Guelph United Makes Inaugural Signing In Jace Kotsopoulos

New League1Ontario side Guelph United has announced its first player acquisition in former York United and Forge FC striker Jace Kotsopoulos.

The prolific striker arrives as a name that should be familiar to fans of the domestic game, with Kotsopoulos having been selected by Forge FC in the first round of the 2018 CPL-U SPORTS Draft. While he only played 190 minutes across of action across five substitute appearances for the hammers, he became one of the league’s youngest goalscorers and helped the side secure Concacaf League qualification by scoring during a late-game comeback against Valour FC.

After finishing his time at Guelph University with a prolific return ratio of 55 goals in just 61 appearances, Kotsopoulos returned to the Canadian Premier League level as a last-minute addition for York United ahead of The Island Games. He became the first player to cross 905 Derby lines, but only made one substitute appearance against Valour FC during his time in PEI.

This won’t be the 23-year-old Burlington native’s first time at the League1 Ontario level: in 2018, he played a sole match for the Vaughan Azzurri and finished with a hat trick. Given that he appeared quite capable of playing in the Canadian Premier League, it appears that Guelph United has aimed high to secure the Guelph familiar as its first-ever signing.

Jace’s goalscoring record is well documented but his leadership qualities will also be a huge asset in the dressing room and on the field. We are thrilled to welcome Jace back to the Guelph soccer community and to bring such a quality player to the GUFC family.

Guelph United

Guelph United was announced as one of five new League1 Ontario expansion teams back in January. The club arrives as a collaboration between Keith Mason, Benny Mezezi, Ami Mezezi, the University of Guelph Gryphons, the Guelph Soccer Junior Gryphons, and the City of Guelph itself, who will also field a women’s League1 Ontario team called the Guelph Union.

Given that Guelph United will be led by longtime Guelph Gryphons head coach Keith Mason, the club knows exactly what it is getting in Kotsopoulos. The side has another CPL connection through its assistant coach, former York United defender Justin Springer.

All-told, Kotsopoulos is a player that one expects can lead the League1 Ontario scoring charts for the 2021 season. The semi-professional league still has yet to announce a schedule for the upcoming season, but the division’s 21 teams will be hoping that the COVID-19 pandemic allows for a sense of normalcy after the 2020 campaign had to be nixed.