Canadian Premier League Unveils New Home Kits for All 8 Teams

After playing their 2020 seasons in a bubble, Canadian Premier League teams are ready to represent their communities once again. And they’ll do so wearing new home kits from manufacturer Macron.

The new jerseys were unveiled on Monday, June 7. “While the look of each jersey is unique in design, developing high quality custom kits with distinctive looks to provide the needed professional technical features while enhancing them with exciting graphic designs is the key to the Canadian Premier League/Macron partnership,” the league’s press release reads.

PACIFIC FC (Victoria, B.C.)

Pacific FC’s new kit is meant to convey the “energy and passion of the community of Vancouver Island.” It is mainly purple, with lighter bars of purple getting wider as they move down the shirt. “For the Isle” is written under the crest, and there is white and teal trim around the collar and sleeve cuffs.

CAVALRY FC (Calgary, Alta.)

Calgary-based Cavalry FC’s kit is predominanly red, with white and green trim on the collar, cuffs and hem. On the front is a sublimated print of Col. James Macleod, a commissioner of the North West Mounted Police (the precursor to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) who suggested the name “Fort Calgary” for the outpost that would eventually become the city of Calgary.

FC EDMONTON (Edmonton, Alta.)

FC Edmonton’s new kit features a mottled blue that is meant to look like denim. This is a nod to the city’s history as a pioneer in designing and manufacturing jeans, including the Great Western Garment Company. The jersey also has white sleeve cuffs and a white button-down collar, with the club’s Rally Rabbit printed on the back.

VALOUR FC (Winnipeg, Man.)

Winnipeg-based Valour FC celebrates the prairies with a sublimated wheat pattern on the maroon portions of its half-and-half jersey. Gold trim adorns the collar and sleeve cuffs.

FORGE FC (Hamilton, Ont.)

Forge FC’s jersey is mainly orange, with a sublimated dragon appearing in the bottom left corner. “Like the sparks from the hammer, a dragon’s fire represents the energy that sparks Hamilton’s creative force, ambition, and hard work to push the community forward is the inspiration for Forge’s jersey,” reads the CPL’s press release. The collars and cuffs are grey with white accents.

YORK UNITED (Toronto, Ont.)

Blue and green bars run across a white jersey and connect under the club crest for York United’s new jersey. Printed in the bars is the the motto of the old City of York: “E SINGULIS COMMUNITAS: FROM ONE, A COMMUNITY.” The crew neck collar is gold, and the cuffs are mostly white with some gold.

ATLETICO OTTAWA (Ottawa, Ont.)

While staying true to parent club Atletico Madrid, Atletico Ottawa does work a local twist into their new kit. The red stripes contain a sublimated O-chain design that “represents a symbol of togetherness, teamwork, and passion of the Ottawa-Gatineau region.” The V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs are blue with white accents.

HFX WANDERERS FC (Halifax, N.S.)

On the light blue front of HFX Wanderers FC’s jersey is a sublimated print of a Lion Rampant composed of diagonal crosses — both elements of the flag of Nova Scotia. The lion “symbolizes strength, courage, and leadership — like the unique individuals who call Nova Scotia home.” The sleeves of the jersey are dark blue, with light blue and white trim on the cuffs.

The league also announced Monday that ComeOn! is their new official sports betting and online casino partner. ComeOn!’s logo will appear on Atletico Ottawa’s jersey starting this season. Other sponsors appearing on CPL jerseys include:

broadcaster OneSoccer (Valour FC);
WestJet (Cavalry FC) and its discount carrier, Swoop (FC Edmonton);
Tim Hortons (Forge FC);
Volkswagen (Pacific FC, HFX Wanderers FC); and
Macron (York United).

Away kits were unveiled for all CPL teams in July 2020, and most will continue to be used in 2021. These away kits are black, accented with team colours, and feature landmarks and iconography from each city. York United’s away kit will differ, though, since they changed their name from York9 F C in December 2020 and unveiled an away kit featuring green and blue stripes.

The CPL will kick off its 2021 season with all eight clubs converging in Winnipeg from June 26 to July 24. Each team will play eight matches over that time. By the end of July, the league hopes public health restrictions will have eased enough in each province to allow clubs to play at their respective home stadiums.

The CPL played its entire abbreviated 2020 season on Prince Edward Island, with Forge FC defeating HFX Wanderers FC 2-0 in the final on Sept. 19.

All photos courtesy Canadian Premier League