New colours. New team. New stadium. Same campus. For four members of York9 Football Club, their days as York Lions may be over but they've returned to the York University campus to play in familiar surroundings for the inaugural season of the Canadian Premier League (CPL).
 
York alumni Michael Cox, Daniel Gogarty, Ryan Telfer, and Colm Vance were all members of the 2015 national championship squad for the Lions and are looking to make their mark in the CPL as part of the first roster in York9 history. Current Lion Emmanuel Zambazis, who played his first season with the Lions in 2018, makes a total of five players with York history playing for the newly formed team.  
 
The CPL, which launched its inaugural season just under two months ago, features seven teams from across Canada, with plans to expand the number of teams over the next several years. The rosters of the teams began to take shape in November 2018 with the first ever CPL-U Sports draft, where Gogarty became the first draft pick in York9 history when they selected him fourth overall in the first round. Zambazis was selected by the team in second round, while Cox and Vance were both signed to contracts by the team over the winter. Telfer was acquired on a season-long loan from the Toronto FC in March.   
 
"It's great being able to play in a familiar setting," said Gogarty, on what it's like playing professionally on the York campus. "Being close to home means all my friends and family get to come out and support us which is something I don't take for granted. It's certainly helped with the transition from university, not having to move and staying close to home has made the transition to the CPL much smoother for me."
 
Gogarty, a five-year Lion who graduated this year after an outstanding run with the program that included two national championships, four OUA championships and three U Sport all-Canadian honours, has already made his presence felt on the field for York9 FC. Just six months removed from university competition, he's played every minute so far in the team's first seven games of the CPL season and has become one of the team's go-to defenders. The Lions alumnus sees differences in the pro game both on and off the pitch.
 
"There's definitely a transition between playing at the U Sport level and playing in the CPL," said Gogarty, a Scarborough, Ont., native. "At school you're balancing academics, practices, and part-time jobs on top of everything else you have going on in your life. In the CPL, every day I go in I'm fighting for my job. I spend a lot more time around the game, whether it's recovery, travel, video sessions or meal prep so I'm constantly focused on being at my best all the time."
 
For Cox and Telfer, although their Lions tenures were relatively short-lived, they both made massive impacts at York during their time with the team.
 
Cox, a native of Calgary, Alta., played for the Lions for one year (their 2015 championship season) and etched his name in the record books with an outstanding regular season and playoff run. His accomplishments included being named MVP of the national championship tournament, earning an OUA West first-team all-star, leading the OUA in scoring and being named York's male athlete of the year. After playing professionally in the United States for the last three years, the striker returned to the York campus to suit up for York9 FC this season and has appeared in two games so far in the young season for the club.
 
Telfer spent two seasons with the Lions, playing his rookie year on the 2015 national championship team and winning an OUA West second-team all-star for his work in the midfield in 2016. Following the 2016 season, Telfer, who hails from Mississauga, Ont., signed on with the Toronto FC II of the United Soccer League (USL) and was promoted to the parent club Toronto FC in 2018. He made 15 regular season appearances for the FC last season and scored the first goal of his Major League Soccer (MLS) career, a game-winner, against Orlando on May 18, 2018. Telfer scored another big goal this season, the first goal in CPL history during the league's first ever game between York9 FC and Hamilton Forge on April 27, 2018.
 
"It's a special feeling, just to be known as the first goal scorer in this new league is something special to me," Telfer told reporters after the match, having just seen messages from family, friends and supporters. "It honestly hits inside. There's no better feeling than having family members being proud of you."
 
After playing professionally in Greece for three seasons, Zambazis, from Toronto, Ont., joined the Lions in 2018 and instantly made an impact. The midfielder stepped into the starting lineup right away after joining the team late in training camp and was named an OUA second-team all-star in his rookie season with the team. He was drafted 11^th overall by York9 FC and made his debut with the club in their second game of the season against Calgary, Alta.'s Cavalry FC. He'll finish out the summer playing for York9, before suiting back up for the Lions when the 2019 season starts in late August.
 
Like Gogarty, goalkeeper Vance was a two-time national champion with the Lions winning back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015. The Bradford, Ont., native was one of the top goalies in the country during his time at York, earning an OUA West first-team all-star honour in his fifth season, while posting 16 cleansheets over his final two years. A multiple-time academic all-Canadian, Vance was also one of the most engaged student-athletes throughout his five years at the school and was named the winner of the Lions prestigious Outstanding Male Graduate Award in 2016. Vance actually returned to the York in September 2018 to work in the Lions academic services department, but never expected to play soccer again on campus.
 
"Surreal is a great word to describe it," said Vance on how he feels to be playing soccer again at York. "York has grown a lot since I left but it's brilliant to have familiar faces encouraging me along this journey. I couldn't have asked for a better introduction into the CPL."
 
One of those familiar faces is Lions master coach Carmine Isacco, who is the first assistant coach with York9 FC. Serving under director of soccer operations and head coach Jimmy Brennan, Isacco leads the day-to-day operations of the team on the field and recently assumed the role of head coach while Brennan was away completing his UEFA coaching duties. Since taking over as head coach of the Lions men's team in 2007, Isacco has turned York into a soccer powerhouse, winning four national championships and six OUA championships and hopes to replicate his success on the York campus in the CPL.
 
In addition to Isacco, another member of the Lions coaching staff is also pulling double duty with York9 FC, as Lions assistant coach Luca Forno is serving as the team's equipment manager. Forno, an assistant coach with the Lions since 2010, is also a York alumnus who played with the Lions from 2006-09. He was the team captain for three seasons and helped lead the team to their first national championship in 31 seasons in 2008. Rounding out the Lions connections with York9 FC is Constantine Poulos, who played with the Lions from 2009-10 and is the strength and conditioning coach for both teams.
 
York9 FC are playing their games in York Lions Stadium, which has added additional seating, fan-focused amenities, and soccer-specific grass to its already impressive facilities to create a great soccer-viewing experience for fans. York9 FC are currently tied for fourth in the CPL standings and have gone undefeated in their last three regular season games.
 
For more information on the Lions alumni on York9 FC or for ticketing information to catch a game please visit the York9 FC website.