Cavalry win CPL Shield, clinch spot in Concacaf Champions Cup

Calgary’s Cavalry FC have won the 2023 Canadian Premier League Shield and qualified for Concacaf Champions Cup for the first time. Cavalry FC clinched the 2023 title with still two matches remaining in their schedule ahead of the October playoffs.

Cavalry FC won 1:0 away over York United FC on Saturday afternoon, then officially clinched the CPL Shield when they were in flight as a result of Forge FC Hamilton’s 3:1 win over Pacific FC.

With their qualification to 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, the region’s annual confederation championship which qualifies a team for the FIFA Club World Cup, Cavalry FC became the third Canadian Premier League to qualify for a Concacaf tournament. In the past five years, Forge FC have featured in both Concacaf League and Concacaf Champions Cup while Pacific FC have featured in Concacaf League.

Beyond the regular season, the top-five teams in the Canadian Premier League will compete in the playoffs for the CPL Championship. The regular season wraps up 7 October 2023 when Cavalry FC host Pacific FC.

Cavalry FC’s 2023 winning squad featured Fraser Aird, William Akio, Roberto Alarcón, Ethan Beckford, Myer Bevan, Sergio Camargo, Marco Carducci, Udoka Chima, Jesse Daley, Tom Field, Ben Fisk, Michael Harms, Maël Henry, Joseph Holliday, Sterling Kerr, Daan Klomp, Eryk Kobza, Joe Mason, Callum Montgomery, Ali Musse, Niko Myroniuk, Shamit Shome, Gareth Smith-Doyle and Charlie Trafford. The team was led by Head Coach Tommy Wheeldon, Jr. alongside assistant coaches Leon Hapgood and Nik Ledgerwood.