Of the 121 Canadian players that have featured in the first
\u200b25 seasons of Major League Soccer (MLS), more than half of them have featured
\u200bin the league in the past four years. While the bulk of those players have
\u200bfeatured with Canada’s three teams – Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Toronto FC and
\u200bMontréal Impact – a growing number of MLS Domestics are making their mark with
\u200bthe US-based teams thanks to a Homegrown Player rule established in 2016 in
\u200bcooperation between Canada Soccer and Major League Soccer.
The rule, which took effect at the start of the 2017 season,
\u200bensures that Canadian players who come through the Canadian player development system,
\u200beither through an MLS academy (in Canada or USA) or a Canada Soccer approved
\u200byouth club in the year prior to the year in which he turned 16, will be
\u200bconsidered a domestic player upon signing his first professional contract with
\u200ban MLS club.
“Canadian players continue to make their mark in Major League
\u200bSoccer and we welcome the growing number of opportunities for our young players
\u200bthrough the Homegrown Player rule for Canadians,” said Steven Reed, President,
\u200bCanada Soccer. “The connection between
\u200bthe increased playing opportunities for Canada’s top young talent can largely
\u200bbe attributed to the introduction of the 2017 rule and ultimately the expansion
\u200bof our Canadian Men’s National Team Player pool which will lead us to success
\u200bon the international stage as we prepare to co-host the FIFA World Cup 2026™.”
This past season, a record 10 Canadian players featured in
\u200bat least one MLS match for seven different US-based MLS teams. Eight of those
\u200b10 players featured in at least half the season and all 10 have a chance to
\u200bfeature in the upcoming MLS playoffs.
Sophomore Tajon Buchanan of the New England Revolution
\u200bfeatured in all 23 regular-season matches in 2020 while last year’s leader
\u200bMark-Anthony Kaye of Los Angeles FC featured in 16 matches despite missing part
\u200bof the season through injury.
Rookie fullback Alistair Johnston, who featured in 18
\u200bmatches for Nashville SC, earned the most minutes of all Canadians with
\u200bUS-based MLS teams (1,365 minutes). Minnesota United FC rookie goalkeeper Dayne
\u200bSt. Clair posted six shutouts, the most by a Canadian MLS goalkeeper since Pat
\u200bOnstad in 2009.
Other Canadian players with US-based teams in 2020 were
\u200bKamal Miller of Orlando City SC and Jordan Hamilton of Columbus Crew, both MLS Domestics,
\u200bas well as veterans Tesho Akindele of Orlando City SC, Jay Chapman of Inter Miami
\u200bCF, Raheem Edwards of Minnesota United FC, and Dejan Jakovi\u0107 of Los Angeles FC.
\u200bIn 2020, Jakovi\u0107 became the eighth Canadian (and first centre back) to surpass
\u200b10,000 MLS minutes (career, regular season).
In all, 39 Canadian players featured in at least one match
\u200bduring the 2020 MLS regular season, not counting another half dozen who dressed
\u200bbut did not feature. For the third year in a row, Canadian players featured in
\u200bmore than 400 matches and 24,000 minutes. Across the shortened 2020 season (23
\u200bmatches instead of 34), Canadian players were on pace to surpass records for
\u200bcombined matches and minutes set last year (431 matches and 24,898 minutes in
\u200b2020 compared to 466 matches and 30,885 minutes in 2019).
The first round of the 2020 MLS Playoffs kick off 20
\u200bNovember with the Play-In Round followed by the First Round from 21-24
\u200bNovember. The Conference Semi-finals start 29 November followed by the
\u200bConference Finals on Sunday 6 December and the 2020 MLS Cup on Saturday 12
\u200bDecember. Both Toronto FC and the Impact de Montréal qualified for the 2020 MLS
\u200bPlayoffs, with matches broadcast in Canada on TSN and TVA Sports.