October 2026 Pickleball Roundup
Toronto United came within one match of a CNPL title in Waterloo last weekend. After a 22-6 season and a comeback semifinal win over Vancouver, United pushed London Smash to a deciding third match in the championship series and finished with the best points differential of the event. This month we hear from Michael Rizzo, who went from taped-line community courts in 2023 to United's championship roster, and who now coaches the next generation in Hamilton. Then it's on to what's happening on courts across the country this October.
From Taped Lines to the Championship Final
Toronto United's run in Waterloo
Toronto United arrived at The Club at Northfield as the number two seed, one win behind London Smash after a 22-6 regular season. The seeding earned them a bye through Friday's quarterfinals, so their weekend started with a semifinal against the Vancouver Owls on Saturday, September 26.
Vancouver took the opening match. United answered with a sweep, then came from a game down to win the decider and book a place in the final.
Sunday's championship series against London went the distance. London won a five-game opener, United hit back with a clean sweep, and London took the deciding match to claim the franchise's first CNPL title.
Elsewhere at Northfield, Northern Lights upset Grand River Rapids in the quarterfinals and pushed London to three matches in the semifinal, and Vancouver beat Northern Lights in the bronze game.
United finished the regular season 22-6 and placed second in the league, then took the runner-up spot in Waterloo with a plus-28 points differential, the best of any team at the event.
Player Spotlight: Michael Rizzo
Michael Rizzo's pickleball story started the way a lot of Ontario players' stories do, with a parent, a paddle and some tape on the ground. In 2023 his mom took him to local courts where the boundaries were marked with tape lines, and the rest was history.
It clicked quickly. Within his first few months, Michael realized he had a knack for the game. He entered his first tournament and started picking up wins. "I was like, okay, this is probably the new thing for me," he says.
Three years later he was on a professional roster. Toronto United selected him in the sixth round of the 2026 CNPL draft in January, and he spent the season as part of the six-player group that finished second in the league and reached the final in Waterloo. For Michael, the people around him are what made the year stand out. "It's not very often that you get on a great team, a great organization, with great people as teammates," he says. "This year is quite special."
His path also loops back to where he began. Michael coaches at the Ontario Pickleball Academy's Hamilton location, helping newer players build the same game that took him from taped lines to the pro level in a few short years. That is this month's community story, a player who discovered the sport on makeshift courts, now on court each week helping the next wave find their footing.
He has also seen how much the playing surface matters at the top level. "Having a professional grade court is second to none," Michael says. "Having TSS on our side and be able to do the courts is fantastic."
"Having a professional grade court is second to none. Having TSS on our side and be able to do the courts is fantastic."
As Official Flooring Partner of the Canadian National Pickleball League and a sponsor of Toronto United, Total Sport Solutions is proud to be part of seasons like this one, and part of the community that grows around them. The league has already published its 2027 schedule: five Majors on a four-week cadence, capped by a playoffs and finals weekend in September.
Tournament Listings by Region
Ontario
Online registration for the Southwestern Open closed October 1, so players should contact the Advanced Pickleball Association directly about any remaining spots.
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| APA The Southwestern Open | October 14 to 18 | Four Fathers Pickleball Society, Cambridge, ON |
| PWA Toronto West Premier, Sponsored by Skechers | October 15 to 18 | The Picklr Toronto West, Etobicoke, ON |
| Payout Pickleball Series: Legends of the Fall | October 15 to 18 | Pickler's Hub, Mississauga, ON |
| Picktopia: The Richmond Hill Open Moneyball | October 30 to November 1 | Picktopia Racquet Sports, Richmond Hill, ON |
Quebec
Organized by the Federation quebecoise de pickleball and the Club de pickleball Magog-Orford. Entry is 65 dollars per player, and registration closed at noon Eastern on October 2.
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Tournoi Provincial Pierre Gauthier 2026 | October 9 to 11 | Centre sportif La Ruche, Magog, QC |
Atlantic Canada
The Nova Scotia Open is underway this weekend, with 568 players registered.
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 Nova Scotia Open presented by Allbright Life | October 1 to 4 | Atlantic Tennis Centre, Bedford, NS |
British Columbia
A sanctioned event with 410 players registered and an open prize pool of up to 10,000 dollars. Registration has closed.
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Okanagan Open | October 15 to 18 | Vernon Pickleball Complex, Vernon, BC |
Want to Try a TSS Court? Here's Where to Play
These facilities are all built on TSS surfaces. Open for leagues, clinics, open play, and more.
| Facility | Location | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Grandview Pickleball Club | 1140 Ringwell Dr. Newmarket |
grandviewpickleballclub.com |
| Pickleball Nation | 71 Loyalist Trail Oakville |
pickleballnation.com |
| Backspin Pickleball |
184 Doak Rd. |
backspinfredericton.ca |
| PrimeTime Pickleball | 6140 Morton Industrial Dr. Windsor |
ptpwindsor.com |
| 6ix Pickle | 102 Berkeley Street Toronto |
6ixpickle.com |
| The Jar | 900 Caledonia Road Toronto |
thejarpickleball.com |
| The Forge | 1680 Vimont Court Ottawa |
theforgepb.ca |
| The Dill | 32 Colville Rd Toronto |
thedillpickleballclub.com |
| Rally at Sherwood | 2225 Erin Mills Pkwy Mississauga |
rallyatsherwoodvillage.com |
| CourtX | 226 Wyecroft Rd Oakville |
mycourtx.com |
| MayFair Clubs | 801 Lake Shore Blvd E. Toronto |
mayfairclubs.com |
| PickleX | 2030 Speers Rd Oakville |
picklex.ca |
| Altea Active | 1660 Carling Ave. Ottawa |
alteaactive.com |
| Backspin Fredericton | 184 Doak Rd. Fredericton |
backspinfredericton.ca |
| True North Courts | 3392 Wonderland Rd S. London |
truenorthcourts.ca |
Looking Ahead
Congratulations to London Smash on a first CNPL title, and to Toronto United, Vancouver, Northern Lights and Grand River Rapids on a strong season. Every team that stepped onto the courts in Waterloo made it a weekend worth watching, and TSS is glad to be part of the league. October brings tournaments in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and British Columbia.
Building Courts That Build Community
As the Official Court Supplier of Pickleball Ontario, Total Sport Solutions continues to deliver the surfaces where Canadian pickleball happens, from CourtX Club in Oakville to Wentworth Sports Complex in Hamilton and facilities across the province. From municipal projects to private clubs, TSS delivers turnkey solutions built for Canadian conditions.
Contact us: tsspickleball.ca