Ottawa – Tensions are rising in the Canadian Premier League as the end of the regular season and the playoffs loom, with two prestigious titles still up for grabs. One question remains as teams leave it all out on the field in the fight to win the regular season and go on to playoff glory: What are they playing for?
The Canadian Premier League today announced two new trophies, and new nomenclature for its most coveted club awards, the Canadian Premier League Shield and the North Star Cup, which will be awarded this fall to the League’s 2023 regular season winners and playoff champions, respectively. The pair of trophies, designed with the fans and communities at the heart of Canadian soccer culture in mind, were developed in tandem and represent the highest achievements in Canada’s domestic men’s soccer league.
“There is nothing like the commitment that comes with the battle for a regular season title and the excitement of the CPL Final ahead. We’re especially lucky to be experiencing one of the most competitive years in league history, which makes the fight for these trophies even more fun to watch,” said Mark Noonan, Commissioner, Canadian Premier League. “I am thrilled to introduce the Canadian Premier League Shield and the North Star Cup today and am looking forward to presenting them to the deserving champions over the coming weeks.”
The introduction of the new names and hardware for the 2023 season follows CPL Commissioner Mark Noonan’s decision to recognize the league’s regular season winners as well as its playoff champions, which was officially implemented in 2022 and emphasizes the need to honour both the team that was consistently the best performer over a 28-game season as well as the team that triumphs in the postseason.
Along with the trophies, the CPL’s regular season winners and playoff champions will each earn the opportunity to compete against the best clubs in the region by securing berths in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, the premier club competition within North and Central America and the Caribbean.