The York Region Shooters were a soccer team playing in the Canadian Professional Soccer League from 1998–2002. They played their home matches in the town of

Aurora, Ontario Aurora ( 2021 population: 62,057) is a town in central York Region in the Greater Toronto Area, within the Golden Horseshoe of Southern Ontario, Canada. It is located north of the City of Richmond Hill and is partially situated on the Oak Ridg ...

, north of Toronto. The franchise was one of the original teams of the CPSL. The team had its origins in the York Region Soccer League and were previously known as the York Region Stallions. During its five-year stint in the CPSL the club failed to secure a postseason berth, but managed to develop some top talent for the Canadian national team. In 2002, the York Region Shooters were sold by the Bisceglia family to

Tony De Thomasis Anthony De Thomasis is an Italian-born Canadian businessman, financial management advisor, and president of De Thomas Wealth Management. He served as the Director of Soccer Operations for Mississauga MetroStars in the Major Arena Soccer League. ...

, and merged the club with the Vaughan Sun Devils in 2003.

History

In 1994, Frank Bisceglia formed York Region Stallions and competed in the Metropolitan Toronto Soccer League. Later were transferred to the Newmarket Premier League under the name Aurora Shooters. In 1998, renamed the York Region Shooters they were promoted to the professional level by becoming a charter member of the Canadian Professional Soccer League, and received territorial rights to

in the

York Region The Regional Municipality of York, also called York Region, is a regional municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, between Lake Simcoe and Toronto. The region was established after the passing of then Bill 102, An Act to Establish The Regional M ...

. Sam Foti was given the head coach responsibilities, and made their professional debut on May 31, 1998 against Mississauga Eagles P.S.C. in a 3–1 victory with the goals coming from Mike Glasgow, and Diego Saenz. Their debut season saw the club finish fifth in the standings, but missed the final postseason berth by 2 points. The following season the Shooters moved south to Richmond Hill, Ontario. Their performance throughout the season saw a decline as they finished seventh in the standings. In 2000, the organization brought in Bijan Azizi to manage the team. York Region matched their 1998 season by finishing fifth in the standings just 4 points shy of a playoff berth. At the conclusion of the season

Willy Giummarra Willy Giummarra (born August 26, 1971) is a Canadian former soccer player who played as a forward and midfielder. Most recently, he was the head coach of Canadian Soccer League side Toronto Falcons. Career College career Giummarra began pl ...

received the CPSL MVP award. Adam Pagliaroli was appointed the head coach for the 2001 season, but unfortunately failed as his predecessors in securing a postseason berth by finishing eleventh in the standings. In 2002, a change occurred in the ownership with

purchasing the club from Bisceglia. De Thomasis returned Highland Park in Aurora, and hired Vito Colangelo for the head coach position. In preparation for the 2002 season Colangelo brought in the likes of

Atiba Hutchinson Atiba Hutchinson (born 8 February 1983) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder and captains both Süper Lig club Beşiktaş and the Canada national team. While playing in Denmark he won the Danish Super Liga Player o ...

Adrian Cann Adrian Cann (born September 19, 1980) is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a defender for Canadian Soccer League club Serbian White Eagles FC. Career College Cann had a college soccer career at the University of Louisville from 2000 to 200 ...

Andres Arango Andres Arango (born April 23, 1983) is a Colombian-born Canadian former soccer player who played in the Canadian Professional Soccer League, USL A-League, and the North American Soccer League. Arango is currently a coach with Florida Premier F ...

, Stuart Black,

Piotr Libicz Piotr Libicz is a former Canadian soccer player who featured in the National Professional Soccer League, Canadian National Soccer League, and the Canadian Professional Soccer League. Playing career Libicz began his career in the Canadian Nati ...

, and

Cameron Medwin Cameron Medwin (born March 19, 1982 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian soccer defender who plays with Portugal AC in the Arena Premier League. Playing career Cameron began playing amateur soccer with local clubs such as Vaughan Rockets, ...

. During the season the CPSL divided the league into two Conferences with York Region being placed in the Eastern Conference. The 2002 season saw an improvement in the club's performance, but for the fifth straight year the Shooters failed to secure a postseason berth by finishing fourth in their conference. In 2003, the club merged with their rivals the Vaughan Sun Devils and united the

territory under principal owner De Thomasis.

Head coaches

Year-by-year

Notable players

Canada *

* Stuart Black *

* Irvin Studin

References

External links

York Region Shooters

Canadian Soccer League
{{Canadian Soccer League York Region Shooters Association football clubs established in 1994 Soccer clubs in Ontario Canadian Soccer League (1998–present) teams Defunct soccer clubs in Canada Aurora, Ontario 1994 establishments in Ontario