GANGUE-RUZIC: 1 reason why your team can win the 2024 Canadian Championship
The 17th edition of the Canadian Championship kicks off this week, as the competition’s 14 participants begin their chase towards lifting the Voyageurs Cup later this year.
After a memorable 16th edition, which saw a famous upset, some tasty clashes and a landmark victory for back-to-back champions, the Vancouver Whitecaps, it’s hoped that this year’s edition can be just as memorable. 
Following some minor format tweaks, there’s no reason why that can’t be the case, either, helping further accelerate the progress of this competition, one that could end up being crucial for the growth of the sport in Canada long-term, as cups around the world often can be.
Now, however, before the dust settles on this tournament, all of those involved will look to enjoy the beauty that lies at the start of a competition like this, where anyone can dream of becoming a champion. Of course, how achievable those dreams are depends on the team in question, but that’s the beauty of a dream - they don’t need to be anchored in reality.
With that in mind, here’s a look at one reason why each team can win this tournament, as well as a look at where their aspirations will more realistically lie, helping give an idea of what to expect from this tournament as a whole. 
TSS Rovers:
They will win because they’ve got history in the Canadian Championship now.
The newest addition to this year’s tournament, as they were asked to step up as a last-minute fill-in for the Victoria Highlanders (who dropped out of League 1 BC for the 2024 campaign), last year’s Canadian Championship League 1 BC representatives can at least turn to the experience they gained in that tournament.
There, they became the first semi-professional side to beat a professional one in the Canadian Championship, as they defeated Valour 3-1 in the preliminary round, allowing them to reach the quarter-final.
So while they’ll be in tough against a Pacific FC side who has gotten off to a good start to the 2024 CPL season, this Rovers side will look to continue to be a trendsetter for League 1 Canada clubs, allowing them to dream of a deep run that may have seemed impossible years ago.
One year ago today, we made history.
— TSS Rovers Football Club (@TSSRovers) April 19, 2024
On May 1 at Starlight Stadium, we have a chance to do it again. Time to set sail Pirates. π΄β οΈ#WeAreRovers #TogetherOne pic.twitter.com/jkzXQa5VVM
Their goal is to create another first-round upset.
Of course, for any of the League 1 Canada teams, just winning a game is often the dream, which is why last year’s Rovers run was so special.
And with this new format, there’s more value in making the quarter-finals if you can fashion a preliminary round upset, as the quarter-finals will be two legs, whereas the preliminary round is single-game elimination.
So for the Rovers, reaching a quarter-final, where they’d play either Atlético Ottawa or Valour in a two-legged tie, would be huge for the club on many fronts, as it’d allow them to showcase everything they are about as a club at home and on the road.
Plus, you add that it’d mean exacting revenge on Pacific FC in the process, after being eliminated by them last year, and that’d only be a bonus on top of that.
CS Saint-Laurent:
They will win because they’re not shy on new stages
Despite being a club founded over 40 years ago in 1982, CS Saint-Laurent enters this tournament for the first time, after winning Ligue 1 Québec and the Coupe L1QC last year in just their second year in that league.
Yet, they fully deserve this opportunity, as they’ve had an excellent record over the last two years, sitting with a combined record of 34W-2D-8L in 44 regular season games, while reaching the semi-finals and then winning the cup across the two years.
For a team that only joined League 1 Québec ahead of the 2022 campaign, it speaks to their track record as a development club, which spans long before that.
Because of that, don’t expect them to be surprised by the stage of this Canadian Championship, which can often be tough for those who enter this competition for the first time.
[Championnat canadien Telus 2024]
— Ligue1 Québec (@Ligue1QC) February 23, 2024
Le tirage au sort de la phase préliminaire a révélé les premiers duels qui déclencheront une nouvelle Bataille du Nord.
Le Club Soccer Saint-Laurent, champion de Ligue1 Québec, affrontera les @HFXWanderersFC, de la Première Ligue Canadienne! pic.twitter.com/smBWZvLDyN
Their goal is to cause problems for the Wanderers.
The Wanderers have played League 1 Canada teams on three previous occasions in this tournament, advancing past the Vaughan Azzurri (and future Halifax coach Patrice Gheisar) on away goals in 2019, beating AS Blainville 2-1 in 2021, and then beating Guelph United 2-0 in 2022.
What that shows is that Saint-Laurent could frustrate them and keep things close, which could open the door for an upset. It’ll be tough, as the Wanderers have grown a lot since they last played a League 1 Canada side, becoming one of the top teams in the CPL last year, but Saint-Laurent won’t be bothered by that.
For a team in their first Canadian Championship, being competitive is the main goal, and anything else will be gravy.
Simcoe County Rovers: Eliminated
Atlético Ottawa:
They will win because of their aggressive offseason
It’s been a big story this winter in the CPL - Atlético Ottawa’s aggressive offseason, as they made waves by bringing in CPL standouts Ballou Tabla, Manny Aparicio, Amer DidiΔ, Matteo de Brienne and Rayane Yesli into the squad, among many others.
With that, it instantly made them one of the favourites to win some silverware this season, be it through a regular season title, playoff crown or both.
But they’ll also want to do well in the Canadian Championship, where they believe they can be the first CPL team to win it all. And why not? With a group of players who could or have played at a higher level, they’ve got the talent to at least give anyone a competitive game, especially if they can continue to find chemistry and gel as a team.
In cup matches, players who can make moments of magic can go a long way, and Ottawa certainly has some players who can do that in their ranks.
Next Home Match: #CanChamp May 1st π @ValourFootball β³π
— Atlético Ottawa (@atletiOttawa) April 21, 2024
The first step in our mission to hoist The Voyageurs Cup π¨π¦ππ£ππ¨
Don't just watch history, be a part of it ππΊπβ‘οΈβ
π Tickets: https://t.co/G92g0IDKmr pic.twitter.com/0UShl2rNHA
Their goal is to make the semi-finals
Plus, it’s worth noting that Ottawa has a pretty good draw for this tournament, as the earliest they can face an MLS team is in the semi-finals, with their path seeing them face fellow CPL side Valour in round one, and then the winner of Pacific vs TSS Rovers in the quarter-finals.
When seeing that, there’s no reason why Ottawa can’t dream of a run to the semi-finals, at least giving them a shot at tasting the final, although they do remain untested against MLS sides, having yet to play one, which is something to watch.
Cavalry FC:
They will win because they know what it takes to go far in this tournament
When it comes to the Canadian Championship, Cavalry is the original trendsetter among CPL sides, as they made history in 2019 by defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps and making a semi-final, becoming the first CPL side to defeat an MLS one in the tournament and the first to reach the final four.
Since then, however, they’ve struggled to reach the same heights, getting eliminated by Pacific twice and the Whitecaps once in the last few years.
Now, though, with a return to the two-legged ties, which were in effect when they beat the Whitecaps, making that win look even more impressive, they’ll look to conjure up some similar magic.
And for what it’s worth, they’ve certainly got the experience to help them make a deep run in this tournament. Having had that past Canadian Championship run, along with a recent taste of the Concacaf Champions Cup, they’ve had a taste of that next level.
One of the top CPL teams over its first five years, they can use that to their advantage as they try and make some noise five years on from their first deep Canadian Championship run.
ππ'π―π π π¨π πππ π‘π¨π¦π π¦ππππ‘ππ¬ ππ‘π’π¬ π°πππ€!!
— Cavalry FC (@CPLCavalryFC) April 22, 2024
ποΈ: https://t.co/jmeOu6b5xs
π TELUS #CanChamp Prelim. Round
vs. Vancouver FC
Tue. Apr 23 βͺοΈ 7 pm MT
π CPL Home Opener
vs. Pacific FC
Sun. Apr 28 βͺοΈ 3 pm MT
See you on ATCO Field! π #RideWithUs #CavsFC pic.twitter.com/9DRer1f0Ju
Their goal is to rekindle some old memories
UPDATE: Cavalry FC won their preliminary round matchup against Vancouver FC, so a familiar face awaits them in the quarter-finals, as they now face the Vancouver Whitecaps for the third time in this competition.
Having done well against them in the first two encounters, which saw them win 2-1 on aggregate in 2019 thanks to a 0-0 draw at home and a 2-1 road victory, and then fall 5-3 on penalties in 2022 after a 1-1 draw at home, meaning that they’re yet to lose against them in three games, they’ll want to build on that this year.
Their goal will be to get that Whitecaps rematch and try to replicate past magic, even if this Whitecaps side is far different from the one that has struggled against Cavalry in the past.
Forge FC:
They will win because they’ve done everything but win this tournament already
Forge has done pretty well in this competition over the last four editions, making the final in the special 2020 edition, the semi-finals in 2021 and 2023, and haven’t been eliminated by a non-MLS team since 2019.
Because of that, they’ll feel like they have what it takes to win it all this year. Having won everything in the CPL, with four playoff titles and a regular season title in five years, all that’s missing is a Canadian Championship, which they were a penalty shootout away from doing in 2022 in that one-off 2020 final.
Specialists of knockout soccer, as seen from their success in the CPL playoffs and Concacaf League, as well as their two forrays into the Concacaf Champions Cup, they’ve got what it takes to handle what awaits them in this tournament, having been battle-hardened in these sorts of games before.
Sometimes, the best way to win is with experience, and Forge doesn’t lack for that in their group.
OPPONENT CONFIRMED π
— Forge FC (@ForgeFCHamilton) February 23, 2024
We'll be taking on 905 rivals, @yorkutdfc in the Preliminary Round of the 2024 TELUS Canadian Championship at @TimHortonsField!
ποΈ| https://t.co/H4GoIqTetH#ForgeFC | #CanChamp pic.twitter.com/rEZgyC79JG
Their goal is to get some revenge
In the last three editions of the Canadian Championship, Forge have been eliminated by CF Montréal, first losing to them in the semi-finals in 2021 via a penalty shootout, losing 3-0 in the quarter-finals in 2021, and then falling 2-0 in the semi-finals last year.
Because of that, they’ll have to be motivated by the fact that if they beat rivals York United in the preliminary round, they’d get another crack at CF Montréal in the quarter-finals, this time over two legs.
A Forge side that always has a chip on their shoulder, one has to imagine they’ll think that the fourth time can be the charm for them against Montréal, as they look to apply past lessons learned from those matchups.
If there’s a CPL side that can dream of winning a tough matchup against an MLS team like that, why not Forge, armed with their experience?
Halifax Wanderers FC:
They will win because they continue to show linear growth
After being a preseason pick to finish near the bottom of the CPL table in 2023 as they entered year one under new head coach Patrice Gheisar, the Wanderers made a surprise push for a regular season title, finishing tied for second despite a slow start.
Despite that, one competition where they’ll feel they could’ve done better is in the Canadian Championship, where they fell to Atlético Ottawa in the preliminary round.
But as seen last year, where the Wanderers made sure to improve in each quarter of the season, this is a side that has done a good job of keeping their growth linear.
So after falling in the preliminary round last year, they’ll want to build on that, as they’ve typically done as a group under Gheisar. Speaking of, Gheisar could be a key figure in the Wanderers' success in this tournament, having had the experience of being a competitive underdog when his Vaughan Azzurri came within an away goal of knocking out the Wanderers in 2019, something he’ll look to tap into.
β DATE CONFIRMED π
— Halifax Wanderers FC (@HFXWanderersFC) March 11, 2024
We host CS Saint-Laurent on Thursday, May 2, in the preliminary round of the Canadian Championship π
π Tickets are on sale NOW! When you purchase, you'll also get access to an exclusive pre-sale for additional matches if the Wanderers advance π½π½π½
Their goal is to apply past learnings from against MLS sides
Should the Wanderers defeat Saint-Laurent and reach the quarter-finals, as they’re expected to do, they’re likely to face Toronto FC for the second time, having met in the quarter-finals of the 2022 tournament.
There, the Wanderers will want to apply some of what they learned in that game, where they fell 2-1 to a late Jonathan Osorio winner after a competitive matchup. Having also done well in their only other matchup against an MLS team, coming in 2021 when they faced CF Montréal in the quarter-finals, only falling 3-1 via two late goals (89 and 90+2) from Ballou Tabla, the Wanderers can have confidence heading into a potential matchup against Toronto.
Those games may have come before Gheisar, but given his past experiences with Vaughan, he’ll know what it takes to compete in these sorts of matches, in which they’ll want to apply those past learning lessons.
Pacific FC:
They will win because they’ve disrupted the expected order before
Through five years of the CPL’s history, Forge has made every playoff final, winning all but one. The one they lost? It came against Pacific, who went to Hamilton and beat Forge 1-0 on their pitch to become the only other team to lift the North Star Cup to date.
Yet, it shows the mentality of this Pacific side, who isn’t afraid to disrupt the status quo with their club mission, which is to play fun soccer and develop young talent while doing so.
And while their team continues to change, with head coach James Merriman still behind the bench for a sixth straight season (third as a head coach after three as an assistant), he’ll look to keep that same mentality in this team.
Plus, it’s worth noting they’ve got all sorts of experience in this tournament, too, making the semi-finals in 2021 and 2023, and were penalty kicks away from reaching the semi-finals in 2022.
Having also joined Cavalry as the only other CPL team to beat an MLS outfit in 2021, when they beat the Whitecaps in the now-famed “Ferryside Darby”, further shows that they don’t mind operating as underdogs, either.
BREAKING NEWS! π¨
— Coast To Coast FC (@CoastToCoastFC) April 19, 2024
The @TSSRovers are replacing the Highlanders in the #CanChamp and will now face @Pacificfccpl in Langford on May 1st! #L1BC | #CanPL pic.twitter.com/lmv4WMxWK3
Their goal is to make another run to the semi-finals (or more)
Given their experience in this competition, Pacific will be licking their lips at the prospect of their draw, as they face TSS Rovers in round one, and then the winner of Valour against Ottawa, meaning they’d avoid an MLS team until at least the semi-final.
By far the team with the most Canadian Championship experience among that group on their side of the bracket, Pacific will look to make it to a third semi-final in four years, where they’ll then aim to reach a first final.
York United:
They will win because they like to rise to the occasion
Sometimes, the bright lights of cup games can bring the most out of teams. York is an example of that, as they’ve done quite well in this competition in the past, reaching three quarter-finals and one semi-final in the past five years, each time losing to an MLS team.
So while their record against MLS teams has been less than stellar, as they fell 3-2 on aggregate to Montréal in 2019, lost 4-0 to Toronto in 2021, fell 2-1 to the Whitecaps in 2022 and then lost 4-1 to those same Whitecaps in 2023, they’ll be pleased with their ability to reach those sort of matchups in the first place.
Plus, it means that they’re yet to get eliminated by a non-MLS side in their history, something that they’ll feel gives them an edge against Forge in the preliminary round, even if their rivals may be favoured on paper.
This cup just seems to get the most out of York, and they’ll hope they can ride that feeling this tournament brings them as far as they can this year once again.
π We always enjoy visiting our nearest and dearest.
— York United FC (@yorkutdfc) February 23, 2024
π Another trip coming up soon!#WeAreUnited #CanChamp https://t.co/XonJZsgI9R pic.twitter.com/oP2mLskaoV
Their goal is to prove that the fifth time can be the charm against MLS opposition
Given York’s past success in this tournament, they’ll want to reach the quarter-finals at the very least, where they’ll want to give CF Montréal a good run. It won’t be easy, but armed with all sorts of experience against MLS sides, they’ll want to show that they’ve grown from those past matches.
Having added some good experience to a young group this offseason, that can only help them in that chase, too, which they’ll look to lean on.
Valour FC:
They will win because sometimes the biggest motivator is past experiences
For the most part, Valour haven’t had the greatest of times in this tournament, losing in the first round in each of the three of the four Canadian Championships they’ve been in, with the exception being when they downed Atlético Ottawa 3-2 in the preliminary round in 2021.
So when seeing that, as well as the fact they’re coming off a 2023 edition where they were eliminated to the TSS Rovers in the preliminary round, becoming the first professional side to fall to a League 1 Canada club in the tournament’s history, it shows where they’ve struggled in the past.
Yet, that can be a reason for hope with Valour. Sometimes, to win, you’ve got to deal with those sorts of tough experiences along the way, which can help you learn and grow from them.
Having taken those lumps, Valour can feel that they’ll be able to turn them into a positive, especially having already earned the fortune of a favourable draw, which could potentially help them build some momentum as they embark on this journey. 
Their goal is to take things one round at a time
Despite their favourable draw, Valour can’t look too far ahead, as it’ll be important that they take things one game at a time. Last year, they also had a favourable draw, and that didn’t end too great for them, so they’ll know the importance of focusing on what’s directly in front of them and not getting stuck in the clouds.
If they can do that, they’ve got the potential to make the semi-finals, especially if they can play the sort of organized soccer on both sides of the ball that always makes them a tough matchup in the CPL, showing how big of a tournament this could be for them.
Vancouver FC: Eliminated
CF Montréal:
They will win because of the power of revenge
CF Montréal came quite close to winning the Canadian Championship final last year, falling 2-1 to the Whitecaps. Despite going down 2-0, Montréal mounted a late push, and nearly equalized if not for the heroics of Whitecaps goalkeeper, Yohei Takaoka, who made a huge save late on with his team only up one.
Because of that, this Montréal side will be thinking of that game, where they’ll wonder what it could’ve looked like had they not come slowly out of the gates, letting the Whitecaps take full control with a strong performance.
Armed with a new head coach in Laurent Courtois, who has wanted this Montréal team to play like warriors, winning this competition is a priority for the club, who view anything but a victory as a failure.
So between that and the fuel of that Whitecaps loss, that gives them plenty of fuel to boost them as they look to win their third trophy in the last sixth editions. 
Their goal is to win it all
Ultimately, as mentioned earlier, this Montréal side always believes they can win it all, and will certainly feel that’s the case this year.
Playing some fun soccer to watch under Courtois, they’ve got a talented group, one that is only scratching the surface of their potential, as they’ve frustratingly shown in MLS play, where they’ve had some excellent performances contrasted with some less-than-ideal showings.
For this younger group, winning a trophy like this could go a long way as they build as a group, which is why they’ll look to win at all costs, something they can do thanks to an impressive array of depth.
Toronto FC:
They will win because of the John Herdman effect
Fans of the Canadian National Teams know the “John Herdman effect”, which is to make a team believe in goals that may seem out of reach, but are a lot more realistic than they realize, such as winning a medal at the Olympics with the CanWNT or qualifying for a World Cup with the CanMNT.
So even if Toronto FC are in their worst run of Canadian Championship form in their history, winning just one of the last five tournaments, Herdman will look to instill confidence in this group with a trophy win.
Having seen what this team has already done in MLS play, where they’ve pushed up the table after three straight bottom-two finishes, he’s already gotten that belief churning, and will know that a tournament like this can only help grow that positivity.
For a rebuilding team, a trophy can be a huge proof of concept to help confirm that what they’re doing is working, something that Herdman will stress to his team.
Because of that, expect them to go all-out for this trophy, both in their performances and the lineups they put out to make them happen.
The #CanChamp dates have dropped π
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) March 11, 2024
Wednesday, April 24th @ 7:30PM
π @RoversFC_L1O
ποΈ BMO Field#TFCLive | @CanadaSoccerEN pic.twitter.com/xVzFrSbbei
Their goal is to return to winning ways
Having won eight out of 16 Canadian Championships since that tournament was launched, this TFC team has typically had a pretty good relationship with this competition, which will have made the last few years quite frustrating to them.
For a team with their history of winning, this tournament is always a “win or bust” proposition, which is why they’ll be frustrated to have been on the end of more busts than wins as of late.
Plus, as seen in MLS play, Herdman has this group playing closer to the potential they’ve had on paper given their budget, but haven’t always tapped into the last few years, so there’s no reason why they can’t go up against anyone in this competition.
So while they’re not tournament favourites (more on that in a second), they’ll dismiss that thought within their group, with Herdman likely to use that as a point of motivation for his team. A 5-0 win over Simcoe County Rovers FC to kick things off? Just how they wrote it up.
Still, one thing to keep an eye on is their depth, which has already stretched them thin in MLS play, and will only take a further beating with this competition now there for them to deal with.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC:
They will win because they’re the favourites
When you win back-to-back Canadian Championships, are the only Canadian team to make the playoffs in 2023, and have so far been one of the top five teams in all of MLS to start 2024, the pressure is there to win a tournament like this.
The Vancouver Whitecaps know that, and welcome it, in fact, with head coach Vanni Sartini recently proclaiming his side to be the best in Canada.
And it’s hard to argue with him. Armed with a talented group of players all in their primes or close to reaching it, and with a core of key regulars who have been together for multiple years, it feels like they’re at the perfect stage of their evolution to take a big step forward in MLS play, while maintaining their dominance in this tournament from the last two years.
Having struggled with this tournament in the past, winning just one and finishing as runner-ups an impressive seven other times before their recent back-to-back triumphs, they want to keep winning to put those dark years behind them.
So look for the Whitecaps to come out strongly, with anything but a third-straight tournament win set to be pinned as a failure, and rightfully so.
NEW π¨
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) April 11, 2024
After a 4-0 drubbing of #TFClive, Vanni Sartini declared #VWFC as Canada's top #MLS outfit – and with a potential three-peat now on the table, this year's #CanChamp will be more hotly contested than ever, too! π₯
FULL INTERVIEW βΆοΈhttps://t.co/8hKhXpKH8t pic.twitter.com/7qfzs47AiA
Their goal is to threepeat
Right now, there’s no one that the Whitecaps don’t think they can beat within Concacaf, let alone in Canada, so their goal is simple, and it’s to win comfortably.
What will be interesting, however, is how they balance this tournament with their other goal, which is to become one of the top teams in MLS.
Sometimes, that can be hard to balance - for example, the CF Montréal side who finished third in MLS’s Supporter Shield race in 2022 also lost in the semi-finals of this tournament, as they weren’t able to balance their success in MLS with this cup.
So while this Whitecaps side is deep enough to handle multiple competitions, that will be their biggest challenge, on top of the threat that those around them will bring as they try to dethrone the kings, with Montréal and Toronto likely to bring a fierce matchup if drawn against Vancouver.
