Eleven players with League1 Canada experience were selected to link up with Canadian Premier League clubs through the 2026 CPL-U SPORTS Draft.
The draft allows CPL teams to give players from across Canadian universities an opportunity to trial and potentially sign with their professional squad for the 2026 season.
Every CPL club picked at least one player who has spent time in a team across one of the four League1 Canada provinces, as the Pro-Am game continues to be a platform for up-and-coming talent.
Midfielder Calin Calaidjoglu went first overall in the draft, chosen by expansion franchise FC Supra who had the opening two picks. He starred for FC Laval in Ligue1 Québec, and started against CPL opposition in the TELUS Canadian Championship back in May.
Supra then selected Alexandre Marcoux – another local player who had been on the books with CS Saint-Laurent – and kicked off the draft with back-to-back picks from Ligue1 Québec.
As the fifth overall pick, Matheus De Souza was selected by Vancouver FC. It’s another significant achievement for the shot stopper who played a key role in Langley United winning the 2025 League1 BC Men’s Division.
Former League1 Canada players were then chosen in back-to-back picks, all the way to the end of the First Round. Next to be selected was Harvey Hughes who featured in 14 matches for Calgary Foothills in League1 Alberta this year, and he’ll be looking to kickstart his professional career at Halifax Wanderers.
Meanwhile, Foothills team-mate Emmanuel Dan-Adokiene is staying in Alberta after being selected by Cavalry as the seventh overall pick.
The eighth pick of the draft was defender Noah Bickford. After starring for Simcoe County Rovers in 2024 and 2025, racking up 41 appearances across the Men’s Premier Division and L1 Cup, he will link up with serial CPL winners Forge.
The new CPL champions, Atletico Ottawa, selected local talent Gabriel Tardif with the last pick of the First Round. It’s another opportunity for the midfielder in his hometown, having also been on the books for Ottawa South United in Ligue1 Québec.
Luke Norman was the first League1 Canada player to be picked in the Second Round, selected by Pacific FC as the 11th overall pick. He was chosen by Vancouver back in the 2023 draft, and now has a new opportunity at CPL level with another productive season in League1 BC under his belt: three goals, 13 matches, 1,000 minutes for Burnaby in 2025.
With their first pick of the draft, the newly-named Inter Toronto (formerly York United) selected one of their own in goalkeeper Michael Williams, who played 11 matches for the club’s academy in the League1 Ontario Men’s Championship throughout the summer.
Luc Ihama was a Second Team All-Star in the 2025 League1 Ontario end-of-season awards, and he’s now earned an opportunity to join Cavalry’s professional squad after being selected as the 14th overall pick.
Maxime Bourgeois has League1 Canada experience with Québec-based side Celtix Haut-Richelieu, and he’s now Ontario-bound after being chosen by Forge as the penultimate pick in the Second Round.
Good luck to all League1 Canada alumni who have been selected; we’ll be rooting for you.