The 2023 Canada Soccer National Championships (officially the Toyota National Championships for sponsorship reasons) was the 99th staging of Canada Soccer's amateur football club competition. West Ottawa SC won the Challenge Trophy after they beat Western Halifax FC in the Canadian Final at Mainland Commons in Halifax on 9 October 2023.

West Ottawa SC won 1–0 in the Canadian Final with the lone goal scored by Zach El Shafei.

Ten teams qualified to the final week of the 2023 National Championships in Halifax. Each team played four group matches before the medal and ranking matches on the last day.

On the road to the National Championships, West Ottawa SC beat Scarborough GS United in the 2023 Ontario Cup Final.

Teams

Teams were seeded on the basis of their Provincial/Territorial Associations team's final standing in the previous year's championship.

Group AGroup B
Ontario Soccer AssociationOntarioAlberta Soccer AssociationAlberta
British Columbia Soccer AssociationBritish ColumbiaNewfoundland and Labrador Soccer AssociationNewfoundland and Labrador
Manitoba Soccer AssociationManitobaSoccer Nova ScotiaNova Scotia A
Soccer QuebecQuebecPrince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island
New BrunswickNew BrunswickSoccer Nova ScotiaNova Scotia B

Teams

Each of Canada Soccer's thirteen provincial and territorial associations can send one representative to the Challenge Trophy, with teams generally qualifying through a regional preliminary series such as an open cup or league competition.

For the 2023 tournament, nine provincial associations confirmed their participation, with Nova Scotia fielding two teams as the host.

ProvinceTeamQualified asPrevious appearances in tournament1Previous best performanceRef.
British Columbia Soccer AssociationBritish ColumbiaSurrey BB5 United2BC Soccer Adult A Cup winners2 (2019, 2022)Champions (2019)
Alberta Soccer AssociationAlbertaEdmonton ScottishAlberta Soccer Challenge Cup winners11 (1972, 1979, 1987, 1992, 1996, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)Champions (2016)
Manitoba Soccer AssociationManitobaFC Winnipeg Lions3Manitoba Soccer Provincial Championship winners11 (1996, 1998, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)Champions (2002)
Ontario Soccer AssociationOntarioWest Ottawa WarriorsMilkUP Ontario Cup winners0 (debut)—
Soccer QuebecQuebecRapides de Chaudière-OuestLSEQ league winners1 (2022)Eighth place (2022)
New BrunswickNew BrunswickFredericton Picaroons RedsNBPSL Challenge Cup Final winners9 (2007, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)Sixth place (2007, 2019)
Soccer Nova ScotiaNova ScotiaSuburban FC of Fall RiverSoccer Nova Scotia AAA Cup winners1 (2011)Fifth place (2011)
Western Halifax FCSoccer Nova Scotia AAA Cup runners-up2 (2016, 2017)Champions (2017)
Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer AssociationNewfoundland and LabradorFeildians AA of St. John'sNewfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup winners2 (1969, 2008)Third place (1969)
Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward IslandWinsloe-Charlottetown RoyalsPEI winners by acclamation as the only PEI team in the NB Premier League1 (2022)Seventh place (2022)—

1 Bold indicates champion for that year.

2 Competed in previous tournaments as Central City Breakers FC.

3 Competed in previous tournaments as Winnipeg Sons of Italy.

Venues

Matches took place at three different venues within the Halifax Regional Municipality.

BedfordDartmouthHalifax
Bedford-Hammond PlainsHarbour East FieldMainland Common Field
Capacity: 400Capacity: 400Capacity: 400
3km 1.9miles

Group stage

Competing teams were divided into two groups of five teams, playing against one another in a single round-robin and advancing to the final round based on their group positioning.

The preliminary schedule was released by Canada Soccer in August 2023 without locations or kick-off times, which were later confirmed on 15 September. Teams were given bye days based on the pot they were drawn from, with pot 1 teams receiving byes on the 5th day of the group stage, pot 2 teams receiving byes on the 4th day of the group stage, etc.

Tie-breaking criteria for group play
The following criteria shall be used to determine the final standings: Most points in all group matches; If two (2) teams are tied in points in all group matches: Greater number of points in matches between the teams concerned (head to head competition); Greater goal difference in all group matches; Greater number of goals scored in all group matches; Kicks from the penalty mark as per the Laws of the Game, at a time and place decided by the Canada Soccer General Coordinator. If three (3) or more teams are tied in points in all group matches, the following are the only criteria to break the tie: Greater goal difference in matches between the teams concerned (head to head competition); Greater number of goals scored in all matches between the teams concerned; Greater goal difference in all group matches; Greater number of goals scored in all group matches; Drawing of lots to determine ranking at a time and place decided by the Match Commissioner.

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Ontario Soccer Association West Ottawa Warriors4301124+89Advance to first place match—2–11–01–38–0
2Soccer Quebec Rapides de Chaudière-Ouest4301104+69Advance to third place match————6–1
3British Columbia Soccer Association Surrey BB5 United420295+46Advance to fifth place match—1–2—2–16–1
4Manitoba Soccer Association FC Winnipeg Lions4202104+66Advance to seventh place match—0–1——6–0
5New Brunswick Fredericton Picaroons Reds4004226−240Advance to ninth place match—————
Surrey BB5 United British Columbia Soccer Association2–1Manitoba Soccer Association FC Winnipeg Lions
de Jong 32' MacMillan 42' Morello 74' O'Shea 90'Figueiredo 22' 45+2' Hodges 24' Hidalgo-Mazzei 37' (pen.)
West Ottawa Warriors Ontario Soccer Association2–1Soccer Quebec Rapides de Chaudière-Ouest
Rodriguez 31' Comba 35' Henry 51', 80'Mathieu 10' Aussems 63' Assouyat 72', 90+2' N'Guessan 88' Turgeon 90+1'
West Ottawa Warriors Ontario Soccer Association1–0British Columbia Soccer Association Surrey BB5 United
Henry 6' Curkovic 18' El-Shafei 86' Bastianelli 90'Hodut 22' Essa 42' 90+2' Rostant 63' de Graaf 64' MacMillan 69' Smychenko 71' 90+5'
FC Winnipeg Lions Manitoba Soccer Association6–0New Brunswick Fredericton Picaroons Reds
Nadeau 1' Law 8' (o.g.) Hidalgo-Mazzei 52' dos Anjos Aquino 56' Kabamba 70' Hodges 90+1'Morrison 36'
West Ottawa Warriors Ontario Soccer Association8–0New Brunswick Fredericton Picaroons Reds
Belhaj 3', 5', 27' Bastianelli 20', 46' McKee 26' Markus 73', 84'
Surrey BB5 United British Columbia Soccer Association1–2Soccer Quebec Rapides de Chaudière-Ouest
MacMillan 23' de Jong 81'Roy-Madore 25' Mathieu 32' Levasseur 37' N'Guessan 56' Chaouki 86'
West Ottawa Warriors Ontario Soccer Association1–3Manitoba Soccer Association FC Winnipeg Lions
Pensom 8' Natoli 61' Johnson 70' Mohasar 90'Budhoo 17', 51' Wood 32' Trimech 56', 74' Moraldo 79'
Rapides de Chaudière-Ouest Soccer Quebec6–1New Brunswick Fredericton Picaroons Reds
Morin 11', 61' (pen.) Jeanneau 32' Lamontagne 44' Chaouki 46' Aussems 82' Levasseur 84'Itoafa 32' (pen.) Law 41' Morrison 52' 90+4' Padilha 71'
Surrey BB5 United British Columbia Soccer Association6–1New Brunswick Fredericton Picaroons Reds
Gindo 29' Torabi 33', 71', 89' Morello 41' Bruk 49'Pinsent 32' Choudhary 85'
FC Winnipeg Lions Manitoba Soccer Association0–1Soccer Quebec Rapides de Chaudière-Ouest
Naumiuk 35' Appler 45+2' 72' Hidalgo-Mazzei 90'N'Guessan 28' Kabamba 37' (o.g.) Roy-Madore 46' Turgeon 59' Attia 69' 89' Misol Rodriguez 86'

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Soccer Nova Scotia Western Halifax FC (H)431061+510Advance to first place match—————
2Soccer Nova Scotia Suburban FC of Fall River (H)421132+17Advance to third place match0–1———2–1
3Alberta Soccer Association Edmonton Scottish421153+27Advance to fifth place match0–00–1—2–13–1
4Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association Feildians AA of St. John's411246−24Advance to seventh place match1–30–0——2–1
5Prince Edward Island Winsloe-Charlottetown Royals400439−60Advance to ninth place match0–2————
Edmonton Scottish Alberta Soccer Association3–1Prince Edward Island Winsloe-Charlottetown Royals
Gajic 27' MacLachlan 42' MacDonald 56' Borrett 66'Maund 23'
Feildians AA of St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association0–0Soccer Nova Scotia Suburban FC of Fall River
Exley 26' Power 88'
Edmonton Scottish Alberta Soccer Association2–1Newfoundland and Labrador Feildians AA of St. John's
MacDonald 20' Graham 31' Gazic 82' McCormick 82' S. Lam 90+3'Neil 39' Dolo 51' Opuoro 78' Courage 82' Jones 85'
Suburban FC of Fall River Soccer Nova Scotia0–1Soccer Nova Scotia Western Halifax FC
Green 90+3'Ndopedro 3', 76' Bekkers 37' Bruce 62' Kodejs 77'
Edmonton Scottish Alberta Soccer Association0–0Soccer Nova Scotia Western Halifax FC
Demers 90+2'Ndopedro 16' Iatrou 44' Rodriguez 51'
Feildians AA of St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association2–1Prince Edward Island Winsloe-Charlottetown Royals
Exley 9' Davis 13' Gamba 54' Dolo 74' Harvey 90+2' 90+3'Hunter 29', 90+7' Lasia 30' VanWiechen 44' 60'
Winsloe-Charlottetown Royals Prince Edward Island0–2Soccer Nova Scotia Western Halifax FC
Iatrou 13' Pike 44' MacEachern 64' (o.g.) Bekkers 74'
Edmonton Scottish Alberta Soccer Association0–1Soccer Nova Scotia Suburban FC of Fall River
Prochnau 90+1'Jaber 11', 25' Mellema 67' Veinot 90+4'
Feildians AA of St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association1–3Soccer Nova Scotia Western Halifax FC
Dolo 27' Nunes 50' Nakonieczny 86' Gamba 87' Osmond 90+2'Thompson 43' Hawley 45+1' Kodejs 47' Geyer 55', 80' Ndopedro 57'
Suburban FC of Fall River Soccer Nova Scotia2–1Prince Edward Island Winsloe-Charlottetown Royals
Warren 9' Sanchez 36' Mercer 40'Tweel 13' Sanchez 26' Smiley 81' VanWiechen 90+6'

Final round

The final round (known as Teck Finals Day for sponsorship reasons) paired equally-ranked opponents from opposite groups to determine a final ranking for the tournament.

Fredericton Picaroons Reds New Brunswick2–6Prince Edward Island Winsloe-Charlottetown Royals
Morrison 38' Cotton 58' 85' Law 70'Reddick-Stevens 9', 35' Tweel 25', 77' Smiley 54' Stewart 64'
FC Winnipeg Lions Manitoba Soccer Association7–2Newfoundland and Labrador Feildians AA of St. John's
dos Anjos Aquino 5' Peddle 20' Hodges 37' Budhoo 45' Figueiredo 53', 57' Trimech 65', 79'Nakonieczny 26' Nunes 29' Gamba 67' Jones 90+2'
Surrey BB5 United British Columbia Soccer Association3–2Alberta Soccer Association Edmonton Scottish
Torabi 51' Essa 54', 81' Morello 76'Gazic 48', 59' MacLachlan 74'
Rapides de Chaudière-Ouest Soccer Quebec2–1Soccer Nova Scotia Suburban FC of Fall River
Roy-Madore 23' Chaouki 56' Misol Rodriguez 70' Lamontagne 85'Larsen 24' Greedy 53' Warren 55' Veinot 56' Taylor 72' Bain 90+6'
West Ottawa Warriors Ontario Soccer Association1–0Soccer Nova Scotia Western Halifax FC
Henry 19' El-Shafei 41', 42' Rodriguez 72' Mohasar 84'Geyer 46' Ellis 63' Gorski 90+1'

Statistics

Classification

Per statistical convention in football, matches decided by penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws.

PosGrpTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsFinal position
1AOntario Soccer Association West Ottawa Warriors5401134+912Champions
2BSoccer Nova Scotia Western Halifax FC (H)531162+410Runners-up
3ASoccer Quebec Rapides de Chaudière-Ouest5401125+712Third place
4BSoccer Nova Scotia Suburban FC of Fall River (H)52124407
5ABritish Columbia Soccer Association Surrey BB5 United5302127+59
6BAlberta Soccer Association Edmonton Scottish521276+17
7AManitoba Soccer Association FC Winnipeg Lions5302176+119
8BNewfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association Feildians AA of St. John's5113613−74
9BPrince Edward Island Winsloe-Charlottetown Royals5104911−23
10ANew Brunswick Fredericton Picaroons Reds5005432−280

Goalscorers

There were 90 goals scored in 25 matches, for an average of 3.6 goals per match.

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

External links

  • at CanadaSoccer.com
  • National Championships Regulations