Forge FC announced Thursday the club has selected Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières defender Guillaume Pianelli [PEE-yan-elly] (first-round, seventh overall) and McMaster University midfielder Mohamed Alshakman [AL-shack-mon] (second-round, fifteenth overall) in the 2022 CPL-U SPORTS draft. The players have been invited to participate in preseason camp with the opportunity to sign either a CPL-U SPORTS Developmental Contract that allows a student-athlete with one to four years of U SPORTS eligibility remaining to sign with a CPL club, while preserving their eligibility before returning to U SPORTS competition.

Pianelli, 23, has made 24 appearances over three seasons (2019-2021) at UQTR tallying three goals and two assists. The defender played a massive role in the Universities’ run to win the 2019 U SPORTS Championship and was named to the all-tournament team. The 6-4, native of Bastia, Corsica, France, previously played with EF Bastia of the Championnat National 2 in France (2017-2018) and was a part of the S.C. Bastia youth development program (2014-2017).

Alshakman, 20, had a stellar rookie season at McMaster University in 2021, making nine appearances recording one goal and three assists en route to being named to the OUA Central Rookie of the Year. The 5-8, native of Hamilton, Ontario, had previously played for Sigma FC in League 1 Ontario.

Since 2018 the Canadian Premier League has held a draft for eligible U SPORTS men’s soccer players who have registered and declared themselves available to be selected through the League’s annual draft.

About U SPORTS
U SPORTS is the national brand for university sports in Canada. Every year, over 20,000 student-athletes and 900 coaches from 56 universities vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. U SPORTS also provides higher performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous World University Championships. For further information, visit USPORTS.ca or follow us on:

Twitter/Instagram/YouTube: @USPORTSca
Facebook: @USPORTSCanada

– FORGE FC –

Media Contact:
Nico Correa – Coordinator, Communications – Forge FC
905-320-3571 (cell) | ncorrea@forgefootball.club

Jacob Wolfenden – Coordinator, Communications – Forge FC
289-880-2469 (cell) | jwolfenden@forgefootball.club