In less than a month, the 2024 Canadian Premier League season will kick off, and teams across the league are ramping up preseason preparations for this year's campaign. For a few clubs this past week that included making some big signings, as Forge and Vancouver, in particular, added depth and quality to their respective squads. Plus there were plenty of international call-ups, some key roster rule changes and a number of kit drops. Here are the biggest CPL stories from this past week:

Mexican defender Daniel Parra joins Forge FC on loan from CF Monterrey​

Since their inception as a club, Forge FC have unquestionably gone from strength to strength. Their backline in recent seasons has been a clear example of this. After losing Daniel Krutzen ahead of the last campaign, the club went out and brought in Canadian international Manjrekar James. Now, after James was sold to Costa Rican giants Alajuelense this off-season, Forge went out and brought in Mexican defender Daniel Parra on loan. Parra has primarily played as a left-back in his time at Monterrey, but can also slot in centrally, making him an ideal fit for Forge's fluid backline. The 24-year-old has made 38 appearances across all competitions for CF Monterrey, with whom he won a Liga MX, Copa MX and Concacaf Champions Cup title. He will bring that tremendous pedigree to a Forge backline that also lost fullback Rezart Rama over the past few months.

Vancouver FC signs another local talent, Zach Verhoven​

One of the biggest stories of the off-season thus far in the Canadian Premier League has been the homecoming of several of the league's veteran players to Vancouver FC. This past week, Burnaby-born midfielder Zach Verhoven became the latest B.C. boy to return to the province after it was announced that the 25-year-old had signed a one-year contract for the 2024 season, plus an option for 2025. He joins Ben Fisk, David Norman and Paris Gee in making a return to their native province. Verhoven made his professional debut in B.C. with Pacific FC in the league's inaugural season before leaving for Atlético Ottawa in 2021, spending the last three seasons there. The midfielder made 65 appearances for Atleti, scoring seven goals and adding nine assists.

Canadian Premier League announces new roster rules​

Ahead of the 2024 season, the Canadian Premier League announced two changes to its roster rules this past week. The first removes all age stipulations on the seven international players each club is allowed to sign. Previously, 50 per cent of all international signings had to be under the age of 23. As well, players who sign CPL-U SPORTS contracts are now considered part of a club's developmental roster and do not count towards the 23-player primary squad. Each team can sign up to three CPL-U SPORTS contracts, which allows players to maintain their U SPORTS eligibility. For more information on the updates, click here.

Former Valour FC keeper Jonathan Sirois gets first CanMNT call-up​

After a tremendous first season in Major League Soccer with CF Montréal, former Valour FC goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois received his first call-up to the Canadian men's national team this past week. The 22-year-old kept 11 clean sheets last season, earning the club's Defensive Player of the Year award. He has helped Montréal to a strong start this season, despite spending the first six matches of the season on the road due to stadium construction. Sirois' CF Montréal teammate, and former Cavalry FC defender, Joel Waterman was also called up for Canada's crucial Saturday, March 23 clash with Trinidad and Tobago in a 2024 Copa América play-in match in Frisco, Texas. With Jonathan Osorio's removal from the squad due to injury, replaced by 26-year-old Liam Fraser, every player called up by Canada is under the age of 30. The youth movement is now, and Sirois and Waterman could be a big part of this next generation.

7 CPL players called up by their national teams​

It will be a busy international window for Canadian Premier League players, as many of them will be representing their national teams over the upcoming weeks -- in some cases in massive fixtures. York United's Matthew Baldisimo has been called up by the Philippines for the first time, Vancouver FC's Gabriel Bitar is back with Lebanon, Cédric Toussaint (Pacific) and Garven Metusala (Forge) have joined Haiti, and York United's Dennis Salanović has been called by Liechtenstein. The most notable call-ups are Pacific FC's Reon Moore and Halifax's Andre Rampersad, who will represent Trinidad and Tobago against Canada in a crucial 2024 Copa América play-in match on Saturday, March 23.

Ottawa, Vancouver and York release new kits for the 2024 season​

Kit drop season around the Canadian Premier League heated up in a big way this past week, with multiple clubs releasing new looks for this upcoming campaign. Atlético Ottawa, alongside Ottawa Tourism, unveiled the eye-catching new 'soccer culture' alternate kit, celebrating the city's soccer community. York United released both their home and alternate kits for the upcoming season with fantastic cinematic launch videos befitting of their stunning new looks. The home kit features the club's iconic nine stripes, while the alternate displays a creative checkerboard pattern. Finally, Vancouver FC announced 'the Eagle kit' a bold new design for their home kit which highlights the club's official mascot, Sp’óq’es the Bald Eagle and the club's nickname. Featuring eagle feathers down the back of the shirt, this design is sure to be a fan favourite.

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