Rush Academy Joins League2 Ontario For 2024

League2 Ontario has it’s second confirmed club, and it comes in the form of the Rush Canada Soccer Academy.

Announced Wednesday, the Oakville-based academy was granted licenses to operate sides in both the men’s and women’s divisions of League2 Ontario, a promotion of sorts from the academy’s current status as a reserve-only side in the men’s and women’s U-19 and U-21 leagues.

“Rush Canada is proud to have been selected to participate in League2 in 2024,” said Director and partner owner of Rush Canada, Bogdan Brasoveanu. “Having this announcement coincide with our 10th anniversary in Canada couldn’t have come at a better time. We are grateful for this opportunity and appreciate the support we have received.”

The Rush Academy has operated rosters in League1 Ontario for the past few seasons and have seen success on multiple occasions. Just this year alone, their women’s U-19 side made it to the league semi-finals while their male U-19 counterparts claimed the L1O U-19 Reserve championship in a fierce 1-1 draw, ending in a 3-2 shootout victory over North Mississauga.

This success has seemingly also inspired Rush Canada leadership. In the press release for their L2O admission, Technical Director and partner owner of Rush Canada Slobodan Pavlovic hinted at the Academy’s future ambitions.

“Achieving the League2 license is a step closer to our ultimate goal to crown our academy with a semi-professional, and one day, a professional, team for both our male and female programs.”

Despite it having been confirmed that all reserve sides would join the L2O division for 2024 and beyond, this news – alongside the lack of affiliation with a L1O Championship or Premier club – allows for Rush to achieve their visions of semi-professional (or possibly even one day professional) status via promotion starting this coming season.

League2 Ontario and the rest of the League1 Ontario pyramid is set to kick off in the spring of 2024 for its inaugural season with promotion and relegation. League2 Ontario is set to have approximately 20 clubs in its first season, including Rush Canada and the Sudbury Cyclones.

Header Image Photo Credit: Martin Bazyl / League1 Ontario