North York Rockets

History

Canadian Soccer League

The North York Rockets were formed by a group consisting of Gus Mandarino, Basil Policaro, Tony Ciamarra, Joe D'Urzo, Mario Rollo, and Mario Giangioppo to play in the inaugural season of the Canadian Soccer League in 1987.

In their debut league match, the Rockets tied the Toronto Blizzard, by a score of 1–1.

The Rockets's best result came in 1991 when they defeated the Nova Scotia Clippers with a 9–1 goal aggregate to advance to the league cup semi-finals. The Rockets struggled in their first season, winning only one match, en route to a 1–7–12 record, finishing last in the league.

The Rockets improved in the following seasons, qualifying for the playoffs in each of the next three seasons, although they were defeated in the first round of the playoffs each year. During the 1991 season, the Rockets finished third in the league, qualifying for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. The won their first and only CSL playoff series when they defeated the Nova Scotia Clippers by an aggregate score of 9–1 (5–1 and 4–0 victories), but were defeated in the semi-finals by city rival Toronto Blizzard. During the 1992 season, the Rockets finished in second place in the regular season, six points behind league leaders Vancouver, but were once again defeated in the first round of the playoffs by eventual champions Winnipeg.

Canadian National Soccer League

Following the folding of the CSL after the 1992 season, the Rockets joined the semi-professional Canadian National Soccer League for the 1993 season, They finished in first place in the Western Conference (and in the overall league table), qualifying for the playoffs where they defeated London City and Montreal Croatia in the first two rounds, but were defeated by St. Catharines Roma in the championship final.

American Professional Soccer League

Main article: Toronto Rockets (soccer)

After the 1993 season, the Toronto Blizzard, who had joined the US-based American Professional Soccer League in 1993, folded and were replaced by the Rockets, who inherited some of the Blizzard players and played under the name Toronto Rockets. The Rockets finished in last place with a 5–15 record, as well as the worst attendance in the league, drawing in fewer than 1500 fans per match.

Seasons

as North York Rockets

as Toronto Rockets

Notable players

• CAN Oscar Albuquerque
• CAN Eddy Berdusco
• ITA Massimo Briaschi
• CAN Ian Bridge
• CAN Shel Brodsgaard
• RSA David Byrne
• CAN Ian Carter
• CAN Paolo Ceccarelli
• CAN Sasho Cirovski
• CAN Cosimo Commisso
• CAN Pat Cubellis
• CAN Nick Dasovic
• CHI Jorge Espinoza
• CAN Charlie Falzon
• CAN Don Ferguson
• CAN John Fitzgerald
• ARG Amadeo Gasparini
• CAN Peter Gilfillan
• CANPOL Ralph Golen
• POL Marek Grabowski
• CAN Phil Ionadi
• CAN Steve Jansen
• POL Zygmunt Kalinowski
• IRNUSA Ali Kazemaini
• CAN Jens Kraemer
• CAN Franco Lofranco
• CAN Joseph Majcher
• CAN Hector Marinaro
• CANIRN Peyvand Mossavat
• POL Mirosław Piękoś
• CAN Tony Pignatiello
• CAN Tomasz Radzinski
• CAN Randy Ragan
• CAN Peter Sarantopoulos
• CAN Peter Sloly
• CAN Pat Sullivan
• CYP Vladan Tomić
• HUN András Törőcsik
• CAN Peter Zezel

References

Resource

North York Rockets Official Program

References

1. "Canadian Soccer League (1987-1992)". Fun While it Lasted.
2. (1987). "Official Program – North York Rockets". North York Rockets.
3. Hawthorn, Tom. (June 7, 1987). "Imports Score in New Soccer Loop". [[The Globe & Mail]].
4. "North York Rockets (1987–92)". CSL Memories.
5. Litterer, David. (January 5, 1996). "Canadian Soccer League I". Soccer History USA.
6. Laskaris, Sam. (March 17, 1994). "Rockets try a third league". [[Toronto Star]].
7. "1993 Season".
8. Crossley, Andrew. "1994 Toronto Rockets". Fun While it Lasted.
9. Keating, Jack. (May 4, 1995). "A-League loses T.O.-Team: Rockets fizzle out". [[The Province]].
10. "Canadian Soccer League Standings Archive". Canada Soccer History Archives.
11. "Toronto Rockets". Canadian Soccer History Archives.