Open Canada Cup

[1] After operating the competition for several seasons as an exclusive tournament, the league's ownership decided in 2003 to grant accessibility to all Canadian professional and amateur clubs.

[2] The decision was influenced by the lack of initiative by the Canadian Soccer Association in providing a potential candidate for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

Canadian Soccer League teams dominated the competition throughout its history; the only non-CSL champion was Ottawa St. Anthony Italia in the 2006.

Originally, the format of the competition was organized into a group stage with the two top teams advancing to the semifinals and a final match to decide the champion in September.

Shortly after the tournament attracted sponsorship deals from Primus Canada, and in 2001 received a title sponsor from Oz Optics Ltd.[9] In the initial years, the league cup was dominated by the Toronto Olympians, which later was assumed by the heavily invested Ottawa Wizards.

[17][18][19] In 2002, the competition received financial aid from the Canadian government in the form of a federal grant with intentions to promote the tournament across the country.

[33] The dispute eventually reached the Superior Court of Justice which ruled in favor of the CPSL decision and allowed the tournament to proceed without the participation of Ottawa.

[38][39] In 2006, the competition reached a new milestone as it managed to draw the attention of the Toronto Lynx of the USL First Division, the country's top-tier league.

[40] The 2006 edition made headlines as Ottawa St. Anthony Italia became the first amateur club to claim the championship after defeating the Toronto Lynx in the finals.

[42] In 2008, the CSL increased the prize money to $25,000 with the top amateur club receiving $10,000, but shortly after the creation of the Canadian Championship the competition was disbanded.