The 2020 Canadian Premier League season was the second season of the Canadian Premier League (CPL), the top level of Canadian soccer.
 | |
| Season | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 13 – September 6, 2020 (first stage) September 9–15, 2020 (group stage) September 19, 2020 (final) |
| Champions | Forge FC |
| Regular season winners | Not awarded |
| CONCACAF League | Forge FC |
| Matches played | 35 |
| Goals scored | 92 (2.63 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Akeem Garcia (6 goals) |
| Best goalkeeper | Triston Henry (5 shutouts) |
| Biggest home win | HFX Wanderers 0–5 Pacific FC (September 15) |
| Highest scoring | 5 goals York9 FC 3–2 Forge FC (August 26) HFX Wanderers 0–5 Pacific FC (September 15) |
| Longest winning run | 3 matches Cavalry FC (August 16–23) Forge FC (September 12–19) |
| Longest unbeaten run | 6 matches York9 FC (August 15 – September 1) HFX Wanderers FC (August 26 – September 12) Forge FC (August 30 – September 19) |
| Longest winless run | 7 matches FC Edmonton (August 16 – September 6) |
| Longest losing run | 4 matches FC Edmonton (August 26 – September 6) |
← 2019 2021 → | |
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CPL announced a 14-day hold on all pre-season training on March 13, 2020.[1] On March 20, the league announced that it would be postponing the start of the season from the previously scheduled date of April 11.[2]
A shortened 2020 season tournament, branded as The Island Games, was played at the University of Prince Edward Island from August 13 to September 19. All players were required to self-isolate for 14 days before travelling, self-isolate for five more days upon arrival, and receive two negative COVID-19 tests before being allowed to play. As of July 29, PEI had the lowest number of COVID-19 cases among provinces, at 36.[3][4][5]
Initially, all matches were held behind closed doors. On August 8, the league announced a partnership with the province and PEI Soccer to allow 50 minor soccer players per game to attend matches.[6]
Atlético Ottawa joined the league as its first expansion team, bringing the total number of teams to eight. Hamilton's Forge FC defended their inaugural CPL title, blanking HFX Wanderers FC 2–0 in the final.
Overview
Teams
The seven teams that participated in the inaugural 2019 Canadian Premier League season were set to compete in this season. They were joined by Atlético Ottawa, an expansion team who were created after USL Championship side Ottawa Fury FC suspended operations after being unable to secure approval from USSF and CONCACAF.[7][8][9]
Personnel and sponsorship
Coaching changes
| Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific |  James Merriman | end of interim period | January 14, 2020 | pre-season |  Pa-Modou Kah | January 14, 2020 |
| Atlético Ottawa | N/A (inaugural season) | January 29, 2020 |  Mista | February 11, 2020 | ||
Original format
Before being postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the regular season was intended to be played from April 11 to October 4. The split-season format of the inaugural season was to be replaced by a single table and full double round-robin. The eight teams would have met their rivals twice at home and twice away for a total of 28 games, the same number as in 2019.[10] The top ranked team in the regular season would have qualified for a spot in the championship final and would have been joined by the winner of a playoff between the second and third ranked teams.[11]
First stage
The eight teams played against each other once each for a total of seven matches. The top four teams advanced to the group stage.
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cavalry | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 13 | Advance to group stage |
| 2 | HFX Wanderers | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 12[a] | |
| 3 | Forge | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 9 | +4 | 12[a] | |
| 4 | Pacific | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 11 | |
| 5 | York9 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 10 | |
| 6 | Valour | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 9 | −1 | 8[b] | |
| 7 | Atlético Ottawa | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 8[b] | |
| 8 | FC Edmonton | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 14 | −9 | 1 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) goal differential; 4) goals for; 5) total wins; 6) U-21 minutes; 7) coin toss or drawing of lots.[12]
Notes:
Legend: Blue = left column team win; Yellow = draw; Red = top row team win.
Results by round
| 1st and advance to group stage | Advance to group stage |
Notes: Cavalry and Forge played two matches in round 1 but did not play in round 6.
Group stage
The four group stage teams met their opponents once each. The top two teams advanced to the final.
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forge | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 7 | Advance to final |
| 2 | HFX Wanderers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 4 | |
| 3 | Cavalry | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3[a] | |
| 4 | Pacific | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 3[a] |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) goal differential; 4) goals for; 5) total wins; 6) U-21 minutes; 7) coin toss or drawing of lots.[13]
Notes:
Legend: Blue = left column team win; Yellow = draw; Red = top row team win.
Results by round
| 1st and advance to Final | Advance to Final |
