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A multi-faceted group of people from the Ontario soccer scene will feature on this weekend’s panels.

The inaugural L1 Summit is taking place this weekend, with League1 Ontario clubs converging on Hamilton Convention Centre for two days of soccer-specific panels ranging from internal strategies to player pathways.

The mission of the Summit is to educate, inspire, and elevate the Pro-Am soccer scene in Ontario. There are six topics planned for discussion across the weekend, kicking off with preseason planning on Saturday, November 23, and concluding on the Sunday evening with how to create a winning fan experience.

A variety of speakers have also confirmed their attendance on the panels, including personnel from the Canadian Premier League, Northern Super League, hummel North America, and League1 Ontario clubs.

Please continue below to learn more about the schedule and some of our speakers.

Day One

Panel #1: Preseason Planning Strategies

Record-breaking Brock University coach Aleks Balta will moderate a group of experienced soccer leaders, including inaugural AFC Toronto head coach Marko Milanovic, Halifax Wanderers’ Patrice Gheisar who is a former League1 Ontario winner with Vaughan Azzurri, and current Vaughan men’s head coach Carmine Isaaco.

More about: Marko Milanovic

Milanovic worked as the head coach of North Toronto in League1 Ontario for four years and one with Dero United’s women. He has achieved UEFA A and Canadian A licenses and completed several club visits over the years including Fulham, RCD Espanyol, Rayo Vallecano, Ottawa Fury, Toronto FC and most recently Kansas City Current in the NWSL – experience he will take to AFC Toronto in the Northern Super League.

More about: Aleks Balta

Balta has more than 18 years of experience in soccer development and coaching, and is renowned for transforming teams into success stories. He guided North Mississauga to their first League1 Ontario playoffs in 2019, ended Brock’s 17-year wait to reach the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) semifinals in 2023, and holds the highest win percentage in Brock’s men’s soccer history.

More about: Carmine Isacco

A Coach of the Year Finalist from the 2024 League1 Ontario Men’s Premier Division, Isacco has long been an influential coach for Vaughan Azzurri and helped to develop rising soccer talents. He also has experience coaching at Canadian Premier League and national team level with Canada’s senior men’s team.

More about Patrice Gheisar:

Gheisar has coached within OUA, OCAA and League1 Ontario, and worked with some of the current national team players like Alistair Johnston, Kamal Miller, Dayne St Clair, Ryan Raposo and many more during his time with Vaughan Azzurri. In 2025, Patrice will be entering his third season with Halifax Wanderers, adding to his two decades of experience working in sport.

Panel #2: Player Movement from L1 to Professional Clubs

Soccer agent Pedro Barletta Nery joins the Canadian Premier League’s Vice President Costa Smyrniotis, and AFC Toronto Sporting Director Billy Wilson to discuss the bridges being built between League1 Ontario and the professional game; moderated by one of the key people who founded this pathway, League1 Ontario’s Executive Chairman Dino Rossi.

More about: Pedro Nery

Nery is a FIFA-licensed agent and one of the owners of Future Soccer Inc., a Canadian soccer agency representing professional players in CPL and Major League soccer, as well as leagues in Brazil and Europe. Fluent in four languages, he can facilitate the movement of foreign players across various markets and emphasizes building strong relationships with both players and clubs.

More about Billy Wilson:

Wilson is responsible for all football operations at AFC Toronto in the Northern Super League, and joined in August 2024 having spent the last decade working at the club and provincial level, including as a head coach for North Toronto in League1 Ontario. Wilson is an A Licence coach and was a Coach of the Year Finalist in the 2024 Women’s Premier Division.

Panel #3: Open Forum with League1 Ontario leadership team

League1 Ontario clubs will be able to ask questions to the League1 Ontario leadership team.