On Monday, Canada Soccer released the names of players nominated for their annual player of the year awards. Unsurprisingly, Orlando City rookie sensation, Cyle Larin has been nominated for two of them. The young forward is in the running for the BMO Canadian Player of the Year Award along with the Canadian U-20 Player of the Year Award.
Larin took MLS by storm this past season, scoring 17 goals in 27 appearances in the 2015 season, good enough to finish 5th in the Golden Boot standings. Larin was also named the 2015 MLS Rookie of the year at the conclusion of his first campaign as a professional soccer player.
If Larin were to take home the Player of the Year Award, he would be the youngest player in Canadian Soccer history to take home the coveted accolade. It can be argued that Larin had a bigger impact during his first season than any other Canadian International in history including legends like Dwayne De Rosario and Atiba Hutchinson.
During his first campaign with the Lions, Larin could look at Lions Assistant Coach, Mark Watson to find inspiration at the international level. Watson had a storied career with the Canadian International Team, and also took home the Canadian Player of the Year Award in 1997.
Larin is considered one of the favorites to win not one, but both of the awards. For the POY award, Larin is competing against the likes of Atiba Hutinson who played very well for Besiktas JK in Turkey, and Tosaint Ricketts who plays for Boluspor FC in Turkey. For the U-20 POY award, Michael Petrasson from Queens Park Rangers has been solid for for the U-20s this past year, and is the toughest competition for Larin to take home the award.
The awards will be announced between Dec. 15 and Dec. 18.
