Representing Brampton in the CPL U-Sports Draft

On Thursday, January 20th, 2022 at 8:00PM the Canadian Premier League will conduct it’s annual U-Sports Draft. BramptonSoccer.com takes a look at who’ll be representing Brampton and how the CPL U-Sports Draft actually works.

From a list of 165 eligible players, 8 CPL teams will make 2 picks each. 16 of the 165 will be lucky enough to be offered a U-Sports Contract with the CPL club that chooses them.

Representing Brampton, and listed as “one to watch” by the “CPL’s Football Development Department” (league scouts) is Parmpreet Johal, accompanied by Soji Olatoye and Rachaun Palmer.

Parmpreet Johal

“A technically strong attacking midfielder out of Brampton, Ontario, Johal has done well both for the Gryphons and for Guelph United in League1 Ontario. He also suited up for Humber College in 2019, helping them to a provincial championship. Has previously been on trial with a club in England.”

CanPL.ca – 2022 CPL-U SPORTS Draft Watchlist

Soji Olatoye

Also representing Brampton is Soji Olatoye who is currently with York University and who, according to York’s website, “Earned U SPORTS second-team all-Canadian honours and was named to the OUA East all-star team”.

Rachaun Palmer

Rachaun Palmer is another Brampton representative at York University who also played for Oregon State University in the US.

You can view the full list of eligible U-Sports players from universities coast-to-coast here.

What is the CPL U-Sports Draft?

The Canadian Premier League has held a the CPL U-Sports Draft, since it’s inaugural season in 2018, for eligible university sports players who have registered and declared themselves as ‘available’. The draft is open to any eligible U Sports underclassmen with 1 to 4 years of U Sports eligibility remaining.

How does the CPL U-Sports Draft Work?

University players that are selected in the draft will get an invitation to attend a preseason camp with the team that selected them . This is their opportunity to earn a developmental contract with their CPL club. The developmental contract allows players to be paid to play in the CPL in the spring and summer, before returning to their University team before August 15 for the U Sports men’s soccer season. Player’s U Sports eligibility is NOT effected by their development contract. This is a key aspect to the CPL’s co-operation with Canada’s U Sports program. Players can play as professionals, but return to school and see out their education.

If players decided to remain with their CPL club until the end of the season in early November, they may extend their developmental contract and remain until the season ends. These players would be ineligible to participate in U Sports the same season as their contract but would regain eligibility the following year.

The CPL U-Sports Draft will be broadcast live on CanPL.ca, OneSoccer.ca and YouTube.