The first of series.
We all know what former Canadian Soccer League player Jonathan Osorio is doing these days as one of the most visible members of the Toronto FC team with a club record of 171 appearances. Osorio, also now a Canadian national team regular with 22 appearances and now on a break from competition during the off season, first entered local professional soccer with CSL first division team SC Toronto in 2012. A prolific goal scorer, Osorio was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award in his debut CSL season.
But what about other players who have shone in the CSL and, like Osorio, have moved on to higher levels in Canada and elsewhere. Where are they now? This is the first of a series to detail the experiences in North America and overseas countries of players introduced to professional soccer in the Canadian Soccer League, or by its predecessor league, the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) the league’s name before re-branding in 2006.
Let’s start with Kitchener native David Edgar who started his soccer career with the CPSL’s London City, playing briefly in 2001 before trialing with Newcastle United in the English Premier League. The tall defender made his debut for Newcastle United reserve team in 2003 and made his debut for Canada’s U-20 team the same year. Edgar’s first team debut for Newcastle came on December 26, 2006 and a week later, on New Year’s Day January 1, 2007, he was in the spotlight in his home debut by scoring a goal against Manchester United, a game that ended in a 2-2 draw. Edgar was transferred to English team Burnley in 2009, making 99 appearances before moving to Swansea, Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United, before returning to Canada to play for Vancouver Whitecaps. Edger, now 31, played at Nashville recently and is now under contract with Ottawa Fury in the US-based USL. He is Canadian men’s team regular with 42 caps.
Doneil Henry, a defender, was captain of the Toronto FC II side for two seasons in the CSL and was the first reserve team player to sign for the Toronto FC senior team in Major League Soccer. In 2014, Henry was transferred to Appollon Limassol of the Cypriot first division, returning on loan to Toronto FC before signing for West Ham United in England. Henry has been on loan to Blackburn Rovers of England and Horsens of Denmark before returning to Canada and playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2018. The Whitecaps have picked up the option on Henry’s contract and he is presently on loan to Ottawa Fury. Now 25, the Brampton, Ontario, native has represented Canada at the senior level 24 times.
Nikola Budalic, a talented midfielder played for Glen Shields Sun Devils in the CPSL in 2001 before elevating his playing career in Canada with the Toronto Lynx of the US-based A-League before going overseas to play for Orebro of Sweden. Budalic then returned to Canada and the Impact, then signed for Haugesund of Norway before returning to the CSL in 2008 to join Serbian White Eagles. Budalic was then loaned to Toronto FC reserves before returning to Serbian Eagles to coach the CSL team. In 2016 Budalic was appointed assistant GM of Orlando City in MLS and was promoted to General Manager.
Atiba Hutchinson, who played briefly for York Region Shooters in the CPSL back in 2002, is a regular with the Canadian national team while near the end of a sparkling career in Europe. Hutchinson’s career took the midfielder from the CPSL to the Toronto Lynx before his European career started with top clubs Oster and Helsingborg (Sweden), then Copenhagen (Denmark) and PSV Eindoven (Netherlands). Now 35, Hutchinson is today with Besiktas, a top club in Turkey. The Brampton, Ontario native has won the Canadian Men’s Player of the Year award five times, and has indicated his wish to retire as a player in 2019.
Andre Manders, a talented Bermudian full back sometimes midfielder with the CSPL’s Capital City of Ottawa in 2002, who signed for York Region Shooters the following season, went on to play in Antigua and is presently with Whitechurch United in the Wessex League in England. At 32, Manders has 14 international caps with his native Bermuda, including World Cup qualifiers.
Nikola Paunic, who played in the CSL for Serbian White Eagles, was selected in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Vancouver Whitecaps but eventually signed for Orange County Blues, an affiliate of Los Angeles FC in MLS. Paunic, a defender, captained the Toronto SF Academy team and was selected for the Canada U-20 side.
Ashtone Morgan, an impressive young defender with Toronto FC in recent years, played in the CSL with Toronto FC II during the seasons 2009 and 2010 and has since made 118 appearances for the Reds’ senior team. Morgan, a regular with the Canadian men’s team, has contract options with his club and is expected to continue at the BMO Field in the upcoming 2019 season.
Karl Ouimette was standout defender in seasons 2009 and 2010 for Trois-Rivieres Attak, a team in the CSL affiliated with Montreal Impact. The Quebec native signed for the Impact in 2012 where he was picked up by New York Bulls of MLS, was then signed by Jacksonville Amada of the NPSL, followed by the San Francisco Deltas of the NASL and in 2018 played for Indy Eleven of the USL. Ouimette has played 18 times for the Canadian men’s team following games with Canada’s U-17 and U-23.
Paul Munster arrived at Kitchener, Ontario from Northern Ireland in 2004 and was put on a trial in the CPSL’s London City reserve side where he scored an impressive 12 goals in his first three matches, earning a quick place in City’s first team. The young striker then led the CPSL scoring with 25 goals to end the season with a record 10-goal lead. He was voted winner of the league’s Rookie of the Year Award. The Irishman became an immediate fan favourite at London City and attracted the attention of Slavia Prague of the Czech Republic to embark upon a European career which took him from Prague to Sweden, then back to the Czech Republic. Three seasons with Linfield in his native Northern Ireland followed, then a brief period playing in Germany. Munster was then appointed manager of Assyriska BK of the Swedish second division and was appointed to managerial and head coach responsibilities in three other clubs. Munster, 36, is today in India where in 2018 he was appointed technical director of Minerva Punjab in the Indian I-League.
Andrew Ornoch entered professional soccer briefly in 2002 with Mississauga Olympians of the CSL and following university soccer trialed successfully with Papai FC of Hungary, then Esbjerg of Denmark. Brief stints with Harecles Almelo, then Veendam of the Netherlands followed before the midfielder, sometimes forward, returned to the CSL playing three games with Mississauga Eagles. Ornoch then played for Telstar in the Netherlands, returned to Canada in 2014 at age 30 and signed for Vaughan Azzurri. He represented Canada three times.