20 CPL-U Sports Draft Picks With League Experience

It won’t be long before sixteen hopeful university athletes have their names called in this Friday’s 2026 CPL-U SPORTS Draft.

As the Canadian Premier League continues to grow, we’re finding that more and more eligible draft athletes have tasted professional action in the league before, or have had their opportunities training with first teams in Canada’s top flight.

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2026 is the biggest example yet, and we wanted to refresh CPL fans on the more-and-less familiar faces for whom it isn’t their first rodeo. Without further ado, here’s twenty CPL-U SPORTS prospects who will enter the draft with CPL team experience:

Paul Amedume (MacEwan University – Defender – First Year)

Perhaps one of the most experienced athletes to be found in this year’s draft, 22-year-old midfielder Paul Amedume has already enjoyed two separate stints with Pacific FC along with a spell stateside when he followed Pah Modou-Kah to North Texas SC.

With over forty appearances between those two, Amedume recently resurfaced with League1 Alberta side Edmonton BTB, perhaps harkening back to where it all began for him with the FC Edmonton youth academy. He’s one of just three MacEwan University players on the draft list this year.

Baylee Borges (Trent University – Midfielder/Defender – Third Year)

Season one is now complete for York United Academy prospect Baylee Borges, who was part of the inaugural Nine Stripes squad to represent the club in the League1 Ontario Championship.

The young defender put forth consistent performances for the young Nine Stripes, having previously developed with Pickering FC, FC Durham Academy, and Electric City FC whilst also training in Portugal with Gil Vicente, where former Nine Stripes goalkeeper Matthew Nogueira also once played.

Baylee is still awaiting his first professional call-up, so it for now it remains to be seen if the Canadian Premier League will have a second Borges on the pitch in 2026.

Chanan Chanda (Mount Royal University – Forward – First Year)

It wasn’t that long ago we were celebrating Chanan Chanda inking an Exception Young Talent deal with Cavalry, but the 19-year-old mutually terminated his contract earlier this year in order to play for Mount Royal University.

He made ten appearances for Cavalry during his time in red, and his first foray into U SPORTS has been successful: he won the U SPORTS Rookie of the Year and was named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team, bagging eleven goals as Mount Royal University reached the national championship final before falling to York University in a snow-laden final.

Chanda’s new declaration for the draft shows he’s still interested in balancing books with ball, and he’ll enter as one of its most highly-rated prospects.

Matheus De Souza (University of Fraser Valley – Goalkeeper – First Year)

Brazilian-Canadian goalkeeper Matheus de Souza inked a short-term replacement contract with Vancouver FC this season, replacing Felipe Jaramillo when he was called for international duty with the Colombia U-17 ranks. De Souza rode the bench behind Irving for three matches in June, but didn’t get the opportunity to make his pro debut.

The former Whitecaps Academy prospect represented both League1 BC side Langley United and the University of Fraser Valley this season, earning Second Team All-Canadian honours with the latter.

Trivine Esprit (Ontario Tech – Midfielder – Fourth Year)

23-year-old full-back Trivine Esprit spent two seasons with York united, amassing three starts from 25 appearances in all. He’s also cut his teeth all around League1 Ontario, suiting up for Unionville Milliken, Darby FC, and enjoying two stints with Simcoe County Rovers.

Matthew Fischer (York University – Midfielder – Third Year)

Don’t sleep on Matthew Fischer: once a Toronto FC Academy prospect, Fischer proved potent with Canisius College and cut his teeth with the Simcoe County Rovers before joining York University, where he just helped the side lock in a U SPORTS Men’s National Championship.

Fischer was drafted by the Nine Stripes this season, but has yet to make a professional appearance.

Nicolas Gagan (Carleton – Centre-back – Second Year)

It was nearly four years ago when the Halifax Wanderers added a then-17-year-old Nicolas Gagan to a development deal shortly after he had trialed with York United. He was already six-foot-three back then and had tasted Ligue1 Quebec action.

Now sporting more hair and some experience with the Carleton Ravens, Gagan earned OAU First Team All-Star East honours and looked pretty solid in his highlight reel.

Jack Garner (University of British Columbia – Goalkeeper – Second Year)

Victoria native Jack Garner recorded seven shut-outs for the UBC Thunderbirds this season, with the six-foot-one Island boy – a product of the Vancouver Island Wave – also riding the bench once for Pacific this season, having previously trialed with the side.

Garner also keeps busy in the Pacific Coast Soccer League with Victoria United, so it’s safe to his ties with Pacific makes him more likely to have his name called out west.

Ben Hashimoto (Dalhousie Unviersity – Forward – Third Year)

Charlottetown native Ben Hashimoto made four goal contributions in ten starts for the Dalhousie Tigers this year, with the striker earning Second Team All-Star honours after his squad locked in the AUS Championship.

Hashimoto has been with the Wanderers development squad for two seasons now and will be hoping to progress up through the local ranks, though if another CPL side comes knocking we’re sure the young striker won’t say no.

Harvey Hughes (Cape Breton University – Left-Back – Second Year)

Portsmouth and Blackpool academy product Harvey Hughes was a first round pick for Cavalry this year, having clocked in with a high pedigree after the Southampton native traversed through the English lower leagues with Totton, Dorchester, and AFC Portchester.

The second-year featured in eleven matches for the Capers this year, with metrics a little downward from a rookie campaign that saw him tally three goals and seven assists in twelve matches. Still, one expects that Hughes, who can make some storming runs down the left flank with an eye for a good cross, will be looked at carefully.

Jaeden Mercure (Carleton University – Full-Back – Third Year)

Back when he was 18, Ottawa South United prospect Jaeden Mercure made waves by signing a development deal with Atletico Ottawa, making five appearances for the red-and-white.

He would spend two more summers in League1 Quebec with Ottawa South United split by a summer in Australia with NPL Tasmania side Launceston United, though the former Whitecaps Residency prospect hasn’t returned to the full game.

Now 22 and with Carleton University, he’s a more matured athlete keen for another opportunity on home soil. Before declaring for the Ravens, he had also dominated at the collegiate level at Algonquin, where he introduced himself with a five-goal performance in a 15-0 stomping of Fleming College.

Montther Mohsen (McMaster University – Left Back – First Year)

Forge fans will remember the name of Montther ‘Monti’ Mohsen, who enters this year’s draft at the relatively veteran age of 25. Mohsen was this the club for its first three seasons, racking up 20 appearances and two league titles. He then played in Palestine with Shabab Al-Khalil SC before becoming a domestic semi-pro journeyman with Ottawa South United, Scrosoppi, and the Blue Devils before enjoying his biggest season yet with Burlington, where he tallied seven goals in fifteen appearances.

Suffice to say, being able to sign Mohsen on a U SPORTS deal could prove a relative bargain for a Canadian Premier League side – though we imagine Mohsen will have sights on returning fully to the professional game, too.

In any event, he’ll enter the draft as the only two-time CPL champion.

Anthony Morano (York University – Forward – First Year)

Readers of David Parkes’ League1 Ontario recaps will be no strangers to Anthony Marano, who produced a twelve-goal haul to help the Woodbridge Strikers win the entire league, while also netting nine goals for the York University Lions en route to a national championship.

Back in 2023, Morano quietly appeared as a substitute for York United in a summertime match against Atletico Ottawa. He never got the opportunity to make his debut, but the 19-year-old forward will surely be a sought-after prospect with the numbers he put out this year.

Ryan Robinson (York University – Midfielder – Second Year)

24-year-old midfielder Ryan Robinson will enter the draft as one of the most experienced within it: a longtime player for Vaughan Azzurri, Robinson had trialed with Valour before turning professional with the Halifax Wanderers. The midfielder made eighteen appearances for the side in 2022 before dropping out of the pro game, eventually enrolling at York University last year.

Skyler Rogers (Mount Royal University – Midfielder – Fourth Year)

Midfielder Skyler Rogers is Calgary born and raised, so it should come as no shock that Cavalry signed him to a development deal three seasons ago. He made three appearances for the side before returning to university action, where he’s been a core Cougars got that recently helped them reach the U SPORTS Men’s Championship final.

Rogers has also suited up for the Calgary Foothills and the Calgary Rangers in League1 Alberta, making good use of the ever-increasing League1 Canada network.

Mohammed Tolba (Dalhousie – Left Winger – Second Year)

Mohammed Tolba is a rising star out east: he helped Dalhousie crack a thirteen year hiatus on the AUS Rookie of the Year award, and just wrapped a four goal, five assist campaign that followed his second summer with the Halifax Wanderers U-21 development team.

Tolba, who also represents the Halifax City Soccer Club, hasn’t featured in CPL action yet, but the U-21 Wanderers prospect is right on the precipice.

Caden Tomy (Carleton University – Midfielder – Third Year)

There was a time when Valour FC was fairly-well known for playing Manitoban talent, so it shouldn’t be a big shock that Winnipeg-native Caden Tomy made four appearances after inking a deal with Rob Gale in 2021.

While the midfielder took part in Valour’s preseason camp the following season and a trial with Spanish side SD Huesca B after that, he would suit up for USL2 side FC Manitoba in 2023 and pursue his university education.

Callum Weir (University of Victoria – Goalkeeper – Third Year)

This six-foot-tall, twenty-year-old goalkeeper has already suited up for two different CPL teams as a short-term replacement: last year with Pacific, and this year with Valour, for whom he made his professional debut.

Weir also featured regularly for League1 BC powerhouse TSS Rovers this season, having previously represent Harbourside FC and fifth-tier German side Blumenthaler SV.

Michael Williams (York University – Goalkeeper – Second Year)

Remember that time a fifteen-year-old nearly made his debut for York United? Well, he has facial hair now and has won a U SPORTS Men’s National Championship.

Kingston, Ontario native Michael Williams has been training with York United for years now, representing the club at the academy level whilst also riding the bench some thirteen times this year, including for both playoff matches. He recorded six shutouts in fourteen games en route to York University’s national championship, while also featuring thirteen times for the academy side in League1 Ontario.

Suffice to say, the 19-year-old has had a busy season that might just be the precipice for an even greater 2026.

Christian Zeppieri (York University – Midfielder – Third Year)

It’s no secret that Christian Zeppieri is a stud at the U SPORTS level: this year he earned three honours for the third consecutive year, landing the OAU West MVP, OU West First Team All-Star, and U SPORTS First Team-All Canadian honours after helping the Lions to gold in the U SPORTS Men’s Soccer Championship.

Zeppieri was drafted by York United in 2024, returning the following season after the club retained his rights. He made twelve appearances over the last two seasons, but will be hungry to push himself for bigger minutes given his university performances.

It’s worth noting that York United had the option to retain his U SPORTS rights for next season, but declined to do so this year – he’s fair game for any takers.

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Fans wanting to tune into the 2026 CPL-U SPORTS Draft can find it on the CPL YouTube Channel and OneSoccer at 1:00PM EST on Friday. The draft will take shape in a two-round format, with the first round featuring nine selections and the second round featuring seven. This is due in part to expansion side FC Supra being granted the first two draft slots

Header Image Photo Credit: @footieshots, Canadian Premier League, John Jacques