Five Canadian Premier League Stars Nominated for Player of the Year
October 20, 2022 – Canadian Premier League (CPL) News Release
Toronto, ON – – The Canadian Premier League announced on Thursday the nominees for the Player of the Year award, honouring the best player during the 2022 regular season.
Forge FC’s Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson, Pacific FC’s Manny Aparicio, Atlético Ottawa’s Ollie Bassett and Ballou Tabla and Valour FC’s Sean Rea were nominated for the award by members of the league office. The winner is voted on by select media members and will be revealed at an in-person ceremony during the league’s 2022 Final Weekend.
Achinioti-Jönsson, 26, was key to Forge conceding the fewest goals (25) of any CPL club during the regular season. His nine blocks, 29 interceptions, 49 clearances and 31 aerial duels won were the most by any Forge player during the regular season. Achinioti-Jönsson led the league with 1,996 passes and was included in the CPL’s Gatorade Team of the Week five times in 2022.
Aparicio, 27, continued to be a central presence in Pacific’s midfield during the 2022 regular season, thanks to his high work rate, elite passing and staunch defence. Pacific’s record when Aparicio wasn’t on the field makes it clear what the team missed without him; the Tridents went 2-5-4 in those matches. Aparicio was named CPL Player of the Week for Week 6 and made six appearances in the CPL’s Gatorade Team of the Week.
Bassett, 24, had a breakout season with Atlético Ottawa after making the move from Pacific FC in the off-season. He was a driving force in Ottawa’s midfield as the team went from bottom of the table in 2021 to regular-season champion in 2022. Bassett led Ottawa with eight goals and was named to the CPL’s Gatorade Team of the Week a league-high 11 times. He earned a Player of the Month nod in May.
Rea, 20, finished the regular season with five goals and a league-leading nine assists for Valour. He won the CPL’s Player of the Month nod for August, after picking up two goals and two assists and twice earning Gatorade Performance of the Match honours for Valour. He was named to the CPL’s Gatorade Team of the Week six times in 2022.
Tabla, 23, proved himself as a complete attacker during his first regular season with Atlético Ottawa, between his six goals, his defensive contributions and his ability with the ball at his feet. He was named to the league’s Gatorade Team of the Week six times in 2022 and was one of four two-time Player of the Week award winners during the regular season.
Voting for all the CPL’s annual awards will this year be based on performances during the regular season, not including Canadian Championship, Concacaf or playoff action.
The winner of the Player of the Year award will receive a unique piece of Inuit soapstone art, carved by artist Pitseolak Qimirpik. The Nikisuittuq statue is a type of inukshuk, a stone landmark built to lead a traveller home. Its top stone points toward the North Star, making it an important landmark in navigation.
The in-person CPL awards ceremony will be held ahead of the league’s playoff championship match, to be played either Saturday, Oct. 29 or Sunday, Oct. 30 depending on the host city. The highest-seeded team remaining in the playoffs will earn the right to host the CPL Final.
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