1997 Canadian National Soccer League season
The 1997 Canadian National Soccer League season was the seventy-fifth season for the Canadian National Soccer League. The season began on June 4, 1997, and concluded on October 8, 1997, with St. Catharines Roma Wolves defeating Toronto Supra in a two-game series for the CNSL Championship. While the league cup was awarded to Toronto Supra due to several irregularities on behave of Kosova Albanians.
| Season | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Champions |
|
| League cup | Toronto Supra |
| Matches played | 24 |
| Goals scored | 49 (2.04 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Toronto Supra 6-0 London City (July 13) |
| Biggest away win | London City 0-8 Toronto Supra (June 20) |
| Highest scoring | London City 0-8 Toronto Supra (June 20) |
← 1996 | |
The season was noteworthy with the return of Toronto Croatia, and Hamilton White Eagles after the Canadian International Soccer League (Puma League) decided to merge with the CNSL. A notable departure was Toronto Italia a well-distinguished club that had another opportunity in 1998 to return to the professional scene but failed to settle disputes regarding territory and league policy. The league operated as a private league for the final time, and under the banner of the CNSL as it reconciled its relationship with the Ontario Soccer Association in 1998. The following season it would operate as the Canadian Professional Soccer League sanctioned by the Ontario Soccer Association to implement the Image of the Game report to provide a suitable professional soccer structure in Ontario and potentially throughout the country.