CPL Power Rankings: Forge & Cavalry top the list, Atlético starts strong

With the return of Canadian Premier League action, it’s only fair that CanPL.ca goes back to its practice of arbitrarily ranking clubs based on ability, narrative and, most importantly, results. As of Monday, all eight CPL clubs have seen action at The Island Games, with Cavalry FC and Forge FC the only sides to play twice. They squared off in the season opener on Prince Edward Island last Thursday with an entertaining 2-2 draw before being the first clubs to grab wins on Sunday. With 16 goals across five matches, almost every team has had their moment in the sun. Atlético Ottawa had a dream start. York9 FC answered with an inspiring teenage connection. Pacific FC looked strong at times. And so on. This should make for difficult rankings to sort out, no? Here are CanPL.ca’s first power rankings from The Island Games. RELATED READING: 2020 CPL season: The Island Games

1. Cavalry FC

The Cavs are good value to their table-topping four-point haul. A dominant performance against Valour FC on Sunday gave Tommy Wheeldon Jr.'s side the first win of The Island Games. A rotated defence, midfield, and attacking unit hinted at some dangerous depth going into the heavy, match-after-match heart of the first round. Upcoming Matches: FC Edmonton (Thursday, 8pm ET). HFX Wanderers FC (Sunday, 3pm ET).

2. Forge FC​

Same as their Finals 2019 rivals, Forge went on from that opening night draw to impress on Sunday. Kwame Awuah’s first-half blast gave the Hamilton side a comfortable start against FCE and they never looked back. Bobby Smyrniotis is looking awfully capable in this shortened season, swapping in and out key pieces such as David Choinière and Maxim Tissot to great effect. Upcoming Matches: HFX Wanderers FC (Wednesday, 8pm ET). Pacific FC (Saturday, 4pm ET).

3. Atlético Ottawa​

Take a bow, Atlético Ottawa! CPL’s first expansion side looked fantastic in their first match on Saturday. Franciso Acuña’s attacking brilliance, Vashon Neufville work rate on the left side, and the team’s confidence on the ball give Ottawa fans lots to be proud of from Match 1. Upcoming Matches: Valour FC (Wednesday, 1pm ET). FC Edmonton (Sunday, 12pm ET).

4. Pacific FC​

The Tridents are ahead of HFX Wanderers in this ranking after the sides battled to a 2-2 draw. Pa-Modou Kah’s side was simply more lethal than their "Coastal Clash" counterparts, producing a staggering 11 shots in the second half. Upcoming Matches: York9 FC (Tuesday, 8pm ET). Forge FC (Saturday, 4pm ET).

5. York9 FC​

As mentioned, Atlético Ottawa caught a few people by surprise in their first-ever game, York9 included. Thankfully, Jimmy Brennan was rescued by a few CPL rookies, though the loss of injured Chris Mannella, Michael Petrasso, and Manny Aparicio could put them in long-term bind.

Upcoming Matches: Pacific FC (Tuesday, 8pm ET). Valour FC (Saturday, 1pm ET).

6. FC Edmonton​

There were some positives from the Eddies’ season opener. Keven Alemán looks like a game-breaker on the left wing, Erik Zetterberg was a beast in midfield, and few smashed attempts off the woodwork say something. That being said, Edmonton lacked cohesion and confidence on the ball, coming up to the Forge backline like a brick wall. The potential loss of Amer Didic is scary, too. Upcoming Matches: Cavalry FC (Thursday, 8pm ET). Atlético Ottawa (Sunday, 12pm ET).

7. HFX Wanderers FC​

Aided by a pair of penalties, HFX Wanderers were still good value for their 2-2 draw against Pacific. Coach Stephen Hart was pleased with the fighting spirit, while Cory Bent and Joao Morelli impressed. Upcoming Matches: Forge FC (Wednesday, 1pm ET). Cavalry FC (Sunday, 3pm ET).

8. Valour FC​

The first CPL side to suffer a defeat in 2020, Valour FC failed to continue the epic streak of 2-2 draws because, well, they were a ways off from scoring against Cavalry. Rob Gale’s side failed to record a shot on target in their PEI opener. Upcoming Matches: Atlético Ottawa (Wednesday, 1pm ET). York9 FC (Saturday, 1pm ET).

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