The Canadian Premier League will announce nominees and finalists for its year-end awards on a staggered schedule starting Wednesday, Oct. 12, with the winners to be revealed at an in-person ceremony during the league’s 2022 Finals Weekend.
The nominees and finalists for the CPL’s end-of-year awards will be announced on the following days at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT:
- Wednesday, Oct. 12: Best Canadian Under-21 Player
- Thursday, Oct. 13: Goalkeeper of the Year
- Tuesday, Oct. 18: Defender of the Year
- Wednesday, Oct. 19: Coach of the Year
- Thursday, Oct. 20: Player of the Year
- Monday, Oct. 24: Players’ Player of the Year
Three players will be nominated for Best Canadian Under-21 Player, Goalkeeper of the Year and Defender of the Year, respectively, while five players will be nominated for Player of the Year. Nominees are selected by members of the league office. The winners will be decided by voting from selected media members.
This season’s Coach of the Year award will, for the first time, be voted on by the head coaches of each team and one assistant coach per club. Coaches cannot vote for themselves, and assistant coaches cannot vote for their club’s head coach.
The Players’ Player of the Year honour is the first award in league history to be voted on by players. Players cannot vote for themselves or include a teammate on their ballot but are otherwise able to name any player who has featured in at least one CPL game in 2022.
The in-person CPL awards ceremony will be held ahead of the league’s playoff championship match, to be played the weekend of either Oct. 29 or Oct. 30. The highest-seeded team to reach the playoff final will earn the right to host the championship match.
Voting for all seven of the CPL’s annual awards will this year be based on performances during the regular season, not including Canadian Championship, Concacaf or playoff action.
List of 2022 CPL Awards
Players’ Player of the Year
Sculpture: The Walrus
Artist: Ruben Komangapik
Description: Awarded to the player voted most valuable in the league during the 2022 CPL regular season, as chosen by his peers.
Selection process: Voted on by CPL players.
Defender of the Year
Sculpture: The Muskox
Artist: Ruben Komangapik
Description: Awarded to the best defender in the CPL during the 2022 regular season.
Selection Process: Voted on by select media members.
Player of the Year
Sculpture: The Nikisuittug
Artist: Pitseolak Qimirpik
Description: Awarded to the Most Valuable Player in the CPL during the 2022 regular season.
Selection Process: Voted on by select media members.
Best Canadian U21 Player
Sculpture: The Polar Bear
Artist: Taqialuk Nuna
Description: Awarded to the CPL player voted best among under-21 Canadians during the 2022 regular season.
Selection Process: Voted on by select media members.
Coach of the Year
Sculpture: The Owl
Artist: Palaya Qiatsuq
Description: Award to the CPL coach voted most influential within their club during the 2022 regular season
Selection Process: Voted on by head coaches and one assistant coach of each club’s choosing.
Golden Glove
Sculpture: The Canadian Inuit Dog
Artist: Kellipalik Etidloie
Description: Awarded to the best goalkeeper in the CPL during the 2022 regular season.
Selection Process: Voted on by select media members.