The CFL has the Grey Cup. The NFL has the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The NHL has the Stanley Cup.
And the Canadian Premier League now has the North Star Shield.
CPL Commissioner David Clanachan officially unveiled the North Star Shield at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton on Friday afternoon, giving fans and media a first glimpse of the Canadian Premier League’s championship trophy.
Forge FC and Cavalry FC will face off in Leg 1 of the Canadian Premier League Finals in Hamilton on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. MT, on OneSoccer, CBC & CBCSports.ca).
Leg 2 of Finals 2019 is scheduled for Nov. 2 at ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, where either Forge or Cavalry will become the first CPL team to hoist the North Star Shield.
The North Star Shield is made of solid crystal and sits on a Canadian Maple base. It measures 35 centimetres (14 inches) in diameter by four centimetres (1.5 inches), and weighs approximately seven kilos (15 pounds).
It also features a 3D laser engraving of the CPL’s crest, and a diamond etching within the CPL’s crest to refract light.
Introducing The North Star Shield – the #CanPL's ultimate prize#CanPLFinals pic.twitter.com/JR6ALC6HQ2
— CanPL (@CPLsoccer) October 25, 2019
“The Shield is inspired by and named for The North Star and is a depiction of the (CPL’s) identity. The North Star demonstrates and acts as a guiding light for soccer in Canada, a beacon for talent within our borders and a reminder of our purpose: For Canadians, by Canadians,” Clanachan said in a news release.
“A dream for kids from the Atlantic to the Arctic to the Pacific Ocean is to play in a professional league of their own. This is the focal point of the Canadian Premier League’s identity and it is displayed at the centre of the league’s crest.”
The original North Star Shield will be kept by the Canadian Premier League.
A unique version of the North Star Shield will be awarded to the Canadian Premier League Champion in each subsequent year with the names of the winning players, coaches and owners engraved onto it.
In addition to The North Star Shield, both clubs who participate in the #CanPLFinals will be awarded either a winner's or runner's up medal #CanPL pic.twitter.com/A6Fqg7v78d
— CanPL (@CPLsoccer) October 25, 2019