Forge FC to begin, end 2023 CPL season against rivals; Vancouver FC makes first trip to Hamilton

Hamilton’s Forge FC will begin and end its 2023 Canadian Premier League campaign against bitter rivals at Tim Hortons Field.

Monday, just days after announcing Forge would open the season at home against Cavalry FC on Apr. 15, the CPL — celebrating its fifth season — released the full regular season schedule, which, for Forge, will end with a contest against Atletico Ottawa on Oct. 7 in a rematch of last year’s Final that netted The Hammers their third league title in four tries.

Forge will compete in 28 matches against seven clubs over a balanced schedule, playing 14 games at home and 14 away.

The expansion club, Vancouver FC, will make its first trip to Hamilton on May 19. Forge will make its first-ever visit to Willoughby Community Park in Langley, B.C., on June 20.

This season will mark the second year the league officially recognizes a regular season champion. CPL commissioner Mark Noonan announced plans to honour the best team over the league’s 28-game regular season schedule in Sept. 2022.

The club that finishes in first place will be crowned regular-season champion and earn a financial reward of equal value to the reward for winning the playoff’s North Star Shield.

The CPL says a new trophy for its regular season champion will be introduced this year.

The 2023 regular season champion will also earn one of the CPL’s two spots in the newly expanded Concacaf Champions League, with the league’s other spot going to its playoff champion. The Concacaf Champions League will now include 27 clubs and more than 50 matches and will kick off in 2024.