The nominees for the end-of-season Canadian Premier League awards continue to be unveiled, and on Tuesday that included the three finalists for the first-ever Defender of the Year award. As its name suggests, the award is given to the best defender in the league, as voted on by select members of the media.
It’s the first time Defender of the Year has been handed out, with CPL Commissioner Mark Noonan saying that “Defender of the Year is a central honour in any sports league” in a press release announcing the introduction of the new award.
Media voting began immediately after the regular season’s conclusion on October 9, and ended on October 11. Award winners will be revealed prior to the CPL Final later this month, and the release schedule for nominees for the other awards is available here.
The award itself is a soapstone carving from Quebec-based artist Ruben Komangapik, who crafted it to look like a walrus. The Walrus, according to Komangapik, was chosen because it’s the strongest mammal in the north, it defends its child from killer whales and polar bears, and because they’re a force to be reckoned with.
Beginning this season the Canadian Premier League will hand out Defender of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year honours for the first time ?
Take a look at how artist Ruben Komangapik created them, and the meaning behind them ⬇️#CanPL I ?️ @kaedwards14 pic.twitter.com/wpwkYljKgS
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) September 28, 2022
Here are the nominees for the Defender of the Year.
Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson, Forge FC
Although a defensive midfielder by trade, Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson has been asked by Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis to play centre-back this season, and the Swedish former youth international has thrived in his new role after the long-term injury to Daniel Krutzen — who very well may have been on this list had he not been hurt — at the end of last season.
Achinioti-Jönsson established himself as not only one of the league’s best central defenders, but arguably the best at playing out of the back. Using his impressive vision and ability to routinely play accurate passes — skills that he developed in his preferred holding midfield role — Achinioti-Jönsson led the league in completed passes this season with just under 2,000 of them, and 400 more than second-place Thomas Meilleur-Giguère of Pacific FC.
He also had 153 recoveries and 135 duels won, good for 9th and 11th overall in the CPL, respectively. Forge FC also tied the league lead for clean sheets with 10, of which Achinioti-Jönsson played a key role in many.
Achinioti-Jönsson played all but one match in the 2022 CPL regular season, playing the full 90 minutes every time. One of the most consistent players in the league going back to the inaugural 2019 season, he recently became one of the CPL Centurions after making his 100th appearance for the club. Not even a fractured hand could keep him out of the lineup, with Achinioti-Jönsson playing with a cast for the past month of the season and into the playoffs.
With today's match, @alexachinioti joins his @ForgeFCHamilton teammate Kyle Bekker as just the second #CanPL player to make 100 appearances for his club.
Congratulations, Alex! ? pic.twitter.com/UicRtNLMWi
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) July 31, 2022
Amer Didić, Pacific FC
Amer Didić left his hometown FC Edmonton side for greener pastures in 2022, and his transfer to Pacific FC will go down as one of the best moves of the season.
The 27-year-old towering centre-back played in 26 of 28 regular season matches for the Tridents in his first season donning purple, and like the other defenders on this list was consistent throughout. He’s a commanding physical presence, and athletic, two of the things that make him immediately stand out as one of the league’s top talents.
He led the league in clearances (122) and aerial duels won (65), was third in blocks (17), third in completed passes (1,461), and ninth in interceptions (35). From the first day of the season it was clear Didić’s transfer to Pacific was going to be a successful one as he put in a strong performance against Forge FC, and he maintained that good form for the rest of the year.
He’s also pitched in with a couple of goals, including this direct free kick in September against Atlético Ottawa.
Amer Didic's free kick equalizer for @Pacificfccpl before halftime is the @VWCanada Change Maker Moment of the Match ?#CanPL | ?: @OneSoccer pic.twitter.com/9qzJQCr2eJ
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) September 11, 2022
Dominick Zator, York United
The third nominee for the inaugural Defender of the Year award is another CPL original, York United’s Dominick Zator. The 28-year-old was a consistent performer for the Nine Stripes this season, appearing in every single CPL match for the club.
Zator led the league in minutes played (2,506), and he came agonizingly close to playing every single minute of the season, finishing 14 minutes shy of the maximum possible total. Zator, who also spent two years in his hometown with Cavalry FC, also became a CPL Centurion in 2022, passing the 100 appearance mark in September.
Statistically, Zator led the CPL in blocks with 27, eight more than second-place Nyal Higgins from FC Edmonton. He was also fourth in the CPL in clearances (94), fifth in aerial duels won (51) and seventh in recoveries (154). Zator has been one of the best defenders in the league for four seasons in a row now, and is a more-than-worthy nominee for this award.
Congratulations to @yorkutdfc defender Dominick Zator (@zator94) on reaching 100 appearances as a #CanPL player in all competitions ?? pic.twitter.com/TlVlPYL13Y
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) September 6, 2022