2000 Canadian Professional Soccer League season
# 2000 Canadian Professional Soccer League season

The 2000 Canadian Professional Soccer League season was the third season under the Canadian Professional Soccer League name. The season began on May 26, 2000 and concluded on October 1, 2000 with Toronto Croatia defeating Toronto Olympians 2-1 to claim their first CPSL Championship (known as the Primus CPSL Cup for sponsorship reasons). The final was hosted at Cove Road Stadium for the first time. Throughout the season, all eight clubs from the previous year returned, while the Olympians secured their third straight regular season title. The league received sponsorship from Primus Canada, which granted Primus naming rights to the CPSL Championship, and Vincent Ursini was appointed the CPSL Chairman.

## Teams

| Team | City | Stadium | Manager |
| - | - | - | - |
| Glen Shields Sun Devils | Vaughan, Ontario (Thornhill) | Dufferin District Field | Dave Benning |
| London City | London, Ontario (Westmount) | Cove Road Stadium | Jurek Gebczynski |
| North York Astros | Toronto, Ontario (North York) | Esther Shiner Stadium | Rafael Carbajal |
| Oshawa Flames | Oshawa, Ontario (Vanier) | Oshawa Civic Stadium | Stan Bombino |
| St. Catharines Wolves | St. Catharines, Ontario (Vansickle) | Club Roma Stadium | Lucio Ianiero |
| Toronto Croatia | Toronto, Ontario (Etobicoke) | Centennial Park Stadium | Velimir Crljen |
| Toronto Olympians | Toronto, Ontario (Scarborough) | Birchmount Stadium | David Gee |
| York Region Shooters | Richmond Hill, Ontario | Richmond Green | Bijan Azizi |

## Final standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Toronto Olympians | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 45 | 9 | +36 | 37 | Qualification for Playoffs |
| 2 | St. Catharines Roma | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 19 | +12 | 37 | Qualification for Playoffs |
| 3 | Toronto Croatia | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 36 | 17 | +19 | 28 | Qualification for Playoffs |
| 4 | Glen Shields Sun Devils | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 30 | −4 | 18 | Qualification for Playoffs |
| 5 | York Region Shooters | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 17 | 30 | −13 | 14 | |
| 6 | North York Astros | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 17 | 29 | −12 | 11 | |
| 7 | Oshawa Flames | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 22 | 35 | −13 | 9 | |
| 8 | London City | 14 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 45 | −33 | 7 | |

## Primus Canada CPSL Championship playoffs

The top four teams qualified for a one-game semifinal that led to the championship game played on October 1 at Cove Road Stadium in London, Ontario.

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Toronto Olympians | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Glen Shields Sun Devils | 0 | | | |
| 4 | Glen Shields Sun Devils | 0 | 1 | Toronto Olympians | 1 |
| | | | 2 | Toronto Croatia | 2 |
| 2 | St. Catharines Roma | 1 | 2 | Toronto Croatia | 2 |
| 3 | Toronto Croatia | 3 | | | |

### Primus CPSL Championship

| GK | 1 | Brian Bowes | |
| - | - | - | - |
| RB | 8 | Bayete Smith |
| CB | 6 | Peyvand Mossavat | 74' |
| CB | 13 | Danny Sanna | 82' |
| LB | 5 | Tony Marshall (c) | |
| RM | 16 | Ron Belfon | 69' |
| CM | 9 | Elvis Thomas | 45' |
| CM | 23 | Eddy Berdusco |
| LM | 2 | Rick Titus |
| ST | 17 | Darren Tilley | |
| ST | 11 | Gus Kouzmanis | |
| Substitutes: ||
| GK | 22 | Lee Burrows | |
| DF | 4 | Stevie Gill | 82' |
| DF | 7 | John McNeil | 45' |
| FW | 10 | John Matas | 69' |
| MF | 15 | Louie Katsavrias | |
| FW | 18 | Phil Capporella | 74' |
| Manager: ||
| David Gee ||
| GK | 1 | George Azcurra |
| RB | 22 | Robert Fran |
| CB | 19 | Josip Draganic |
| CB | 5 | Milodrag Akmadzic |
| LB | 3 | Ervin Ryta | |
| RM | 18 | Tony Preci | 65' |
| CM | 6 | Chris Handsor | 91' |
| CM | 7 | Denny Draganic |
| LM | 4 | Domagoj Sain | |
| CF | 9 | Leo Marasovic | |
| CF | 10 | Tomislav Granic | |
| Substitutes: ||
| DF | 15 | Robert Mandekic | |
| MF | 17 | Peter Bedenikovic | 91' |
| MF | 14 | Velimir Crljen | 65' |
| Manager: ||
| Velimir Crljen ||

* Assistant referees:
* Steve Cahoon
* Justin Pasev
* Fourth official:
* Ogi Panich

## 2000 scoring leaders

    Full article: CSL Golden Boot

| Position | Player's name | Nationality | Club | Goals |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Gus Kouzmanis | Canadian | Toronto Olympians | 31 |
| 2 | Leo Marasovic | Canadian | Toronto Croatia | 13 |
| 3 | Eddy Berdusco | Canadian | Toronto Olympians | 12 |
| 4 | Gary McGuchan | Canadian | St. Catharines Wolves | 11 |
| 5 | Carlo Arghittu | Canadian | St. Catharines Wolves | 10 |
| 6 | Jimmy Kuzmanovski | Canadian | Oshawa Flames | 9 |
| 7 | Paul Moore | Canadian | Toronto Croatia | 9 |
| 8 | Elvis Thomas | Canadian | Toronto Olympians | 9 |
| 9 | Frank Zumpano | Canadian | St. Catharines Wolves | 8 |
| 10 | John Matas | Canadian | Toronto Olympians | 8 |

## CPSL Executive Committee

The 2000 CPSL Executive Committee.

## Individual awards

The annual CPSL awards ceremony was held on October 1, 2000 after the CPSL Championship final at the German Canadian Club in London, Ontario. Where for the second straight season the Toronto Olympians went home with the most awards with 3 wins. Kouzmanis became the first player to win the Golden Boot more than once and continues to hold that distinction. Olympian veteran Bayete Smith was named the Defender of the Year for his contribution for helping the club achieve the best defensive record. Their final award was their second straight Fair Play award for being the most disciplined team throughout the season.

The league chose former NPSL and USL A-League veteran Willy Giummarra of the York Region Shooters as its MVP. The Goalkeeper of the Year was given to Piotr Libicz, a former NPSL and CNSL veteran. After managing the St. Catharines Roma Wolves to second place finish behind Toronto with only a lower goal differential Lucio Ianiero was chosen as the Coach of the Year. Jimmy Kuzmanovski of the Oshawa Flames broke London City's four year hold on the Rookie of the Year award. For his efforts Steve Cahoon went home with the Referee of the Year award.

| Award | Player (Club) |
| - | - |
| CPSL Most Valuable Player | Willy Giummarra (York Region Shooters) |
| CPSL Golden Boot | Gus Kouzmanis (Toronto Olympians) |
| CPSL Goalkeeper of the Year Award | Piotr Libicz (North York Astros) |
| CPSL Defender of the Year Award | Bayete Smith (Toronto Olympians) |
| CPSL Rookie of the Year Award | Jimmy Kuzmanovski (Oshawa Flames) |
| CPSL Coach of the Year Award | Lucio Ianiero (St. Catharines Roma Wolves) |
| CPSL Referee of the Year Award | Steve Cahoon |
| CPSL Fair Play Award | Toronto Olympians |
