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8 CPL Thoughts: Cavalry FC emerge victorious and notes on Gazdov, Bassett, Dyer, Callegari and more

8 CPL Thoughts: Cavalry FC emerge victorious and notes on Gazdov, Bassett, Dyer, Callegari and more

Newfoundlanders would call it a large day, which is to say that, amidst the flags and smoke and  panoply of fandom, there wasn't a better place to be a Canadian football fan than at Spruce Meadows last Saturday for the CPL Final. It was, with its chilly temperatures, a distinctly Canadian-feeling event. It was also a joy to watch.

And with the awarding of the North Star Cup to Cavalry FC — more on that in a moment — it marked the end of the 2024 CPL season, which means it's time for my second favourite football season: silly season. Silly season, of course, is referring to the CPL off-season where contract options are exercised or players are cut loose or we all wait, with bated-breath, to hear where that former Pacific FC star will land (where have we heard that before?).

So, if you're not already familiar, welcome to 8 CPL Thoughts, the column where I round up the news and tidbits I'm hearing across the league. Let's dig into it. And welcome, friends, to silly season.

1. Congratulations to Cavalry

I'll keep this first note short and sweet but it was fantastic, as a neutral, to watch head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. and Cavalry hoist the North Star Cup at ATCO Field. Although I was several thousand kilometres away, you could feel how much the win meant to a side that had come up as second best to Forge FC throughout the league's short history. Last Saturday, Cavalry rewrote the script and it suited them well.

“It’s hard to find the words,” goalkeeper Marco Carducci told OneSoccer. “It’s a special feeling. I think I go first to the fact that I got to hoist the trophy with my brothers behind me, with my founder, and my friends all around, with 7,000 people who’ve been supporting us all year, with the city at our back, it’s extra special.”

Wheeldon Jr. was especially emotional, having undergone a trying year personally. He minced no words about what it meant to his group.

“They’ve felt the pain, now they can taste the champagne,” he said.

One other thing I'll mention is that everyone I've spoken to — from agents to players to journalists — who attended last week's festivities mentioned how class the whole weekend was, from the awards ceremony on. It reflects a level of growth within the league and, as we watched, elevates what the North Star Cup means to the players.

2. CBC's viewership numbers exceed 600,000 for CPL Final

John Jacques of The Northern Tribune reported on Wednesday that over 600,000 viewers tuned into CBC Sports to watch the CPL Final. That does not include people who took in the game on OneSoccer, fuboTV and Telus Optik 980.

With these numbers in mind, I think it's safe to call the one-time deal with CBC a success. The question, however, is will the league be able to secure a long-term partnership to broadcast OneSoccer through cable providers to help grow its audience? That remains to be seen but CPL commissioner Mark Noonan was sure to mention his intentions during the half-time show last weekend.

"It's great to have this match on CBC today," he told OneSoccer during the Final. “But we need more. We need OneSoccer distributed on legacy cable operators who have thus far, how shall we say this, conveniently kept OneSoccer distribution down. But we will not rest until it’s just as easy to watch domestic soccer as it is to watch international soccer in Canada.”

Previously, in an interview with The Wanderers Notebook, Noonan said he was confident in securing a deal to expand OneSoccer's reach, adding they were still working through the regulatory process.

"We're confident of our position and believe we'll be carried by Rogers and other cable systems in the near future," he said.

But will things be wrapped up in time for next season? Although you'd like to think CPL and Northern Super League (NSL) aren't in direct competition, the average fan will pick the path of least resistance, especially when courting a new league or club. With the NSL set to broadcast across TSN, CBC Sports, Radio-Canada and RDS, they've set themselves up to get as many eyeballs as possible on their product; it's in stark contrast to the battle Canadian Soccer Business has fought in the courts.

But the quality of play in the CPL has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years. I think if they manage to strike a deal, people will tune in. The CPL Final was proof of that.

3. Golden Glove winner Emil Gazdov's future

Manuel Veth of Transfermarkt reported earlier this week that Pacific FC goalkeeper Emil Gazdov had significant interest from both North America and Europe. Included in the list of interested suitors were MLS sides Toronto FC, CF Montréal, Vancouver Whitecaps, as well as clubs across Europe.

Given Gazdov's age, profile and experience, it's hardly surprising that his Golden Glove winning season has piqued interests across world football. He is one of the most exciting prospects to develop in the CPL.

"It feels good to see him come towards his potential," Pacific head coach James Merriman told Transfermarkt in July. "And that's our vision as a club: to give opportunities to young players and use this league as a platform."

Gazdov, evidently, has made the most of his platform. However, speaking to sources, I was told that the level of interest from the Canadian MLS clubs is varying. I was also told it's important to remember that Pacific have the 21-year old signed until 2025 with a club option for 2026. He remains very much under club control so any suitors will have to pay a transfer fee to acquire his services. And as of the writing of this article, Pacific has received no offers.

Of course, that can all change with one phone call.

4. The end of Olliewood

The writing may have been on the wall but, with news that long-time Atlético Ottawa star Ollie Bassett is set to leave the club following the expiry of his contract, there's something sad about drawing the curtains on Olliewood. TD Place may never feel the same.

In many ways, Bassett's time — and prowess — encapsulated a specific era in the CPL. His ginger-looks and nose for goal ensured the English midfielder was the face of a burgeoning Atlético Ottawa side eager to prove its mettle. Bassett was key in delivering on that promise, helping his club secure a regular season title in 2022 while collecting a bagful of personal silverware, be it as Player of the Year or, in 2023, the Golden Boot.

Despite his quality, a move to another level never came and there always seemed an inevitability that this year would be the last Bassett suited up in red-and-white. He officially announced in on social media on Wednesday.

So what's next for Bassett? I've been hearing for a while that there's significant interest for him from USL clubs. Given he's already announced his departure from Atlético Ottawa, Bassett is free to sign a contract starting January 1, 2025 and I expect to hear more details in the coming weeks on a landing spot. But wherever he lands, there's no doubt the impact he made on the CPL across four seasons. Olliewood will live on in memory.

5. Will Moses stay by the Salish Sea?

Pacific FC achieved their goal of making the post-season and striker Moses Dyer was a key reason, potting four crucial goals during their last-gasp playoff push. The New Zealander was arguably one of the hottest forwards in the CPL in the final weeks of the season.

And, if you had to note a turning point in Pacific's year, it'd be hard not to mention Dyer crossing the Salish Sea following a move from Vancouver FC in August. Dyer himself pulled no punches, telling reporters following the trade that he felt he "got more chances" at Pacific and that they played "better attacking football."

Baked into the trade with Vancouver was the fact that both Dyer and Ayman Sellouf were on expiring deals. On one hand, it's part of the reason both clubs agreed to the swap as the short-term meant they got flexibility. However, with Dyer's form and goal scoring record, it's only natural that many hope he stays on Vancouver Island.

But Pacific are already juggling quite a bit of uncertainty. As I reported for The Wanderers Notebook in October, full-back Kunle Dada-Luke informed the club he'd be testing the market. Defensive stalwart Thomas Meilleur-Giguère is also out of contract, garnering interest from across the CPL and south of the border. Dyer is yet another quality player Pacific risks losing but, sources said, the 27-year old hasn't ruled out a return to the Tridents. He's currently weighing his options, with numerous CPL inquires as well as USL interest.

6. Loughrey bids farewell to Nova Scotia (the sea-bound coast)

As I wrote yesterday, centre-back Cale Loughrey has parted ways with the Halifax Wanderers after two seasons.

It's an interesting development for a number of reasons. Although I had heard rumours about the possibility of Loughrey's departure, it made sense from at least one perspective: the Wanderers had too many defenders and someone had to go. The club currently has control of four centre-backs (Nassim Mekidèche, Alphonse Jefferson, Julian Dunn and Kareem Sow) and two full-backs (Wesley Timoteo and Riley Ferrazzo). That doesn't include the possibility of returns — albeit unlikely given their pedigree — from Dan Nimick and Zachary Fernandez.

The Wanderers may prioritize adding a full-back or two but from the sense I got following head coach Patrice Gheisar's end of season availability, it doesn't sound like the club is looking for a total overhaul of players. Instead, I expect most of the players on options — which includes Jefferson, Dunn, Timoteo and Ferrazzo — will get picked up.

But what's more interesting is the fact that all three of the players Halifax received offers on last year (Loughrey, Fernandez and Nimick), it's possible the club might recoup zero dollars. Granted, sporting director Matt Fegan said the offers for Nimick weren't serious but the point stands that things change rapidly in football and it's hard to not feel like the Wanderers should have managed their assets more effectively. Having said that, we'd be singing their praises if they'd kept the band together and made a push in the playoffs.

Really, what it boils down to, is that clubs constantly need to weigh the present and the future. Last year, they bet on the present and lost. Letting Loughrey go and creating space for another centre-back, be it the 21-year old Alphonse or someone else, feels like them betting on the future.

7. What's next for Monsieur Callegari?

The French elephant in the room (when it comes to the Wanderers) is that Lorenzo Callegari — their midfield talisman and technical leader — is out of contract.

What may have once felt like a gamble played out beautifully for both the Frenchman and the Wanderers over two seasons in terms of fit and role. It would have been very easy for Callegari, who grew up in Paris Saint-Germain's acclaimed academy system and spent time at big clubs in Italy, to go through the motions in North America with a young league. Instead, he embraced his life in the CPL and received back-to-back Players' Player of the Year nominations and helped steer the Wanderers to their first ever playoff match. He also battled through two injuries in the dying days of 2024 to try and help Halifax's post-season hopes, which ultimately fell short.

Now, Callegari is out of contract and faced with a decision: does he want to return to Europe or stay in North America? If he were to remain in the CPL, sources said, the Frenchman remains loyal to the Wanderers barring some lucrative contract offer. But with his family still in France, Callegari is gauging the pros and cons of trying to find a club in Europe. Sources said both the Wanderers and player have left the door to a return open.

8. No specifics on CPL salary cap increase

I've done quite a bit of reporting around the league's salary cap this past year and was asked, after probing for questions to fill this last note, by David Parrott on Bluesky for details on the increase promised by Noonan during his end of season press conference.

One of the main things to remember when discussing the CPL salary cap is that even though changes and details may not be shared publicly, clubs are kept informed along the way. That was the case at the beginning of this season when the ceiling was raised from $1,125,000 to $1,212,500. And that'll be the case when the league again raises the cap ahead of the 2025 season.

The frustrating part, sadly, is the lack of detail for the public.

It's been known for some time that the league was planning to raise the cap in 2025. Going back as far as September, Noonan told The Wanderers Notebook in an exclusive interview that the league would again give its clubs more financial flexibility. He answered the question with a single word: "Yes."

With the NSL announcing a $1,600,000 cap, which excludes two designated players, it's natural that people are excited to see how far the CPL goes in matching it. The truth is we don't know. And, despite asking around, I was unable to get any further detail.

The only tidbit I was able to garner is that it's likely the new cap details will be dropped early in the new year. Thanks for the question, David.

Further reading:

Cover Photo Credit: Canadian Premier League

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