube . November 30, 2022 . September 25, 2023.

External links

• Official site

Notes and References

1. Web site: Match Analysis: Forge FC 0-1 Cruz Azul — Concacaf Champions League . canpl.ca . Canadian Premier League . Charlie . O'Connor-Clarke . February 24, 2022 . February 16, 2022.
2. Web site: Dynasty Win: Forge FC Claims Third North Star Shield . Northern Tribune . John . Jacques . October 30, 2022 . October 30, 2022.
3. Web site: Forge FC Confirms Campbell Capture . Northern Tribune . John . Jacques . January 14, 2022 . January 11, 2022.
4. Web site: Forge Announces Arrival Of Alessandro Hojabrpour . Northern Tribune . John . Jacques . January 14, 2022 . January 12, 2022.
5. Web site: Forge FC Inks Ashtone Morgan. Northern Tribune. John . Jacques . February 3, 2022 . February 1, 2022.
6. Web site: Forge Lands Aboubacar Sissoko. Northern Tribune. John . Jacques . February 3, 2022 . February 2, 2022.
7. Web site: Concacaf Reveals Forge FC Squad List. Northern Tribune. John . Jacques . April 19, 2022 . February 8, 2022.
8. ForgeFCHamilton . Forge FC . 1603477585366769669 . Marcus Caldeira and Daniel Stampatori, Forge FC developmental contract players, with Coach Bobby at the @SigmaFC University Showcase, where they both once played! . December 15, 2022 . December 16, 2022.
9. Web site: Running Through The Six: A Look At Forge's New Signings. Northern Tribune . John . Jacques . February 15, 2022 . February 15, 2022.
10. Web site: Two In, Two Out: Forge Signs Players, Makes Loans To Edmonton. Northern Tribune. John . Jacques . April 6, 2022 . April 5, 2022.
11. Web site: Two Teenage Additions Join Forge FC. Northern Tribune . John . Jacques . April 8, 2022 . April 8, 2022.
12. Web site: Forge FC signs defender Rezart Rama. Forge FC . May 19, 2022 . May 19, 2022.
13. Web site: Forge FC sign Canadian defender Duncan & attacker Benitez to a short term contract. Forge FC . June 13, 2022 . June 12, 2022.
14. Web site: Forge FC signs Canadian forward Jordan Hamilton to multi-year deal . Charlie . O'Connor-Clarke . . canpl.ca . August 5, 2022 . August 5, 2022.
15. Web site: Forge Secures Return Attacking Core . Northern Tribune . John . Jacques . January 24, 2022 . January 24, 2022.
16. Web site: Borges Is Back: Forge Secures Loan Extension. Northern Tribune . John . Jacques . February 15, 2022 . February 14, 2022.
17. Web site: Nigeria - K. Nwafornso - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway . soccerway.com . February 2, 2023 .
18. News: What you need to know ahead of the League1 Ontario Final between Blue Devils FC and Vaughan . Oakville News . Pierce . Lang . September 3, 2022 . February 2, 2023 .
19. Web site: Babouli Lands With Qatari Side Muaither SC . Northern Tribune . John . Jacques . January 19, 2022 . January 19, 2022.
20. Web site: ATO Signing Day: Gatineau-native Tissot returns to Ottawa . canpl.ca. Canadian Premier League. January 26, 2022. January 26, 2022.
21. Forge FC Champions League Preview Show . 26 . CanPL.ca Newsroom . . Kristian . Jack . February 15, 2022.
22. News: Pape Boubacar Gadiaga fait monter un club dans l'élite marocaine . Agence de Presse Sénégalaise . French . May 31, 2022 . May 18, 2022.
23. Web site: Kwame Awuah Cracks Saint Louis CITY2 Roster . Northern Tribune . John . Jacques . February 28, 2022 . February 28, 2022.
24. Canadian Championship edition (March 11, 2022) . 44 . OneSoccer Live Q&A Roundtable . . March 11, 2022.
25. Web site: Adamson . Stan . Continentals Defeat York Region 3-2, Falcons tie with Serbian White Eagles . . June 27, 2022 . July 10, 2022.
26. Web site: Toronto FC II sign Stefan Karajovanovic and Klaidi Cela . torontofc.ca . March 31, 2022 . March 31, 2022.
27. Web site: FC Edmonton acquires midfielder Simon Triantafillou . Canadian Premier League . 16 April 2022 . 15 April 2022.
28. Pacific FC vs Forge FC. subscription. OneSoccer. Canadian Premier League. Langford, British Columbia. April 10, 2022. April 10, 2022. 113. I incorrectly said that the Forge goalkeeping stable was up to four, but Baj Maan has departed from the club. I was able to confirm that with the media communications staff at half time, so my apologies for that error. At last check he was trialing with TFC II..
29. Web site: Toronto FC II sign goalkeeper Baj Maan. Toronto FC II. May 7, 2022. May 7, 2022.
30. News: Paolo Sabak versterkt de rangen bij Lokeren-Temse, maar De Kuyffer, Schils en Boualouali vertrekken: "Kern wordt herleid naar werkbare groep" . Het Nieuwsblad . Ivan . Elegeert . Dutch . 8 August 2022 . 12 October 2022.
31. News: Tiger-Cats to announce new ownership structure . Naylor . Dave . tsn.ca . January 2, 2022 . January 2, 2022.
32. Web site: Forge FC 2022 Macron Primary Club Kit Unveiled . forgefc.canpl.ca . Forge FC . March 17, 2022 . September 1, 2022.
33. Web site: Forge FC 2022 Macron Alternate Club Kit Unveiled . forgefc.canpl.ca . Forge FC . March 31, 2022 . September 1, 2022.
34. Web site: O'CONNOR-CLARKE: Forge's Champions League adventure brings remarkable 3-year journey to a climax . canpl.ca . Canadian Premier League . Charlie . O'Connor-Clarke . February 25, 2022 . September 1, 2022.
35. Web site: Forge Undergoes Preseason Friendly. Northern Tribune . John . Jacques . March 17, 2022 . January 31, 2022.
36. Web site: Orange Announce Spring Schedule. Syracuse University Athletics . March 17, 2022 . January 31, 2022.
37. 1491657910752997377. VictoriaGooner. Match official appointments - friendly. February 10, 2022. March 17, 2022.
38. Web site: Wanderers Ontario bound for series of pre-season matches . HFX Wanderers FC . March 17, 2022 . March 16, 2022.
39. Web site: 2020 Canadian Championship Final set for June 4 . Toronto FC . 2 March 2022.
40. Web site: Awards . . October 26, 2022.
41. Web site: 2022 CPL Awards Roundup . Northern Tribune . John . Jacques . October 30, 2022 . October 28, 2022.
42. Web site: Forge FC's Bobby Smyrniotis named CPL Manager of the Month for July . Canadian Premier League . August 4, 2022 . August 9, 2022.
43. Web site: Forge FC's Woobens Pacius named CPL Player of the Month for July . Canadian Premier League . August 4, 2022 . August 9, 2022.
44. Web site: Forge FC's Bobby Smyrniotis named CPL Coach of the Month for October . Canadian Premier League . Mitchell . Tierney . November 8, 2022 . November 9, 2022.
45. Web site: Forge FC's David Choinière named CPL Player of the Month for October . Canadian Premier League . November 8, 2022 . November 9, 2022.