As the 2023 OPDL season kicked off last weekend, activities around the 2022 season came to a close with the winners of the Gary Miller Charity Shield presenting cheques to Ontario Charities, continuing the tradition of the tournament.

Launched in 2014 with the 2001 age group, the Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) is Ontario’s first and Canada’s foremost standards-based, youth high performance league that combines top level competition with comprehensive high performance training standards.

The Gary Miller Charity Shield is the culminating event for the OPDL season each year, where champions are crowned in each division. While the OPDL Gary Miller Charity Shield is an integral opportunity to showcase the immense talent found within the OPDL before fellow OPDL members, scouts and families, the Charity Shield also raises money for Ontario charities.

Every dollar accumulated through the $5 admission rate is donated to Ontario charities, as chosen by the winning teams in each match. As well, this year, the OPDL ran a silent auction, where those in attendance and those watching from home could bid on some fantastic prize packs and gear. This year’s prize packs included a signed Canada Soccer jersey, TFC ticket pack, VEO camera and more.

This year’s winning teams selected ALS Canada (Vaughan SC  U14 Boys), Sick Kids Foundation (Ottawa South United U14 Girls), ALS Canada (Vaughan SC U15 Boys), Canadian Cancer Society (Markham SC U15 Girls), Sick Kids Foundation (North Mississauga SC U17 Boys) and Kids Help Phone (Markham SC U17 Girls), to donate their portion of the proceeds towards. The teams presented cheques to the charities over the last few weeks.

With the program in its ninth year, and approaching its ten-year anniversary, Ontario Soccer has launched an OPDL specific Instagram account to help tell the story of the program and all the wonderful people involved.

@OPDL_Ontario_Soccer is the new home for all things OPDL. Follow the account and use #OPDL and TAG US in your posts to be featured and join the OPDL story.

Visit the 2022 Gary Miller Charity Shield Match Centre for a full recap on tournament including articles, full game replays, photo albums and more.