One year ago, the Canadian Premier League was born.

York9 FC and Forge FC players took to the pitch foe the league’s inaugural match at Tim Hortons Field, likely with a few modest achievements in mind.

After all, these teams had been tasked with popping the cap on a new league – getting through 90 minutes without a panic attack would be considered a job well done.

Those two starting lineups that walked onto the field at 12:50 pm ET that day did exactly what they set out to do: To formally introduce the world to the CPL.

Let’s review those 22 players who brought the Canadian Premier League to life.

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York9 FC

Nathan Ingham – GK

• Re-signed with York9
• Nominated as CPL Goalkeeper of the Year at Awards 2019
• Made a league-high 89 saves across 26 starts

Justin Springer – DF

• 2019 status unconfirmed
• Made 11 appearances for the Nines

Luca Gasparotto – DF

• Re-signed with York9
• Recognized as CPL’s first “ironman” after playing every minute for York9 in 2019
• Accumulated 3,060 minutes and 34 starts across league and CanChamp play

Daniel Gogarty – DF

• Released by York9 in December, has yet to sign with another pro club
• Drafted by Y9 in the 2018 CPL-U SPORTS Draft
• The technically-gifted centre back appeared in 20 regular season matches for Y9, accumulating 1551 minutes.

Kyle Porter – RM

• Re-signed with York9
• Y9’s inaugural signing brought experience to the York club en route to 25 appearances and two goals

Ryan Telfer – LM

• Moved to Cypriot team Nea Salamis in January (has made two appearances)
• On loan from Toronto FC, Telfer scored the first goal in CPL history on opening day
• He made 26 appearances for Y9 in Year 1, scoring eight times

Joe Di Chiara – CM

• Re-signed with York9
• Appeared 22 more times for Y9 in league play

Manny Aparicio (captain) – CM

• Re-signed with York9
• Given first red card in CPL history during the inaugural game
• Made 31 league and CanChamp appearances for the Nine Stripes, wearing the captain’s armband in 30

Wataru Murofushi – CM

• Re-signed with York9
• Diminutive midfielder appeared in 23 league matches and scored three goals

Cyrus Rollocks – ST

• Released by York9 in December, has yet to sign with another pro club
• Made nine appearances for York9

Simon Adjei – ST

• Mutually parted ways with York9 in February, signed with Swedish side Assyriska IK soon after
• Has yet to appear for Assyriska
• First international signing in CPL history
• Scored seven goals in 24 appearances for York9

Forge FC

Triston Henry – GK

• Re-signed with Forge
• Made 23 appearances as Forge’s no. 1 ‘keeper
• Held on for two clean sheets in Finals 2019

Jonathan Grant – RB

• Re-signed with Forge
• Recovered from inaugural game injury to make 10 starts in the CPL Fall season, scoring one goal

Elimane Cisse – CB

• Re-signed with Forge
• Started in the centre of defence on opening day, went on to feature as a midfielder and striker
• Made 25 appearances for Forge, scoring two goals and adding two assists

Dominic Samuel – CB

• Re-signed with Forge
• Started as a centre back but appeared 27 more times, including at both fullback positions

Kwame Awuah – LB

• Re-signed with Forge
• Notched five assists across 29 appearances in Year 1

Giuliano Frano – CM

• Re-signed with Forge
• Alternate captain Frano emerged as a key water carrier for Forge, played in all but five matches

Kyle Bekker (captain) – CM

• Re-signed with Forge
• Nominated for CPL Player of the Year at Awards 2019
• Received a retroactive ban after elbowing Joe Di Chiara in the inaugural game

Alexander Achinioti-Jonsson – CM

• Re-signed with Forge
• Logged 1,941 minutes across 27 appearances for Forge in Year 1

Chris Nanco – LW

• Re-signed with Forge
• Set up the deciding goal in Finals 2019
• Scored winning goal in Forge’s Concacaf League Leg 1 win over CD Olimpia

Emery Welshman – ST

• Moved to Israeli club Hapoel Haifa in August, currently with Bnei Sakhnin
• Scored three goals in 11 appearances for Forge
• Attempted the first bicycle kick in CPL history, assisted Kadell Thomas’ opening day goal

Tristan Borges – RW

• Sold to Oud-Heverlee Leuven in Belgium, first CPLer to move to Europe
• CPL Player of the Year, Golden Boot winner, Best Canadian Under-21 winner
• Scored 13 goals for Forge in 2019