The Canadian Premier League (CPL) announced on Wednesday the three nominees for the 2026 Defender of the Year award, presented by WeatherTech, recognizing the league’s top defensive performers and their contributions throughout the 2026 CPL Regular Season.
Forge FC’s Antoine Batisse and Daniel Nimick and Cavalry FC’s Daan Klomp are nominated for the award in 2026. The winner will be determined through voting by technical leadership from all eight CPL clubs and select media members representing local and national outlets who consistently covered the 2026 CPL Regular Season. The winner will be announced at the 2026 CPL Awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 19.
Voting for the CPL’s Defender of the Year award is based on performances during the 2026 Regular Season, excluding the TELUS Canadian Championship, Concacaf Champions Cup and 2026 CPL Playoffs.
Batisse, 31, delivered an impressive campaign at the heart of Forge’s back line in his first season with the club, combining defensive reliability with a significant attacking contribution. Batisse showed consistency and composure in defence, committing no errors leading to a shot across 2,206 minutes played. He recorded seven goal contributions, scoring four goals and adding three assists, which was tied for the most among all CPL defenders in 2026. He also registered 152 passes into the final third and won 30 aerial duels throughout the campaign.
Klomp, 28, played a pivotal role in Cavalry’s CPL Shield-winning campaign, showcasing his defensive presence and ability to contribute in attack. Klomp ranked among the league’s top defensive performers with 97 clearances, 48 aerial duels won and 19 blocks. The Cavalry defender committed no errors leading to a shot across 2,414 minutes played, underscoring his reliability throughout the regular season. He led all CPL players, regardless of position, with 243 progressive carries and scored six goals. This is Klomp’s third career nomination for the Defender of the Year award. He previously won the award in 2023 and 2024.
Nimick, 26, continued to establish himself as one of the CPL’s most well-rounded defenders in 2026, making an impact on both sides of the ball for Forge. Nimick recorded an 82 per cent tackle success rate, alongside 90 clearances and 17 blocks. He also contributed four goals and three assists, matching the highest goal contribution total among CPL defenders, while committing no errors leading to a goal. He ranked fourth in the league with 225 passes into the final third and fifth with 213 progressive carries, highlighting his ability to move play forward from the back line. This marks Nimick’s third career nomination for the league’s Defender of the Year award. He previously won the award in 2025.
The winner of the Defender of the Year award will receive a unique piece of Inuit soapstone art, conceived and carved by artist Ruben Komangapik. The Walrus statue was chosen to honour the CPL’s best defender because the animal is one of the ocean’s toughest creatures, feared even by polar bears and killer whales, like a tenacious defender who is a true guardian of the gates for his squad.
Previous Winners:
2022: Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson, Forge FC
2023: Daan Klomp, Cavalry FC
2024: Daan Klomp, Cavalry FC
2025: Dan Nimick, Forge FC
