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CANADIAN PREMIER LEAGUE ANNOUNCES CPL-U SPORTS DRAFT

Year Two Offers a Promising List of Prospects

Toronto, ON (October 30, 2019) – After a successful first year, The Canadian Premier League is pleased to announce that select, top rated, Canadian University soccer players from coast to coast will have an opportunity to earn a spot on a CPL Club through the CPL-U SPORTS Draft during the 2019 U SPORTS Men’s Soccer Championship Presented by La Cage – Brasserie sportive in Montreal taking place November 7-10.

Each year at the conclusion of the U SPORTS Men’s Soccer Championship, the Canadian Premier League holds a draft for eligible U SPORTS men’s soccer players who have registered and declared themselves ‘available’ to be selected through the League’s annual draft. This draft is open to any eligible U SPORTS underclassman that registers for the draft. The CPL-U SPORTS Draft will consist of two rounds, seven picks in each round.

This truly unique partnership between the Canadian Premier League and U SPORTS provides student-athletes with an opportunity to be signed to a CPL-U SPORTS Developmental Contract that allows a student-athlete with one to four years of U SPORTS eligibility remaining to sign with a CPL Club, while preserving their eligibility before returning to U SPORTS competition. The player draft picks will be announced in succession on November 11th, 2019 via CPL channels (CanPL.ca and Social Accounts) following the 2019 U SPORTS Men’s Soccer Championship Presented by La Cage – Brasserie sportive at the Université de Montréal in Montreal, Quebec.

U SPORTS men’s soccer is the highest level of play at the university level in Canada with 48 Canadian university teams participating. The exciting and leading-edge portion of this opportunity is that for players to be eligible for the draft, they need not be of a certain age or have reached a certain year level. However, those who are not graduating will be able to return to their university and continue to participate in U SPORTS men’s soccer

In the Canadian Premier League’s inaugural season, 13 of the 21 U SPORTS players drafted signed with a CPL club and the achieved the following:

• U SPORTS draft pick Easton Ongaro (Alberta Golden Bears) led his club, FC Edmonton, in goal scoring with 10 goals

• Two U SPORTS goalkeepers who were drafted, Connor James (FC Edmonton / Alberta Golden Bears) and Christian Oxner (HFX Wanderers / Saint Mary’s Huskies), broke their way into their club’s starting lineup and finished the season as the starting goalkeeper for their club

• Of the 13 U SPORTS players signed, eight finished the season with at least 1000 minutes played

• U SPORTS draftee Peter Schaale signed for the HFX Wanderers and Captained the team prior to returning to school at the conclusion of the summer.

• U SPORTS draftee Joel Waterman (Trinity Western Spartans) has become a crucial player for CPL Finalists Cavalry FC as they look to capture the inaugural CPL title

“The CPL-U SPORTS Draft is a key component to the CPL’s success,” said David Clanachan, Commissioner, Canadian Premier League. “Our U SPORTS players had some great highlights this season, had an opportunity to play professionally and be part of a professional men’s soccer league that continues to create a pathway for our homegrown players to play in Canada.”

In preparation for the U SPORTS draft, the CPL’s Football Development Department, with input from

U SPORTS Coaches are tracking and scouting players to establish a prospects list. CPL Club Coaches will review player profiles, video footage and will be on-site in Montreal to assess the players participating in the

U SPORTS Men’s Soccer Championship.

“For a second straight year with our continued partnership, we are extremely excited to provide a grassroots launchpad for our men’s soccer players and the opportunity to pursue the next stage of their careers at home through the CPL-U SPORTS Draft,” said Graham Brown, President and CEO of U SPORTS. “After a historic first season, we look forward to watching the continued development and success of our current players and alumni in the league for years to come.”

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About the Canadian Premier League

Canadian Premier League (CPL) is Canada’s professional men’s soccer league that debuted on April 27, 2019. Playing in world-class and unique venues, and partnering with strong community-led ownership groups, the CPL is a league for Canadians by Canadians that will bring professional soccer to communities coast-to-coast.

For updates and more information, please go to CanPL.ca.

Connect with us on Twitter: @CPLsoccer and #CanPL

About U SPORTS

U SPORTS is the national brand for university sports in Canada. Every year, over 20,000 student-athletes and 900 coaches from 56 universities vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. U SPORTS also provides higher performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous World University Championships. For further information, visit USPORTS.ca or follow us on:

Twitter/Instagram/YouTube: @USPORTSca

Facebook: @USPORTSCanada

Media Contacts:

Micki Benedetti

Vice President Communications

Canadian Premier League

micki.benedetti@canpl.ca

John Bower Alan Hudes

Director, Marketing and Communications Manager, Communications and Content

U SPORTS U SPORTS

Off: 905-508-3000 ext. 241 Off: 905-508-3000 ext. 242

Cell: 780-667-5646 Cell: 647-991-5343

jbower@usports.ca ahudes@usports.ca