Canadian Soccer League
Season1991
Dates
  • May 26 – September 8
    (regular season)
  • September 11 – October 6
    (playoffs)
ChampionsVancouver 86ers
Regular season leaderVancouver 86ers
Matches played112
Goals scored342 (3.05 per match)
Top goalscorerDomenic Mobilio (25)
Best goalkeeperPaolo Ceccarelli (1.05 GAA)
← 1990
1992 →

The 1991 Canadian Soccer League season was the fifth season of play for the Canadian Soccer League, a Division 1 men's soccer league in the Canadian soccer pyramid.

Format and changes from previous season

Prior to the 1991 season, the league placed four franchises under suspension – Ottawa Intrepid, Edmonton Brick Men, Victoria Vistas, and London Lasers – due to financial difficulties.[1] Ultimately, Ottawa, Edmonton, and Victoria folded, while London requested a one-year leave of absence.[1] To avoid similar problems that the now defunct NASL had in its final year of operation, the league approved a $175,000 salary cap per team to further limit costs.[1]

In addition, CSL commissioner Dale Barnes retired in January after directing the league since its inception, with Hamilton Steelers owner, Mario DiBartolomeo, taking over the responsibilities on a temporary basis.[1] The league also approved a travel equalization plan that dramatically reduced costs for Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Nova Scotia.[1]

The Nova Scotia Clippers joined the league as an expansion franchise.[2] In addition, the Kitchener Spirit changed their name to the Kitchener Kickers following an ownership change.[3]

The league shifted to a single eight-team division, after previously operating two East and West geographical divisions since its inception, resulting in team's playing a balanced schedule for the first time in league history, playing each other clubs four times, twice at home and twice on the road.[1] The point system was also updated along with FIFA's change to 3–1–0 (win–draw–loss).[1] With the shift to a single division, the league reverted to six teams qualifying for the playoffs, with the top two finishers during the season receiving a bye to the semi-finals. The playoff format remained the same as the previous year.

Summary

The regular season once again belonged to the Vancouver 86ers, who were only the second team to win 20 regular season games. In the playoffs, Vancouver won their fourth consecutive league title, defeating the Toronto Blizzard in the finals.

Regular season

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Vancouver 86ers (C) 28 20 4 4 69 31 +38 64 Playoff semifinals
2 Toronto Blizzard 28 14 6 8 57 33 +24 48
3 North York Rockets 28 13 9 6 50 36 +14 48 Playoff quarterfinals
4 Hamilton Steelers 28 14 4 10 42 38 +4 46
5 Montreal Supra 28 11 7 10 41 38 +3 40
6 Nova Scotia Clippers 28 7 7 14 29 53 −24 28
7 Kitchener Kickers 28 4 7 17 28 56 −28 19
8 Winnipeg Fury 28 4 6 18 26 57 −31 18
Source: Canadian Soccer History Archives 1991 CSL Stats
(C) Playoff Champion and qualification for the 1992 CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

Playoffs

The playoffs were conducted with a total points system. Teams earned two points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. The team with the most points following the two-game series advanced. If the teams were tied on points, they played a 30-minute mini-game for a bonus point, followed by a penalty shootout if the mini-game remained tied.

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
1 Vancouver 86ers 1 2 3 PTS
4 Hamilton Steelers (a.e.t.) 0 4 (1) 2+1 PTS 4 Hamilton Steelers 1 1 1 PTS
5 Montreal Supra 3 0 (0) 2 PTS 1 Vancouver 86ers 5
2 Toronto Blizzard 3
2 Toronto Blizzard (a.e.t.) 2 1 (1) 2+1 PTS
3 North York Rockets 4 5 4 PTS 3 North York Rockets 0 2 (0) 2 PTS
6 Nova Scotia Clippers 0 1 0 PTS

Quarterfinal

September 11, 1991 Montreal Supra 3–0 Hamilton Steelers Montreal, Quebec
Frank Aliaga 17'
Needham 74'
Pierre-Richard Thomas 90'		 [[4] Report] Stadium: Claude Robilliard Stadium
Attendance: 1423
September 15, 1991 Hamilton Steelers 5–0 (a.e.t.) Montreal Supra Hamilton, Ontario
Jason Gibbons ,
Ianiero
Morris
Aunger 		[[5][6] Report] Stadium: Brian Timmis Stadium
Attendance: 2154

Hamilton Steelers won the series in extra time, after the series was tied 2-2 on points.

September 15, 1991 North York Rockets 5–1 Nova Scotia Clippers North York, Ontario
Majcher ,
Golen
Commisso
Radzinski 77'		 [[8] Report] Dwight Hornibrook 56' Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 1605

North York Rockets won the series 4-0 on points.

Semifinal

September 22, 1991 Hamilton Steelers 1–1 Vancouver 86ers Hamilton, Ontario
Ianiero 13' [[9] Report] Nocita 77' (o.g.) Stadium: Brian Timmis Stadium
Attendance: 4100

Vancouver 86ers won the series 3-1 on points.

September 22, 1991 North York Rockets 0–2 Toronto Blizzard North York, Ontario
[[11] Report] Mitchell 25'
Eck 34'		 Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium
Attendance: 2650
Referee: Bob Sawtell
September 29, 1991 Toronto Blizzard 2–2 (a.e.t.) North York Rockets Etobicoke, Ontario
Mitchell 3'
Peschisolido 116'		 [[12] Report] Gastis 35'
Berdusco 65'		 Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium
Attendance: 2627
Referee: Luigi Mellino

Toronto Blizzard won the series in extra time, after the series was tied 2-2 on points.

Final

October 6, 1991 Vancouver 86ers 5–3 Toronto Blizzard Vancouver, British Columbia
17:00 McKinty ~1'
Norman 3', ?'
Catliff 48'
Mobilio 60' (pen.)		 [ Report Star[13] ]
[ Report Sun[14] ]		 Eck 26'
DiFlorio ~61'
Hooper ?'		 Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5692
Referee: Gord Arrowsmith

Statistics

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Canada Domenic Mobilio Vancouver 86ers 25
2 Canada Eddy Berdusco North York Rockets 14
3 Canada John Berti Winnipeg Fury 12
4 Canada Geoff Aunger Hamilton Steelers 10
United States Ted Eck Toronto Blizzard
Poland Marek Grabowski North York Rockets
Canada Dale Mitchell Toronto Blizzard
8 United States John Kerr Hamilton Steelers 9
9 Canada Alex Bunbury Montreal Supra 7
Canada Gino DiFlorio Toronto Blizzard
England Justin Fashanu Toronto Blizzard
Canada Doug Muirhead Toronto Blizzard
Reference:[1]

Top goaltenders

Rank Player Club GAA
1 Canada Paolo Ceccarelli North York Rangers 1.053
2 Canada Pat Onstad Toronto Blizzard 1.062
3 Canada Paul Dolan Vancouver 86ers 1.063
4 Canada Dino Perri Hamilton Steelers 1.300
5 Canada Pat Harrington Montreal Supra 1.320
Reference:[1]

Honours

The following awards and nominations were awarded for the 1991 season.[1]

Awards

AwardPlayerTeam
Most Valuable PlayerCanada Domenic MobilioVancouver 86ers
Rookie of the YearCanada Scott MunsonKitchener Kickers
Top NewcomerPoland Marek GrabowskiNorth York Rangers
Top GoaltenderCanada Paolo CeccarelliNorth York Rangers
Fair Play AwardHamilton Steelers

League All-Stars

PlayerPosition
Canada Paolo Ceccarelli (North York Rockets)Goalkeeper
Canada Peter Sarantopoulos (North York Rockets)Defender
Canada Mark Watson (Hamilton Steelers)Defender
Canada Steve MacDonald (Vancouver 86ers)Defender
Canada Norman Odinga (Vancouver 86ers)Defender
Canada Carl Valentine (Vancouver 86ers)Midfielder
Canada Dale Mitchell (Toronto Blizzard)Midfielder
Fiji Ivor Evans (Vancouver 86ers)Midfielder
Canada Eddy Berdusco (North York Rockets)Forward
Canada Domenic Mobilio (Vancouver 86ers)Forward
Canada Grant Needham (Montreal Supra)Forward

Reserves

PlayerPosition
Canada Paul Dolan (Vancouver 86ers)Goalkeeper
Canada Paul James (Toronto Blizzard)Defender
Canada Tony Nocita (Hamilton Steelers)Defender
Canada Nick De Santis (Montreal Supra)Midfielder
United States Ted Eck (Toronto Blizzard)Forward

Front office

PersonRole
Italy Fiorigi Pagliuso (North York Rockets)Head coach
Canada Alan Errington (Vancouver 86ers)Assistant coach
Canada Bob Lenarduzzi (Vancouver 86ers)General manager

Player of the Month

Month Player Club
June Canada Dino Lopez Nova Scotia Clippers
July Canada Domenic Mobilio Vancouver 86ers
August Canada Domenic Mobilio Vancouver 86ers
Reference:[1]

Player of the Week

Week Player Club
1 Canada Dino Lopez Nova Scotia Clippers
2 Canada Dale Mitchell Toronto Blizzard
3 Canada Pat Harrington Montreal Supra
4 Canada Doug Muirhead Vancouver 86ers
5 Fiji Ivor Evans Vancouver 86ers
6 Canada Lyndon Hooper Toronto Blizzard
7 Canada Peter Sarantopoulos North York Rockets
8 Canada Paolo Ceccarelli North York Rockets
9 Canada Norman Odinga Vancouver 86ers
10 Canada Joseph Majcher North York Rockets
11 Canada Domenic Mobilio Vancouver 86ers
12 Canada Geoff Aunger Hamilton Steelers
13 Canada Alex Bunbury Montreal Supra
14 Canada Brett Pence Kitchener Kickers
15 Canada Paul Peschisolido Hamilton Steelers
Reference:[1]

Average home attendances

Pos. Team GP Total Attendance Average Attendance
1Vancouver 86ers1464,1074,579
2Montreal Supra1439,1122,794
3Hamilton Steelers1435,3692,526
4Winnipeg Fury1432,0962,293
5North York Rockets1427,8641,990
6Toronto Blizzard1425,9451,853
7Nova Scotia Clippers1421,0981,507
8Kitchener Kickers149,418673
Total Attendance112255,0092,277
Reference:[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "1991 CSL Stats" (PDF). Canadian Soccer League.
  2. ↑ "The Clip Show". Maritime Pro Ball. February 11, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Team-by-team preview of Canadian Soccer League". Vancouver Sun. May 24, 1991. p. 40.
  4. ↑ Phillips, Randy (September 12, 1991). "No-sex policy pays off; Celibate Supra win first playoff game in franchise history". Montreal Gazette. p. D12.
  5. ↑ "Steelers advance to semifinals". The Province. September 16, 1991. p. A39.
  6. ↑ Koep, Bob (September 16, 1991). "Rockets, Steelers advance to semis after CSL wins". Toronto Star. p. D8.
  7. ↑ "Rockets, Supra win CSL playoff openers". Vancouver Sun. September 12, 1991. p. D8.
  8. ↑ Koep, Bob (September 16, 1991). "Rockets, Steelers advance to semis after CSL wins". Toronto Star. p. D8.
  9. ↑ Stinson, Dan (September 23, 1991). "Steelers come close to chipping one out of 86ers". Vancouver Sun.
  10. ↑ Stinson, Dan (September 30, 1991). "Catliff propels 86ers to CSL final". Vancouver Sun. p. D1.
  11. ↑ Koep, Bob (September 23, 1991). "Blizzard cool out Rockets in semifinal". Toronto Star. p. C6.
  12. ↑ Koep, Bob (September 30, 1991). "Blizzard ousts Rockets to reach soccer final". Toronto Star. p. C6.
  13. ↑ "Blizzard blown away by 86ers". Toronto Star. October 7, 1991. p. C9.
  14. ↑ Stinson, Dan (October 7, 1991). "86ers make mark among dynasties". Vancouver Sun. p. D1.
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