North York Rockets
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Nickname(s) | Rockets |
---|---|
Founded | 1987 |
Dissolved | 1993 |
Stadium | Esther Shiner Stadium North York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
League | CSL CNSL |
The North York Rockets were a professional soccer team based in North York, Toronto, Ontario that competed in the original Canadian Soccer League. They were one of four teams to participate in every season of the CSL.[1] Upon the demise of the CSL, the Rockets joined the Canadian National Soccer League.
History
Canadian Soccer League
The North York Rockets were formed by a group consisting of Gus Mandarino, Basil Policaro, Tony Ciamarra, Joe D'Urzo, Mario Rollo, and Mario Giangioppo to play in the inaugural season of the Canadian Soccer League in 1987.[2]
In their debut league match, the Rockets tied the Toronto Blizzard, by a score of 1-1.[3]
The Rockets's best result came in 1991 when they defeated the Nova Scotia Clippers with a 9-1 goal aggregate to advance to the league cup semi-finals. The Rockets struggled in their first season, winning only one match, en route to a 1-7-12 record, finishing last in the league.[4][5]
The Rockets improved in the following seasons, qualifying for the playoffs in each of the next three seasons, although they were defeated in the first round of the playoffs each year.[4][5] During the 1991 season, the Rockets finished third in the league, qualifying for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.[4][5] The won their first and only CSL playoff series when they defeated the Nova Scotia Clippers by an aggregate score of 9-1 (5-1 and 4-0 victories), but were defeated in the semi-finals by city rival Toronto Blizzard.[4][5] During the 1992 season, the Rockets finished in second place in the regular season, six points behind league leaders Vancouver, but were once again defeated in the first round of the playoffs by eventual champions Winnipeg.[4][5]
Canadian National Soccer League
Following the folding of the CSL after the 1992 season, the Rockets joined the semi-professional Canadian National Soccer League for the 1993 season,[5] becoming known as the Toronto Rockets.[6][7] They finished in first place in the Western Conference (and in the overall league table), qualifying for the playoffs where they defeated London City and Montreal Croatia in the first two rounds, but were defeated by St. Catharines Roma in the championship final.[6]
American Professional Soccer League
After the 1993 season, the Toronto Blizzard, who had joined the US-based American Professional Soccer League in 1993, folded and were replaced by the Rockets, who inherited some of the Blizzard players and played under the name Toronto Rockets.[8] The Rockets finished in last place with a 5–15 record, as well as the worst attendance in the league, drawing in fewer than 1500 fans per match.[8] The club had planned to return for the 1995 season, but withdrew only days before the start of the 1995 season,[8] due to a financial dispute with the league's front office.[9]
Seasons
as North York Rockets
Season | Tier | League | Record | Rank | Playoffs | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | 1 | Canadian Soccer League | 1–7–12 | 4th, East | Did not qualify | [10] |
1988 | 10–8–10 | 3rd, East | Quarter-Finals | |||
1989 | 12–9–5 | 3rd, East | Quarter-Finals | |||
1990 | 7–9–10 | 5th, East | Quarter-finals | |||
1991 | 13–9-6 | 3rd | Semi-finals | |||
1992 | 8–6–6 | 2nd | Semi-finals |
as Toronto Rockets
Season | Tier | League | Record | Rank | Playoffs | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | 2 | Canadian National Soccer League | 9–6–1 | 1st, West | Finalists | [11] |
1994 | 1 (U.S) | American Professional Soccer League | 5–15 | 7th | Did not qualify |
Notable players
Oscar Albuquerque
Eddy Berdusco
Massimo Briaschi
Ian Bridge
Shel Brodsgaard
David Byrne
Ian Carter
Paolo Ceccarelli
Sasho Cirovski
Cosimo Commisso
Pat Cubellis
Nick Dasovic
Jorge Espinoza
Charlie Falzon
Don Ferguson
John Fitzgerald
Amadeo Gasparini
Peter Gilfillan
Ralph Golen
Marek Grabowski
Phil Ionadi
Steve Jansen
Zygmunt Kalinowski
Ali Kazemaini
Jens Kraemer
Franco Lofranco
Joseph Majcher
Hector Marinaro
Peyvand Mossavat
Mirosław Piękoś
Tony Pignatiello
Tomasz Radzinski
Randy Ragan
Peter Sarantopoulos
Peter Sloly
Pat Sullivan
Vladan Tomić
András Törőcsik
Peter Zezel
References
- ^ "Canadian Soccer League (1987-1992)". Fun While it Lasted.
- ^ "Official Program - North York Rockets" (PDF). North York Rockets. 1987.
- ^ Hawthorn, Tom (June 7, 1987). "Imports Score in New Soccer Loop". A More Splendid Life. The Globe & Mail. Archived from the original on March 20, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "North York Rockets (1987-92)". CSL Memories.
- ^ a b c d e f Litterer, David (January 5, 1996). "Canadian Soccer League I". Soccer History USA.
- ^ a b "1993 Season". thecnsl.com.
- ^ Laskaris, Sam (March 17, 1994). "Rockets try a third league". Toronto Star. p. NY5.
- ^ a b c Crossley, Andrew. "1994 Toronto Rockets". Fun While it Lasted.
- ^ Keating, Jack (May 4, 1995). "A-League loses T.O.-Team: Rockets fizzle out". The Province. p. A54.
- ^ "Canadian Soccer League Standings Archive". Canada Soccer History Archives.
- ^ "Toronto Rockets". Canadian Soccer History Archives.
Resource
North York Rockets Official Program
- v
- t
- e
- Calgary Kickers/Strikers
- Edmonton Brick Men
- Hamilton Steelers
- Kitchener Spirit/Kickers
- London Lasers
- Montreal Supra
- North York Rockets
- Nova Scotia Clippers
- Ottawa Pioneers/Intrepid
- Toronto Blizzard
- Vancouver 86ers
- Victoria Vistas
- Winnipeg Fury
- Pepsi Cup (1990)
- Professional Cup (1992)