When Forge FC and Cavalry FC square off in the 2023 Canadian Premier League Final on Saturday, they now know exactly what they’ll be playing for.
At the CPL’s annual awards ceremony on Thursday, commissioner Mark Noonan unveiled the league’s new championship trophy, the North Star Cup. It replaces the North Star Shield, which had been presented to the league playoff winners in the league first four years of operation.
The North Star Cup is crafted out of sterling silver with gold accents. Its sits on a 13-sided base, representing the 10 provinces and three territories that make up Canada. The handles of the trophy “feature a pointed polygonal diamond shape, a subtle nod to the iconic Canadian maple leaf,” according to the league. It’s roughly 61 centimetres tall, weighs about 22 pounds and — perhaps most importantly to Canadians — holds four pints of liquid.
The design of the Cup exemplifies the League’s commitment to bringing soccer to communities across Canada and serving as a guiding light for the sport in the country, as embodied by the North Star motif.
— CanPL.ca
The North Star Cup created by ÉPICO Studios, which is led by principal, creative director and producer Richard Levy. Levy is “an industry leader in innovative trophy creation” who has designed trophies for Major League Soccer, the Copa América Centenario, the Concacaf Champions Cup, the Concacaf Gold Cup and the Concacaf Nations League.
The CPL also awards the Canadian Premier League Shield to the team that earns the most points during the regular season. In 2023, it went to Calgary-based Cavalry FC.
Cavalry FC and Hamilton-based Forge FC face off in the 2023 CPL Final on Saturday, October 28, at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. ET.