Could the CanPL be coming to Vancouver Island?

After Thursday’s launch of the new Cavalry FC at Calgary’s Spruce Meadows facility, I had the chance to ask Canadian Premier League commissioner David Clanachan if Victoria is indeed on the radar of the nascent league, which is set to kick off in 2019.

He said that the Victoria group is one of 22 that is talking with the league, which is looking to launch with eight-10 teams, including the Cavalry and York 9, which was unveiled last week, The CanPL is looking at a 28-game schedule and is aiming to have its league champion go to the CONCACAF Champions League, though that is a goal that is still being worked on.

“They have to go through a vetting process,” Clanachan said of the Victoria interest. He said, though, as the league continues to do its due diligence on potential markets and investors, it is also getting quicker in determining if the boxes are being ticked off.

According to a report from the Victoria Times Colonist, a group that includes former national-teamer Josh Simpson is gearing at having a team play out of Westhills Stadium in Langford, B.C.