1987 Canadian Soccer League season

The schedule was not a balanced schedule based on the league principle of playing each club home and away due to travel concerns.{{Cite news|last=MacDonald |first=Archie |date=February 26, 1987 |title=Soccer rebirth |page=F3 |work=The Vancouver Sun |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lKNlAAAAIBAJ&pg=1152%2C2829592 }} The league was divided into two four-team division with each team playing each team in their division four times, twice at home and twice on the road, and playing the teams in the opposing division twice, once at home and once on the road for a total of twenty games.{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/8bjj6Xb.jpg|title=Pioneers Primed for Kickoff|date=June 7, 1987|work=The Sunday Herald|first=Trevor|last=Bunke}} Following the season, the top three teams in each division would advance to the playoffs, with the division leaders earning a first round bye, to designate a national champion club.

The Canadian Soccer League was the second attempt to create a national professional league in Canada. Many teams were existing franchises from the non-professional provincial leagues, while others had come from semi-professional leagues, including Edmonton (Western Soccer Alliance), Hamilton (Canadian National Soccer League), and Toronto (CNSL and NASL), while some teams, such as the Vancouver 86ers were new.{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303113119/http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1987.html#CSL|url=http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1987.html#CSL|title=The Year in American Soccer - 1987|first=Dave|last=Litterer|work=Sover|archive-date=March 3, 2009|url-status=dead}} The league opened with a good start with sizable crowds and a fairly high level of play, but teams soon began to feel the financial pressure, particularly in the smaller markets.

The league's inaugural match took place on June 7, 1987 in Aylmer, Quebec between the National Capital Pioneers and the Hamilton Steelers and finished in a 1–1 draw, in a steady drizzle, in front 2,500 spectators.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/thecharleton17carl/page/10/mode/2up?q=he+Pioneers+start+their+season+June+7%2C++against+the+Steeler|title=Ravens become Ottawa pioneers|first=Boris|last=Gomez|date=May 28, 1987|work=The Charlatan|page=10}}{{cite web|url=https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0e99e8_da4ca91e517841d39380f20f0f5e1c2e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_840,h_630,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/0e99e8_da4ca91e517841d39380f20f0f5e1c2e~mv2.webp|publisher=Hamilton Spectator|first=Don|last=Lovegrove|title=CSL '87 Preview - Toronto-Hamilton Rivalry Renewed on Soccer Pitch|website=CSL Memories}}{{cite web|url=https://www.impactsoccer.com/champcan.php|work=Impact Soccer|trans-title=History of the Championship and the Canada Cup|language=fr|title=Histoire du Championnat et de la Coupe du Canada}}

The Eastern Division in 1987 consisted of National Capital Pioneers, Hamilton Steelers, Toronto Blizzard, and the North York Rockets. The Western Division comprised the Calgary Kickers, Edmonton Brick Men, Vancouver 86ers, and the Winnipeg Fury. Calgary and Hamilton won their divisions and both advanced to the finals in the playoffs. In the final, Calgary defeated Hamilton 2–1, at home, in a winner-take-all one game final.

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|team1=HAM |team2=OTT |team3=TOR |team4=NYR

|result1=SEM |result2=QUA |result3=QUA

|win_HAM=10 |draw_HAM=6 |loss_HAM=4 |gf_HAM=32 |ga_HAM=22 |status_HAM= |name_HAM=Hamilton Steelers

|win_OTT=7 |draw_OTT=9 |loss_OTT=4 |gf_OTT=22 |ga_OTT=15 |status_OTT= |name_OTT=National Capital Pioneers

|win_TOR=6 |draw_TOR=8 |loss_TOR=6 |gf_TOR=22 |ga_TOR=27 |status_TOR= |name_TOR=Toronto Blizzard

|win_NYR=1 |draw_NYR=7 |loss_NYR=12 |gf_NYR=15 |ga_NYR=39 |status_NYR= |name_NYR=North York Rockets

|winpoints=2 |drawpoints=1 |res_col_header=Q

|col_SEM=green1 |text_SEM=Playoff semifinals

|col_QUA=blue1 |text_QUA=Playoff quarterfinals

|update=complete |source=[http://cansha.coffeecup.com/csl8792.html Canadian Soccer History Archives] [https://pdfhost.io/v/IM60lMe.2_1987_CSL_Statspdf.pdf 1987 CSL Stats]

}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|team1=CAL |team2=VAN |team3=EDM |team4=WIN

|result1=SEM |result2=QUA |result3=QUA

|win_CAL=11 |draw_CAL=5 |loss_CAL=4 |gf_CAL=32 |ga_CAL=22 |status_CAL=O |name_CAL=Calgary Kickers

|win_VAN=9 |draw_VAN=3 |loss_VAN=8 |gf_VAN=37 |ga_VAN=27 |status_VAN= |name_VAN=Vancouver 86ers

|win_EDM=7 |draw_EDM=6 |loss_EDM=7 |gf_EDM=27 |ga_EDM=24 |status_EDM= |name_EDM=Edmonton Brick Men

|win_WIN=5 |draw_WIN=4 |loss_WIN=11 |gf_WIN=25 |ga_WIN=36 |status_WIN= |name_WIN=Winnipeg Fury

|winpoints=2 |drawpoints=1 |res_col_header=Q

|col_SEM=green1 |text_SEM=Playoff semifinals

|col_QUA=blue1 |text_QUA=Playoff quarterfinals

|update=complete |source=[http://cansha.coffeecup.com/csl8792.html Canadian Soccer History Archives] [https://pdfhost.io/v/IM60lMe.2_1987_CSL_Statspdf.pdf 1987 CSL Stats]

}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|team1=CAL |team2=HAM |team3=OTT |team4=VAN |team5=EDM |team6=TOR |team7=WIN |team8=NYR

|result1=REG

|win_CAL=11 |draw_CAL=5 |loss_CAL=4 |gf_CAL=32 |ga_CAL=22 |status_CAL=O |name_CAL=Calgary Kickers

|win_HAM=10 |draw_HAM=6 |loss_HAM=4 |gf_HAM=32 |ga_HAM=22 |status_HAM= |name_HAM=Hamilton Steelers

|win_OTT=7 |draw_OTT=9 |loss_OTT=4 |gf_OTT=22 |ga_OTT=15 |status_OTT= |name_OTT=National Capital Pioneers

|win_VAN=9 |draw_VAN=3 |loss_VAN=8 |gf_VAN=37 |ga_VAN=27 |status_VAN= |name_VAN=Vancouver 86ers

|win_EDM=7 |draw_EDM=6 |loss_EDM=7 |gf_EDM=27 |ga_EDM=24 |status_EDM= |name_EDM=Edmonton Brick Men

|win_TOR=6 |draw_TOR=8 |loss_TOR=6 |gf_TOR=22 |ga_TOR=27 |status_TOR= |name_TOR=Toronto Blizzard

|win_WIN=5 |draw_WIN=4 |loss_WIN=11 |gf_WIN=25 |ga_WIN=36 |status_WIN= |name_WIN=Winnipeg Fury

|win_NYR=1 |draw_NYR=7 |loss_NYR=12 |gf_NYR=15 |ga_NYR=39 |status_NYR= |name_NYR=North York Rockets

|winpoints=2 |drawpoints=1 |res_col_header=Q

|col_REG=green1 |text_REG=Regular season winner

|update=complete |source=[http://cansha.coffeecup.com/csl8792.html Canadian Soccer History Archives] [https://pdfhost.io/v/IM60lMe.2_1987_CSL_Statspdf.pdf 1987 CSL Stats]

}}

Home team on top.

{{8TeamBracket

| RD1= Quarter-finals

| RD2= Semi-finals

| RD3= Final

| byes=1

| RD1-group1= West

| RD1-group2= East

| RD1-seed3= 2W

| RD1-team3= Vancouver

| RD1-score3= 2

| RD1-seed4= 3W

| RD1-team4= Edmonton

| RD1-score4= 1

| RD1-seed7= 2E

| RD1-team7= Ottawa

| RD1-score7= 1

| RD1-seed8= 3E

| RD1-team8= Toronto (OT)

| RD1-score8= 2

| RD2-seed1= 1W

| RD2-team1= Calgary (OT)

| RD2-score1= 4

| RD2-seed2= 2W

| RD2-team2= Vancouver

| RD2-score2= 3

| RD2-seed3= 1E

| RD2-team3= Hamilton

| RD2-score3= 1

| RD2-seed4= 3E

| RD2-team4= Toronto

| RD2-score4= 0

| RD3-seed1= 1W

| RD3-team1= Calgary Kickers

| RD3-score1= 2

| RD3-seed2= 1E

| RD3-team2= Hamilton Steelers

| RD3-score2= 1

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 9, 1987

|time= 19:30

|team1= Vancouver 86ers

|score= 2–1

|aet=

|report= [{{Cite news|last=Ireland|first=Joanne|date=September 10, 1987|title=Final minute fells Brick Men|page=37|work=Edmonton Journal}} Report]

|team2= Edmonton Brick Men

|goals1= Easton Jr. {{goal|48}}
Mobilio {{goal|89}}

|goals2= Roy Viana {{goal|64}}

|stadium= Swangard Stadium

|location=Vancouver, British Columbia

|attendance= 3942

|referee= John Meachin

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 10, 1987

|time=

|team1= National Capital Pioneers

|score= 1–2

|aet= yes

|report= [{{Cite news|date=September 11, 1987|title=Blizzard wins Eastern semifinal|page=4|work=Times Colonist}} Report]

|team2= Toronto Blizzard

|goals1= Fred Juett {{goal|40}}

|goals2= Luis Lufi {{goal|59}}
Troy Andeh {{goal|112}}

|stadium= Aydelu Park

|location=Aylmer, Quebec

|attendance= 1100

|referee=

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 12, 1987

|time=

|team1= Hamilton Steelers

|score= 1–0

|aet=

|report= [{{Cite news|date=September 13, 1987|title=Steelers Eastern reps in CSL final|page=30|work=Times Colonist}} Report]

|team2= Toronto Blizzard

|goals1= Bunbury {{goal|80}}

|goals2=

|stadium= Ivor Wynne Stadium

|location=Hamilton, Ontario

|attendance= 2000

|referee=

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 13, 1987

|time= 14:00

|team1= Calgary Kickers

|score= 4–3

|aet= yes

|report= [{{Cite news|last=Stinson|first=Dan|date=September 14, 1987|title=Upbeat 86ers' season winds up in gloom|page=9|work=Vancouver Sun}} Report]

|team2= Vancouver 86ers

|goals1= Kern {{goal|10||69}}
Gilbert {{goal|87||97}}

|goals2= Easton Jr. {{goal|23}}
Mobilio {{goal|58||63}}

|stadium= Mewata Stadium

|location=Calgary, Alberta

|attendance= 1683

|referee=

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 20, 1987

|time= 15:00

|team1=Calgary Kickers

|score= 2–1

|aet=

|report= [{{Cite news|last=Oliver|first=Vance|date=September 21, 1987|title=Gilbert boosts Kickers to crown|page=23|work=Calgary Herald}} Report]

|team2=Hamilton Steelers

|goals1= Gilbert {{goal|12||67}}

|goals2= Billy Domazetis {{goal|54}}

|stadium= Mewata Stadium

|location=Calgary, Alberta

|attendance= 5617

|referee= Mario Perrino

}}

The following awards and nominations were awarded for the 1987 season.

Reserves

Front office

• Canadian Professional Soccer League (1983) – previous season of D1 soccer in Canada

{{reflist}}

• [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vVcaiqoaufxngges_8tVFa_YWyJQ3APl/view Canadian Soccer League 1991 Media Guide and Statistics]
• [https://pdfhost.io/v/IM60lMe.2_1987_CSL_Statspdf.pdf 1987 CSL Stats]

{{Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992)}}

Canadian Soccer League

Category:Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992) seasons