Canadian soccer is at an all-time high.

John Herdman’s troops are on a current 5-game winning streak. His side clinched a spot in League A after going undefeated in the qualification for the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League. Canada’s inclusion in League A will give Herdman’s side a chance to play against the best in the CONCACAF region.

Top-tier players in Jonathan David, Alphonso Davies, Junior Hoilett, and Scott Arfield are making their mark with their respective clubs. The consistent performances by Herdman’s top players will bode well for Canada’s success in the future.

The advent of the Canadian Premier League is the cherry on top to Canada’s recent resurgence on the soccer stage. The CPL will commence its inaugural season on the 27th of April with a matchup between Forge FC and York 9 at Hamilton’s Tim Hortons Field.

The hope is that the Canadian Premier League will foster Canada’s talented players. There are already early indications of that happening with 114 Canadians signing with CPL teams.

There is a clear signal of intent that the CPL’s main goal is to expand Canada’s player pool while improving its players for greater endeavours in football.

It’s compulsory that each squad has a minimum of six Canadians in each starting XI and a maximum of seven international players on rosters consisting of 20-23 players.

CPL’s commissioner, David Clanachan indicated that each club must include three U-21 players and play them a combined 1,000 minutes throughout the season. Clanachan’s emphasis on the use of youth player’s will help immensely with their developxment.

This will give young footballers in Canada a clear pathway to success.

There are a plethora of young players who have the potential of making their mark in the CPL. David Choiniere, Quillan Roberts, Sergio Camargo, Louis Beland-Goyette, Michael Petrasso, and Kadin Chung are youngsters who can potentially snag a spot on John Herdman’s team if they excel in the CPL.

The founding of the league comes at a good time with Canada’s golden generation on the horizon. Plenty of players are plying their trade with quality teams throughout Europe and the MLS. The formation of the Canadian Premier League will only widen Canada’s player pool.

The creation of the league has led to countless veterans signing with teams in the CPL. We have seen quite a few players join the league who played important roles for Canada’s men’s side in the past.

Cavalry’s Nik Ledgerwood was a pillar in midfield for the greater part of a decade. He played a pivotal role in Canada’s 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cup Qualification cycles. Ledgerwood amassed 50 international caps for the Maple Leaf from 2007-2017.

Marcus Haber of Pacific FC is another player of note who has played an active role in the international setup. He was included in Colin Miller’s 2013 Gold Cup squad. The Vancouver native accumulated 27 caps for Canada from 2010-2016.

Canada’s presence on the soccer stage is slowly rising. Canada’s current crop of players and the founding of the CPL are stepping stones to transform Canada into a footballing country.

Ultimately, this is a league for Canadian’s from across the country to improve their game.

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Robert Brown Robert Brown is a Canadian-British living in Gatineau, Quebec. He is passionate about the direction of the CPL and Its role of fostering Canada's young talent. In his spare time, he enjoys writing, reading books, making corny jokes, and playing soccer and video games with friends.

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