2024 CPL–U Sports Draft explained

2024 CPL–U Sports Draft
Sport:Soccer
Date:December 14, 2023
Time:1:00 PM ET
Network:YouTube
League:Canadian Premier League
Teams:8
First:Owen Sheppard, Valour FC
Overall:16
Rounds:2
Prev:2023
Next:2025

The 2024 CPL–U Sports Draft was the sixth annual CPL–U Sports Draft. Canadian Premier League (CPL) teams selected 16 eligible U Sports soccer players to be invited to their respective preseason camps with the opportunity to earn development contracts for the 2024 Canadian Premier League season.

Format

Players could be selected if they had one to four years of U Sports eligibility remaining, were in good academic standing, were planning to return to school the following year, and completed the CPL's draft declaration form by December 5, 2023.[1] On December 6, the CPL released the list of 203 athletes who declared for the draft.[2] Players who were selected can sign a full professional contract or a U Sports development contract, which allows them to return to university for the following season, without losing their eligibility.[3]

Teams were able to retain the rights to previously drafted players who had signed U Sports contracts. In total, seven players were retained by their CPL clubs.[2]

Each CPL team made two selections in the draft with selections made in the reverse order of the previous season's standings, including playoffs and final standings. Teams may trade selections; on draft day, Vancouver FC traded the 10th overall selection to Cavalry FC in exchange for the 15th overall selection and future considerations.[4] These future considerations eventually became Canadian winger Ben Fisk who transferred from Cavalry to Vancouver on January 9, 2024.[5]

Player selection

Denotes player who has signed a professional contract for the 2024 season
^Denotes player who has signed a developmental contract for the 2024 season
Denotes player who has signed a short-term contract for a part of the 2024 season-->
The following players were selected:[6] [7]

Round 1

Pick # CPL team Player Position Nationality University Last team/academy
1Owen SheppardFW CanadaCape Breton
2Luke NormanMF CanadaBritish ColumbiaWhitecaps FC Academy (L1BC)
3Luca PiccioliMF CanadaCarletonMontreal Impact Academy (U19)
4Christian ZeppieriMF CanadaYorkVaughan Azzurri (L1O)
5Daniel ClarkeGK EnglandCape BretonWoodbridge Strikers (L1O)
6Michael MaslankaFW CanadaToronto
7Caden RogozinskiDF CanadaMount RoyalCalgary Foothills FC (L1AB)
8Mouhamed NdiayeMF CanadaUQTR

Round 2

Pick # CPL team Player Position Nationality University Last team/academy
9Valour FC Gianfranco FacchineriDF CanadaWindsorWindsor City FC (L1O)
10Cavalry FC (from Vancouver FC) Rodane CatoMF CanadaAlberta
11Atlético Ottawa Samuel LaPlanteDF CanadaUQTRCS Saint-Hubert (L1QC)
12York United FC Jason HartillMF CanadaCape BretonToronto FC Academy (MLS Next)
13HFX Wanderers FC Max BodurthaMF CanadaSt. Francis XavierWhitecaps FC Academy (L1BC)
14Pacific FC Ibrahem SaadiDF CanadaWestern
15Vancouver FC (from Cavalry FC) Thomas PowellMF CanadaTrinity WesternUnity FC (L1BC)
16Forge FC FW CanadaCarletonOttawa South United (L1QC)

Notes

Selection statistics

Draftees by nationality

RankCountrySelections
1 15
2 1

Draftees by university

Rank University Selections
1 3
22
2
4 9 universities 1

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: U SPORTS Draft FAQ . Canadian Premier League . December 8, 2023.
  2. Web site: 2024 CPL-U SPORTS Draft: Full Prospect List . . December 8, 2023 . December 6, 2023.
  3. Web site: Four Seasons In, the CPL Talent Pipeline Is in Full Swing. August 4, 2022. 13th Man Sports. Paul. McNulty.
  4. Web site: Cavalry FC, Vancouver FC trade second round picks in 2024 CPL-U SPORTS Draft . . December 14, 2023 . December 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231214173015/https://canpl.ca/article/cavalry-fc-vancouver-fc-trade-second-round-picks-in-2024-cpl-u-sports-draft . December 14, 2023 . live.
  5. Web site: Vancouver FC acquire Ben Fisk from Cavalry FC . . January 9, 2024 . January 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240109201606/https://canpl.ca/article/vancouver-fc-acquire-ben-fisk-from-cavalry-fc . January 9, 2024 . live.
  6. Web site: December 14, 2023 . 2024 CPL-U SPORTS Draft: Team-by-team breakdown of all 16 picks . December 14, 2023 . Canadian Premier League.
  7. Web site: Jacques . John . December 14, 2023 . 2024 CPL-U SPORTS Draft Roundup . December 14, 2023 . Northern Tribune . en-CA.