Toronto, ON (November 5, 2021) – Today the Canadian Premier League announced that the 2022 CPL-U SPORTS Draft will be held in early January 2022.  Following a successful 2021 draft that provided several U SPORTS draft picks a CPL opportunity, top-rated, Canadian University soccer players from coast to coast willhave an opportunity to earn a spot on a CPL Club through the Draft for the Canadian Premier League’s 2022 season.

Since 2018 the Canadian Premier League has held a draft for eligible U SPORTS men’s soccer players who have registered and declared themselves ‘available’ to be selected through the League’s annual draft. This draft is open to any eligible U SPORTS underclassmen with one to four years of U SPORTS eligibility remaining.

The draft will be held in mid-January 2022 to provide additional time for a robust recruitment process and allow CPL coaches time for their own review at the completion of the 2021 CPL season on November 28. The CPL-U SPORTS Draft will consist of two rounds, with eight picks in each round. The 16 players that are drafted will be invited to their club’s preseason training with the hopes of securing a 2022 U SPORTS Development Contract for the upcoming season.

Despite there being no 2020 U SPORTS season due to COVID-19, 2021 CPL- U SPORTS drafted picks made (and continue to make) significant contributions to CPL clubs including:

• Concordia University’s Garven Metusala (2021, 8th overall) has played 19 CPL games, started 14 games, and scored two goals with Forge FC. He has also been a key player in CONCACAF League and Canadian Championship matches.
• Stefan Karajovanovic drafted 7th overall to HFX Wanderers from Carleton University has played 24 CPL games (started 14) and has a goal and two assists.
• Calgary’s Mount Royal University’s Victor Loturi has started 13 Cavalry FC matches (played 24) and has scored two goals and had one assist.
• Tony Mikhael (Carleton University, 2021 14th overall) has played 12 CPL games and started 6 games with Valour FC and received a call up for Lebanon’s U23 squad.
• Kareem Sow (Université de Montréal) , Thomas Gardner (University of British Columbia)  and Chris Lee (University of British Columbia) all made contributions to their respective CPL clubs before returning to school in August. This demonstrates this truly unique partnership between the Canadian Premier League and U SPORTS that allows a student-athlete with one to four years of U SPORTS eligibility remaining to sign a development contract with a CPL Club, while preserving their eligibility to their university to participate in U SPORTS men’s soccer.

Eligible U SPORTS underclassmen can register for the draft here starting today until the player draw in mid-January.