2024 CPL Awards Round Up: Parity In Powerhouses

Calgary’s Bella Concert Hall echoed with applause as the 2024 CPL Awards got underway two days ahead of the league’s grand finale.

The event, attended by CPL officials, media, and fans alike, recognized the Canadian Premier League’s best and brightest for their performances throughout the 2024 CPL season, with a segment also honouring the late Dylon Powley.

Without further ado, here’s who was called upon to receive formal recognition for their best in-class, with the winners taking home gorgeous and authentic Inuit soapstone carvings crafted by Ruben Komangapik:

Golden Glove Award – Emil Gazdov

Nominees: Thomas Viscensini (York United FC), Callum Irving (Vancouver FC), Emil Gazdov (Pacific FC)

The first award of the night went to Pacific’s young number one goalkeeper, who stepped on to stage to receive the coveted award from Craig Forrest and Andi Petrillo.

“It’s been a couple years in the works with ups and downs, but the journey has been incredible,” said Gazdov on stage, stating that the moment means the world to him, while also paying homage to his mentor and fellow nominee Callum Irving.

Flashback: Gazdov: Pacific Is The ‘Perfect Place’ For The Young Number One Goalkeeper

The 21-year-old enjoyed a strong campaign between the sticks, finishing second in the clean sheet race with seven after 21 league appearances.

The North Vancouver-born shotstopper claimed the award after finishing second-place in goals against per ninety (0.94) despite facing the third-most shots per 90 (12.28) amongst goalkeepers with at least ten starts in the campaign.

Best Canadian U-21 Player Award – Kwasi Poku
Nominees: Kwasi Poku (Forge FC), Noah Abatneh (York United FC), Emil Gazdov (Pacific FC)

Having made such an impressive season that Belgian side RWD Molenbeek picked him up following his transition from full-back to striker, Poku wasn’t personally on-hand to accept the award – but it was certainly a deserved one for the 21-year-old.

“It’s been a great year for me, so once again it’s a thank you from me – I feel blessed to be in this position, and hopefully I’ll see you guys soon,” said Poku through video.

Poku racked up eight goals and two assists in just 17 league matches, with the Forge attacker procuring tying first in goals per ninety (0.57) amongst all CPL athletes with at least 350 minutes of game time.

Golden Boot Award – Tobias Warschewski

Warschewki’s return to Canada has been an exceptional coup for Cavalry: finishing as the golden boot winner with a brace to close out the regular season, Tobias scored an immense 14 goals in one campaign – and just think what that tally would be if he didn’t hit the post six times.

A brace on the final regular season match snatched the award from the grip of Ruben Del Campo.

“We texted a little bit about it, but I’m just happy for him and for me as well. I’m just happy right now.” said Warschewski on stage. “I worked a lot in the off-season, pre-season, everything, and Calgary helped me a lot.”

Capable of producing moments of absolute magic, Tobias Warschewski used his big frame to create exceptional goals with great consistency, cementing himself as one of the best and brightest attackers ever to grace CPL pastures – something he teased seasons ago when he led the league for assists back with a struggling Eddies side.

Defender Of The Year Award – Daan Klomp

Nominees: Themi Antonoglou (Valour FC), Daan Klomp (Cavalry FC), Alexander Achinioti-Jonsson (Forge FC)

Cavalry’s Flying Dutchman won this very award last year, and becomes the first-ever back-to-back winner for it. Klomp has consistently kept his standards at the top level, finishing first overall league-wide for blocks and second overall for aerial duals won, often cementing himself as an impenetrable wall.

“It means a lot, especially after last year. It was pretty tough to follow it up with another season like that,” said Klomp, who also scored six goals this season. “I like going forward, and Tommy gives me the license for it, so I’ll definitely use it.”

With Klomp leading the backline, Cavalry enjoyed the least goals against out of any club this season, with goalkeeper Marco Carducci leading the league for clean sheets but missing out on a golden glove nomination because he wasn’t left with enough to do.

Coach Of The Year Award – Bobby Smyrniotis

Nominees: Tommy Wheeldon Jr (Cavalry FC), Benjamin Mora (York United FC), Bobby Smyrniotis (Forge FC)

Incredibly, this was Bobby Smyrniotis’ sixth nomination in just as many seasons, with the Forge FC boss finally landing the award four titles win in to his Forge career.

As a great head coach typically does, he shifted the on-stage focus to the team that he leads.

“Resilient, motivated in a period when sometimes players don’t have to be. After all the success that we’ve had, they keep on wanting more – and that pushes us and the coaching staff,” reflected Smyrniotis on his squad.

The Forge head coach shed the ghost of Forge’s typically slow start to the season to win coach of the month in April, and things haven’t slowed down since: the hammers fought hard to secure themselves to a table-topping position as the season progressed, with Smyrniotis’ positional tinkering getting the best out of Kwasi Poku as a dynasty-setting squad ran through walls for their gaffer.

Players’ Player Of The Year Award – Brian Wright

Nominees: see full list here.

In a season that he dedicated to his late friend Dylon Powley, York United’s Brian Wright had an exceptional season where he tallied nine goals and six assists, at one point leading the league in both categories.

“It’s a tremendous honour. Obviously, I have to thank my coaching staff, teammates, and everyone,” said Wright on-stage, describing it as a bounce-back season following a tough for 2023.

While Wright had a quiet second half of the campaign, there was a large swath of the season where the Nines Stripes striker was unstoppable, with the striker receiving thirty first-place votes from his peers on other CPL teams.

Player Of The Year Award
Nominees: Kyle Bekker (Forge FC), Tristan Borges (Forge FC), Alessandro Hojabrpour (Forge FC), Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC), Brian Wright (York United FC)

When it comes to the Canadian Premier League, Tristan Borges is always one to watch. The Forge veteran produced an incredible eight goals (tied for fourth) and six assists (tied for second) this year, with his fast footwork and eye for a beautiful pass routinely tripping up opposition defenses from coast-to-coast.

“It’s something special. To be honest, people that know me – it’s all about winning for me. We’ve been able to do that at Forge,” said Borges, who described a big bounce back from a tough campaign in 2023.

Having led all the league’s athletes in goal contributions per 90 minutes with an incredible 0.74, this comes as his second POTY win since the inaugural awards ceremony in 2019.

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Last season’s award ceremony was dominated by Cavalry, who took five out of seven awards on the night. This season was a lot more even, with Forge winning three and Cavalry two, while York United and Pacific had one apiece.

There will be a league-first eighth award handed out following Saturday’s final, with the CPL Final MVP Award being unveiled shortly after the awards ceremony itself.

With a national spotlight firmly on Canada’s burgeoning league, the Canadian Premier League will cap off its sixth-ever season with the 2024 CPL Final this Saturday afternoon. With Cavalry FC hosting league rival Forge FC, there will be no love lost between two bitter rivals who have met at this stage twice before, with Hamilton’s team taking the trophies thus far. While the match is already sold out, fans hoping to tune in can do so through CBC Sports, Telus Optik, OneSoccer, and fuboTV.