Vancouver FC’s Shaan Hundal wrote his name in the Canadian Premier League history books this past weekend, scoring the expansion side’s first-ever goal, in what was also their first-ever win, 2-1 against York United on Saturday. By doing so, he joins an exclusive list of CPLer who scored the inaugural goal for their club. Be it Ryan Telfer, who tallied the league’s first-ever goal just three minutes into its inaugural match, or Akeem Garcia, who set the Wanderers Grounds alight for the first time, there are many notable names who made history for their respective clubs. One interesting stat: including Vancouver FC, four sides have now scored their first-ever goal against York. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and look back at the first-ever goal and goalscorer for the league’s other seven clubs.
Atlético Ottawa – Mohamed Kourouma
Joining Ottawa from the Halifax Wanderers ahead of the P.E.I bubble season in 2020, Mohamed Kourouma became the first-ever player to get on the scoresheet for Atleti just before the stroke of half-time in their inaugural match against York9. After Vashon Neufville cut down the left wing, he picked out Kouroma in the middle, who slotted the ball home from close range. Ottawa extended their lead on the other side of the half, courtesy of present-day player Malcolm Shaw, but were unable to hold on to the lead as York scored twice to draw the match, which was played on August 15, 2020, 2-2. That would ultimately be Kouroma’s last professional goal as after appearing in all seven matches at the Island Games for Ottawa, he has not played professionally since. But he will forever hold the honour of first-ever Atlético Ottawa goalscorer.
Cavalry FC – Jordan Brown
If you have watched Cavalry over the past few years, it perhaps comes as no surprise that their first-ever goal came from a set piece. In the 25th minute of their first-ever match, played against York9 at ATCO Field, on May 4, 2019, a Julian Büscher corner kick was headed back across the goal. Jordan Brown rose highest to head the ball into the corner of the net. Recent Canadian international call-up Dom Zator scored the second goal in the club’s history, as they would go on to win the match 2-1. Brown would go on to score five more times for Cavalry that season, including a big goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Canadian Championship. He recently returned to the league for a brief stint with Pacific FC last season.
Forge FC – Kadell Thomas
After York9’s Ryan Telfer scored the league’s first-ever goal, substitute Kadell Thomas provided the equalizer for Forge in the 78th minute with a well-placed curling effort that beat Nate Ingham. The goal came in front of 17,611 fans announced in attendance for the CPL’s inaugural match, played at Tim Hortons Field on April 27, 2019. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Thomas left Forge after the 2020 season, and has been playing in League1 Ontario for North Mississauga this season. But he would leave quite the legacy, scoring not only the club’s first goal, but later that season perhaps the nicest they have ever scored.
Halifax Wanderers – Akeem Garcia
Before Vancouver FC, Halifax was the only club in the league’s history not to score in their inaugural match — being blanked by Pacific in 2019’s opening weekend. The wait was worth it, however, as the Wanderers instead had their history-making moment in front of their home fans in a 2-1 win over Forge on May 4, 2019. A Wanderers free kick in the 30th minute of that match deflected off the wall and into the path of Akeem Garcia, who directed the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Forge would later find an equalizer, through their first-ever goalscorer no less in Kadell Thomas, but Halifax made further history on the day when Luis Perea scored an 82nd-minute winner to hand the club its first-ever victory. Garcia, a Trinidad and Tobago international, would go on to win the league’s Golden Boot award during the 2020 Island Games, helping Halifax to the final. Unfortunately for them, that match against Forge didn’t go quite as well as their inaugural meeting. Garcia retired from professional football after last season, having spent the final four years of his career in Halifax.
Pacific FC – Hendrik Starostzik
One day after the league’s inaugural match in Hamilton, Pacific FC and Halifax met at Starlight Stadium in Langford. It took host Pacific just 23 minutes to find the back of the net, as club captain at the time Hendrick Starostzik headed the ball home off of a Noah Verhoeven corner. That would be the lone goal in the match, as Pacific held on for the first win in club history, despite a 72nd-minute sending-off of defender Lukas MacNaughton. Starostzik played just one season on the Island, but still plays his trade for KSV Hessen Kassel in his native Germany.
Valour FC – Stephen Hoyle
Hoyle played history maker for Valour in the 23rd minute of their inaugural match against Pacific at Starlight Stadium on May 1, 2019. After the striker’s initial shot in the box was deflected, Michael Petrasso played the loose ball across goal into the path of Hoyle who made no mistake on his second chance. Valour went on to win the match 2-1, courtesy of a 78th-minute winner from Dylan Carreiro. That was the lone goal that Hoyle would score for Valour. After that first season, he went to New Zealand, where he has been playing for Eastern Suburbs AFC.
York United – Ryan Telfer
Ryan Telfer not only has the honour of being York United’s (then York9) first-ever goalscorer, but also the Canadian Premier League’s as well. The Trinidad and Tobago international took just three minutes to find the back of the net against Forge FC in the league’s first-ever match, getting beyond the Forge defence and slotting the ball past Triston Henry. At the time, Telfer, who would go on to score eight goals during the Nine Stripes inaugural season, was on loan from Toronto FC. After a short stint in Cyprus he rejoined York on a permanent deal for the 2020 season. Thereafter, he spent 2021 with Atlético Ottawa, with whom he scored a further three times. Telfer now plays for Miami FC in the USL Championship and still represents Trinidad and Tobago on the international stage.