Canadian Premier League Announces Year-End Awards Schedule

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Premier League will announce nominees for its year-end awards on a staggered schedule starting Wednesday, Oct. 12, with the winners to be revealed at an in-person ceremony during the league’s 2022 Finals weekend.

Players in contention for the CPL’s end-of-year awards will be announced on the following days at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT:

Wednesday, Oct. 12: Best Canadian Under-21 Player

Thursday, Oct. 13: Goalkeeper of the Year

Tuesday, Oct. 18: Defender of the Year

Wednesday, Oct. 19: Coach of the Year

Thursday, Oct. 20: Player of the Year

Monday, Oct. 24: Players’ Player of the Year

Three players will be nominated for Best Canadian Under-21 Player, Goalkeeper of the Year and Defender of the Year, respectively, while five players will be nominated for Player of the Year. Nominees are selected by members of the league office. The winners of those awards will be decided by voting from selected media members.

This season’s Coach of the Year award will, for the first time, be voted on by the head coaches of each team and one assistant coach per club. Coaches cannot vote for themselves, and assistant coaches cannot vote for their club’s head coach.

The new Players’ Player of the Year honour is the first award in league history to be voted on by players. Players cannot vote for themselves or include a teammate on their ballot but are otherwise able to name any player who has featured in at least one CPL game in 2022.

The in-person CPL awards ceremony will be held ahead of the league’s playoff championship match, to be played the weekend of either Oct. 29 or Oct. 30. The highest-seeded team to reach the playoff final will earn the right to host the championship match.

Voting for all seven of the CPL’s annual awards will this year be based on performances during the regular season, not including Canadian Championship, Concacaf or playoff action.

List of 2022 CPL Awards

Players’ Player of the Year

Sculpture: The Walrus

Artist: Ruben Komangapik

Description: Awarded to the player voted most valuable in the league during the 2022 CPL regular season, as chosen by his peers.

Selection process: Voted on by CPL players.

Defender of the Year

Sculpture: The Muskox

Artist: Ruben Komangapik

Description: Awarded to the best defender in the CPL during the 2022 regular season.

Selection Process: Voted on by select media members.

Player of the Year

Sculpture: The Nikisuittug

Artist: Pitseolak Qimirpik