Canadian Premier League announces 2023 CPL-U SPORTS Draft, presented by Degree
Toronto, ON – (November 24, 2022) – The Canadian Premier League today announced that the 2023 CPL-U SPORTS Draft presented by Degree will be held on Thursday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT.
The broadcast presentation of the draft will be hosted by OneSoccer’s Adam Jenkins and available to viewers for free on the CPL’s YouTube channel.
"Degree is proud to support the Canadian Premier League-U SPORTS Draft," said Rishabh Gandhi, Head of Personal Care, Degree. "We know these student athletes are committed to pushing their limits on and off the pitch and have had to overcome personal challenges to make it to the draft. Degree is all about bringing confidence to movers and we are looking forward to watching these players keep pushing to play at the next level."
The CPL-U SPORTS Draft will consist of two rounds. Expansion side Vancouver FC will receive the first two picks in the first round of the draft. From there, selection order is based on the 2022 season standings, with the last-placed team selecting first. CPL champion Forge FC will select last in both rounds. Vancouver will not have a pick in the second round.
The draft order is as follows:
Round 1
- Vancouver FC
- Vancouver FC
- Halifax Wanderers
- York United FC
- Valour FC
- Pacific FC
- Cavalry FC
- Atlético Ottawa
- Forge FC
Round 2
- Halifax Wanderers
- York United FC
- Valour FC
- Pacific FC
- Cavalry FC
- Atlético Ottawa
- Forge FC
Once selected, players may be invited to pre-season training with their prospective club, where they can compete for a roster spot for the 2023 CPL season.
The draft is open to any U SPORTS underclassmen with one to four years of U SPORTS eligibility remaining, provided they are in good standing with their school’s athletic program and educational institution and are planning to return to school the following year.
The CPL- U SPORTS draft plays a key role in the player development pathway in Canada, serving as a critical link between the Canada university and professional games since its inaugural iteration in 2018. The draft provides a unique opportunity for student athletes to earn professional experience while maintaining their eligibility to return to U SPORTS competition.
Previous CPL- U SPORTS draft picks include former Cavalry FC defender Joel Waterman, who was recently named to Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, as well as former Cavalry FC midfielder Victor Loturi, who is now representing Ross Country in the Scottish Premiership, Zach Verhoven a member of the CPL's reigning regular season champion Atlético Ottawa squad and Aboubacar Sissoko, a member of the reigning CPL champion Forge FC squad.