York Region Shooters (1998)

The York Region Shooters were a soccer team playing in the Canadian Professional Soccer League from 1998–2002. They played their home matches in the town of Aurora, Ontario, north of Toronto.

York Region Shooters
Full nameYork Region Shooters SC
Nickname(s)The Shooters
Founded1994 (as York Region Stallions)
Dissolved2003 (merged with Vaughan Sun Devils )
StadiumHighland Park, Aurora, Ontario, Canada
Capacity550+
OwnerFrank Bisceglia (original)
Tony De Thomasis (second owner)
LeagueCanadian Professional Soccer League

The franchise was one of the original teams of the CPSL. The team had its origins in the York Region Soccer League and were previously known as the York Region Stallions. During its five-year stint in the CPSL the club failed to secure a postseason berth, but managed to develop some top talent for the Canadian national team. In 2002, the York Region Shooters were sold by the Bisceglia family to Tony De Thomasis, and merged the club with the Vaughan Sun Devils in 2003.

History
Six-time Canadian Player of the Year Atiba Hutchinson began his career with the York Region Shooters

In 1994, Frank Bisceglia formed York Region Stallions and competed in the Metropolitan Toronto Soccer League.[1] Later were transferred to the Newmarket Premier League under the name Aurora Shooters. In 1998, renamed the York Region Shooters they were promoted to the professional level by becoming a charter member of the Canadian Professional Soccer League, and received territorial rights to Aurora, Ontario in the York Region.[2] Sam Foti was given the head coach responsibilities, and made their professional debut on May 31, 1998 against Mississauga Eagles P.S.C. in a 3–1 victory with the goals coming from Mike Glasgow, and Diego Saenz.[3] Their debut season saw the club finish fifth in the standings, but missed the final postseason berth by 2 points.[4]

The following season the Shooters moved south to Richmond Hill, Ontario. Their performance throughout the season saw a decline as they finished seventh in the standings. In 2000, the organization brought in Bijan Azizi to manage the team.[5] York Region matched their 1998 season by finishing fifth in the standings just 4 points shy of a playoff berth.[6] At the conclusion of the season Willy Giummarra received the CPSL MVP award.[7] Adam Pagliaroli was appointed the head coach for the 2001 season, but unfortunately failed as his predecessors in securing a postseason berth by finishing eleventh in the standings.

In 2002, a change occurred in the ownership with Tony De Thomasis purchasing the club from Bisceglia.[8] De Thomasis returned Highland Park in Aurora, and hired Vito Colangelo for the head coach position. In preparation for the 2002 season Colangelo brought in the likes of Atiba Hutchinson, Adrian Cann, Andres Arango, Stuart Black, Piotr Libicz, and Cameron Medwin.[9] During the season the CPSL divided the league into two Conferences with York Region being placed in the Eastern Conference. The 2002 season saw an improvement in the club's performance, but for the fifth straight year the Shooters failed to secure a postseason berth by finishing fourth in their conference. In 2003, the club merged with their rivals the Vaughan Sun Devils and united the York Region territory under principal owner De Thomasis.[10]

Head coaches
Years Name Nation
1998–1999Sam Foti Canada
2000Bijan Azizi Iran
2001Adam Pagliaroli Canada
2002Vito Colangelo Canada

Year-by-year
Year Division League Regular season Playoffs
1998[11] 1 CPSL 5th Did not qualify
1999[12] 1 CPSL 7th Did not qualify
2000[13] 1 CPSL 5th Did not qualify
2001[14] 1 CPSL 11th Did not qualify
2002[15] 1 CPSL 4th, Eastern Conference Did not qualify

Notable players
Canada

References
  1. "York Region". 2001-04-23. Archived from the original on 2001-04-23. Retrieved 2016-12-26.
  2. Bailey, David. "Canada Kicks -- News Story". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-12-26.
  3. Glover, Robin. "York Region Shooters vs Mississauga Eagles". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  4. "1998 CPSL Standings Week 18". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  5. "Canadian Professional Soccer League". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  6. "CPSL - League Standings". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  7. RUMLESKI, Kathy. "LFP Sports: Croatia bags Primus Cup by upsetting Olympians". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  8. "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2005-02-07. Archived from the original on 2005-02-07. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  9. "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-01-20. Archived from the original on 2003-01-20. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  10. "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-08-19. Archived from the original on 2003-08-19. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  11. "1998 CPSL Standings Week 18". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  12. "Ontario SoccerNet - CPSL Ontario Results and Standings". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  13. "CPSL - League Standings". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  14. "CPSL (Ontario) - League Standings". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  15. "Monday October 14, 2002 CPSL Final Standings". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
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