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By Neil Davidson

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Previous winners Kyle Bekker and Tristan Borges are among the five finalists for the Canadian Premier League Player of the Year award.

Bekker, who won in 2020 and was also a finalist in 2019 and 2023, and Borges, the 2019 winner, are joined by Forge FC teammate Alessandro Hojabrpour and Tobias Warschewski of Cavalry FC and Brian Wright of York United FC as this year’s finalists.

The winner, who will be decided in a vote among the technical leaders of the eight CPL clubs and select media, will be announced Thursday in Calgary as part of the festivities surrounding Saturday’s championship match between Forge and Cavalry FC.

Cavalry defenseman Daan Klomp won the award last year. Other previous winners included Ollie Bassett (2022) of Atlético Ottawa and Joao Morelli (2021) of Halifax.

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At 34 years old, Bekker stood out in his sixth season with Forge. The veteran midfielder tied for second in the league in assists with six and ranked sixth in total chances created with 36 to help Hamilton’s team finish atop the regular season standings.

Borges, 26, led all CPL players with 0.74 goals per 90 minutes in 2024 and, like Bekker, recorded six assists. He also created the third-most chances among players in the league with 41.

Hojabrpour, 24, has been a rock as Forge’s defensive midfielder. He tied teammate Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson for first place in the league with a plus-14 on-field goal difference and led the CPL with 252 progressive passes. He finished second in the league in successful cross-field passes, second among CPL midfielders in percentage of duels won, and third in most ball recoveries.

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Warschewski, 26, won the Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer in his return to the CPL. The former FC Edmonton forward scored 12 goals and finished tied for first with 0.57 goals per 90 minutes. The six-foot-tall German was fourth in the league in aerial duels won with 57, the most for a non-defender in 2024.

Wright, 29, led York with nine goals, fourth-best in the league, and added six assists. His 15 goals were the most by a CPL player in 2024 and his 45 aerial duels won were the third most by a non-defender.

All five players are also among the 10 finalists for the Player of the Year Award, which is decided by the league’s players.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4.

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