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Whitby and Scrosoppi were well represented in the Women’s Championship honours, while Unionville Milliken’s George Akpabio picked up two men’s accolades.

Yasmin Castillo and George Akpabio were the Most Valuable Players in the 2025 Championship Divisions as their sides claimed promotion to the top tier of League1 Ontario.

Unionville Milliken striker Akpabio finished as runner-up in the scoring charts this season with his 18 goals helping his club secure top spot in the Men’s Championship. After finding the net 11 times in 2024, Akpabio continued his momentum into this summer and contributed to more than a third of Unionville’s 48 goals, in addition to registering more than 2,000 minutes across all competitions.

In the Women’s Championship, Scrosoppi’s Castillo scored eight of her own from midfield as they finished top by a single point above Hamilton United. The youngster was also nominated as Midfielder of the Year and Young (U20) Player of the Year; her promising career is beginning to take off.

The three finalists for each award, and the eventual winners and All-Star teams, were determined by a culmination of factors: lists of nominees were submitted by each club for each category, and a ballot took place across coaches and league staff. Those votes were then combined with points awarded to players who were selected by coaches as one of the “Three Stars” of each match in the 2025 Men’s and Women’s Championship Division season.

Women’s round-up

Whitby had several players recognized in this season’s awards, with Emily Cirone claiming the Defender of the Year accolade and her teammate Tori Chia honoured as the Midfielder of the Year, alongside a place as an MVP finalist. Sophia Saville was nominated for the Forward of the Year prize as her side finished fifth in the standings.

With Scrosoppi earning automatic promotion, Jahkaya Davis’ eight goals helped her pick up the Forward of the Year award, ahead of her teammate Ella Cahill who was a finalist for the honour. John Yacou, the mastermind behind Scrosoppi’s elevation, was named Coach of the Year.

Hamilton United narrowly missed out on promotion following a penalty shootout defeat in the Pro/Rel playoffs. However, All-Star shot-stopper Madeleine Boucher still took home the Goalkeeper of the Year honour, with attacking teammate Chiara Nicolazzo named as the Young Player of the Year.

Men’s round-up

It was a tight and tense promotion fight in the Men’s Championship this year. which concluded with Unionville Milliken securing top spot. George Akpabio was named Forward of the Year alongside his MVP honour, while his teammates Tayjon Campbell and Haji Shee were finalists for their respective positional awards. Head Coach Donovan Taffe was in the final three for the Coach of the Year prize.

Sudbury Cyclones also enjoyed promotion with a second-placed finish, and their All-Star man between the sticks, Connor Vande Weghe, was handed the Goalkeeper of the Year trophy as well as a nomination for MVP. The tactician who guided them to second place, Guiseppe Politi, was also commended, being named Coach of the Year.

Cedric Ngounou was a rock at the back for The Borough, who conceded just 25 goals conceded all season, and he earned the Defender of the Year honour alongside a spot in the All-Star First XI. His midfield teammate Diadie Traore shared a place in the XI and was nominated in the Midfielder of the Year vote, and Ryan Silverstein was in the final three for Young Player of the Year.

The U20 award was won by Anthony Ostrun of Guelph United, while his teammate Gray Yates was honoured as Midfielder of the Year, as the club took home two accolades after their first year in the Men’s Championship.

Roll of Honour – 2025 Championship Division Finalists

MVP – Finalists

Madeleine Boucher – Hamilton United
Tori Chia – Whitby
Yasmin Castillo – Scrosoppi

George Akpabio – Unionville-Milliken
Nigel Buckley – Whitby
Connor Vande Weghe – Sudbury Cyclones

Young (U20) Player of the Year

Chiara Nicolazzo – Hamilton United
Yasmin Castillo – Scrosoppi
Isabella Mazzaferro – Rush Canada

Ryan Silverstein – The Borough
Tristan Pusztahegyi – Waterloo United
Anthony Ostrun – Guelph United

Coach of the Year

Garrett Peters – Oakville
John Yacou – Scrosoppi
James Lambourne – Tecumseh United

Donovan Taffe – Unionville-Milliken
Giuseppe Politi – Sudbury Cyclones
Ramin Mohammadi – Whitby

Goalkeeper of the Year

Madeleine Boucher – Hamilton United
Jana Febbraro – Burlington
Elisa Paolucci – Scrosoppi

Connor Vande Weghe – Sudbury Cyclones
Ile Naumosko – Master’s FA
Tayjon Campbell – Unionville Milliken

Defender of the Year

Abi Russell – Oakville
Jaya Lecky – Hamilton United
Emily Cirone – Whitby

Haji Shee – Unionville Milliken
Cedric Ngounou – The Borough
Terrell Spencer – Master’s FA

Midfielder of the Year

Brianne Desa – Pickering
Yasmin Castillo – Scrosoppi
Tori Chia – Whitby

Christian Krzyzanowski – North Mississauga
Gray Yates – Guelph United
Diadie Traore – The Borough

Forward of the Year

Jahkaya Davis – Scrosoppi
Sophia Saville – Whitby
Ella Cahill – Scrosoppi

George Akpabio – Unionville Milliken
Erion Metaj – Whitby
Nigel Buckley – Whitby

Golden Boot winners

Caitlyn Gratton – Rush Canada
Nigel Buckley – Whitby