Launching in 2023, the Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL) will become Canada’s first professional pickleball league, providing domestic players in the country with an opportunity to develop their skills and compete against top-level talent.
An influx of well-known and celebrity investors (ranging from Mark Cuban and NBA star Kevin Durant to model Kate Upton) in leagues such as Major League Pickleball are examples of the sport’s rising popularity in North America, with 2022 surveys from the United States and Canada reporting 36 and one million participants, respectively.
The ever-growing demands and popularity of the sport have opened the doors for the launch of the CNPL, which will feature 32 players, eight teams, four events and $100,000 in prize money in its inaugural season.
Leading the CNPL into its inaugural year is co-founder and co-owner, Cameron Taylor. Taylor’s background in the sport is extensive, having taught for the past seven years. The 5.0-ranked player is a Level 2 certified Pickleball Teaching Professional and has also co-founded Georgian Triangle Pickleball Club and the Taylored Pickleball Initiative, built around the use of pickleball as a conduit for growth within youth and indigenous communities.
“I have a very diverse background in pickleball,” explained Taylor. “I thought I was going to be a professional player. At one point, I owned a pickleball facility and now we’re moving into a focus of coaching…I also run a training academy in Ontario.”
Despite the popularity of pickleball in Canada, the country’s top players looking to compete at the highest level currently find themselves heading to the States.
“Our goal with this league is to provide a platform for the higher skilled players to become professional players in Canada and allow them the opportunity to gather [as a group] and showcase themselves,” explained Cameron. “Allow us to market and produce them and give them have the opportunity to showcase who they are and what they are on the courts, without having to travel down south all of the time.”
The response following the announcement of the league’s launch has been positive, with Taylor and his CNPL colleagues compiling and sorting through an extensive amount of inquiries and applications from players, ownership groups and potential partners.
“We’re very excited about the response from Canada, from all levels…we’re working on our team ownership structure groups and we’re pretty excited about them as well. Right now, we’re sorting through the expressions of interest, the expressions of support have been overwhelming and we’re just figuring out how all those puzzle pieces fit together to best serve this league.”
Player registration for the CNPL closes in April. The league’s official website currently offering sign-up forms for their upcoming newsletter, as well as links to their social media platforms: @officailcnpl. Inquiries and requests for more information can be made through info@cnpl.ca.
“We’re going to be releasing information, marketing materials and opportunities through all of those platforms,” concluded Taylor. “We want everyone to stay tuned and to get as excited as we are.”
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Haus Pickleball covers the rapidly growing sport of pickleball. Through written articles, interviews, podcasts and more, Haus Pickleball aims to support the growth of the sport in North America and beyond. Stay updated and help us #GrowTheGame by following and subscribing to our social channels.
