Men’s Nominees for the 2016 Canada Soccer Player Awards

Canada Soccer has announced the list of nominees for the 2016 Canada Soccer Player Awards, with voting open today for both media and coaches. At the top of the list are the nominees for the 2016 Canadian Players of the Year award, celebrating the top male and top female footballers from the 2016 calendar year.

Voting for the 2016 Canadian Players of the Year award is split between media and coaches from coast to coast to coast across Canada. Voting is open from Monday 28 November to Thursday 8 December. This marks the 24th year since the Canada Soccer Player Awards were introduced in 1993. The Awards recognise player performances with both the national teams and their respective club teams.

Tesho Akindele helped FC Dallas win both the 2016 US Open Cup and the MLS Supporters Shield. At the club level, he recorded seven goals and four assists in 31 appearances in all competitions. At the international level, he made six appearances and scored the lone goal in Canada’s 1:1 draw with Azerbaijan.

Scott Arfield helped Burnley FC win England’s Championship and earn a promotion to the Premier League. At the club level between January and November 2016, he recorded four goals and two assists in 35 appearances in all competitions. In his first year of international competition, he made six appearances and co-led Canada with three assists, including player-of-the-match honours in a 1:1 draw with Azerbaijan.

Patrice Bernier helped Impact Montréal FC reach the MLS Eastern Conference final. At the club level, he recorded three assists in 26 appearances in all competitions. In front of the largest crowd of the year – 61,004 at Stade Saputo – he recorded two assists in the opening leg against rivals Toronto FC.

Milan Borjan helped PFK Ludogorets Razgrad win the Bulgarian A Grupa title and qualify for UEFA Champions League. At the club level between January and November 2016, he won all six of his appearances and posted two clean sheets. At the international level, he earned player-of-the-match honours against Mexico and Honduras in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Marcel de Jong split his campaign between Ottawa Fury FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In the first half of the calendar year, he made six appearances and helped Ottawa Fury FC reach the semi-finals of the Canadian Championships for the first time. He then made seven appearances with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, helping them win their group in CONCACAF Champions League. At the international level, he made a team-high eight starts during the 2016 calendar year.

David Edgar split his campaign between Sheffield United and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In the first half of the calendar year, he made 22 appearances with Sheffield United. He then made eight appearances with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, helping them win their group in CONCACAF Champions League. At the international level, he scored two goals and earned man-of-the-match honours in a 2:1 win over Uzbekistan.

David Junior Hoilett split the season between Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City in England’s Championship. In the first half of the calendar year, he recorded three goals and one assist with Queens Park Rangers in 21 appearances. He then scored one goal in seven appearances before the end of November with Cardiff City. In his second year of international competition, he made seven appearances and co-led Canada with three assists.

Atiba Hutchinson helped Beşiktaş JK win Turkey’s Super Liga and earn a spot in UEFA Champions League. At the club level between January and November 2016, he made 35 appearances in all competitions. At the international level, he was Canada’s master in the midfield in four matches during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Cyle Larin enjoyed a positive sophomore season with Orlando City SC. At the club level, he contributed 14 goals and three assists in 32 appearances in all competitions. At the international level, he scored one goal in five appearances.

Jonathan Osorio helped Toronto FC win the Canadian Championship and the MLS Eastern Conference to reach the MLS Cup. At the club level, he recorded six goals and three assists in 39 appearances in all competitions, including two goals in the Championship. He also made two appearances at the international level with Canada.

Tosaint Ricketts helped Toronto FC win the MLS Eastern Conference to reach the MLS Cup. At the club level, he recorded five goals and one assist in 16 appearances in all competitions. At the international level, he recorded two goals and two assists in seven matches, including player-of-the-match honours in a 4:0 win over Mauritania.

Adam Straith helped Fredrikstad FK in their 2016 campaign. At the club level between January and November 2016, he contributed two goals and one assists in 33 appearances in all competitions. At the international level, he made eight appearances and earned player-of-the-match honours against Mexico at Estadio Azteca.