The CNPL Heads East: Eastern Split Lands in PEI June 6 & 7 — Maria Klokotzky & Toronto United Make the Trip
Event 3 of CNPL Season 4 is here — and it's a milestone weekend for the league. For the first time ever, the Canadian National Pickleball League is bringing pro pickleball to Prince Edward Island. The Eastern Split runs June 6 & 7 at Atlantic Pickleball Club in Stratford, PEI, with four eastern clubs — Toronto United, London Smash, Montreal Lions and York Yeti — going head to head over two days on the Island. And yes, Apollo's own Maria Klokotzky is making the trip east with Toronto United.
The CNPL is planting a flag in Atlantic Canada
When the Eastern Split tips off this weekend, it'll be more than a pickleball event — it'll be a statement about where the sport is headed in this country. The CNPL is heading east for the first time, and the venue is worth the trip. Atlantic Pickleball Club in Stratford is the first facility of its kind on Prince Edward Island — a purpose-built home for the sport, not a converted gym or a community booking.
PEI has been quietly building its pickleball culture for a while now, and the Eastern Split landing here isn't just convenient — it's a signal. The league is investing in Atlantic Canada, and the local community has earned it. Stratford sits just across the river from Charlottetown, so if you're making the trip in person, there's every reason to turn it into a full weekend on the Island.
"Growing Canadian pickleball means showing up in every corner of the country — not just the big markets. Bringing a pro event to PEI is exactly the kind of move that builds the sport for the long haul."
— Apollo Pickleball, on the Eastern Split
How the regional split format works
After the all-eight-team Season Opener at The Picklr Toronto West (May 9–10), the CNPL season breaks into regional splits. Event 2 — the Western Split (May 23–24 at Pickleplex Windsor) — featured the four western clubs: Detroit-Windsor Drive, Northern Lights, Vancouver Owls and Grand River Rapids. The Rapids ran the table out west, going a perfect 5–0 to surge up the standings.
Now it's the eastern clubs' turn. The Eastern Split brings together the four teams from the eastern side of the bracket — Toronto United, London Smash, Montreal Lions and York Yeti — for their first action since the opener. Each team plays the others across the two-day event, with men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles all on the line.
🗓️ What that means for the standings: Because the eastern clubs sat out the Western Split, the four teams arriving in PEI carry the exact records they posted at the Season Opener. The Eastern Split is their first chance to move the needle in over three weeks — so every match this weekend counts double.
The Eastern Split field — where each team stands
Here's how the four Eastern Split teams stack up heading into PEI, based on their Season Opener results. Montreal arrives as the team to beat after a flawless opening weekend, while Toronto United and London Smash are locked in a dead heat just behind. York Yeti, still settling into their rebrand, will be hunting for a turnaround on the Island.
| # | Team | P | W | L | MW% | GW% | Opener |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montreal Lions Montreal, QC · Defending Champions | 6 | 6 | 0 | 100.0% | 74.1% | W W W W W |
| 2 | London Smash London, ON · Draft Winners | 6 | 4 | 2 | 66.7% | 69.2% | W W W L W |
| 3 | Toronto United Pickleball Club Toronto, ON · Maria Klokotzky's Team | 6 | 4 | 2 | 66.7% | 61.5% | W L L W W |
| 4 | York Yeti York Region, ON · New Identity | 6 | 1 | 5 | 16.7% | 23.1% | L L L L L |
P = Played · W = Wins · L = Losses · MW% = Match Win % · GW% = Game Win % · Records reflect Season Opener results
3 storylines to watch in PEI
The Lions went a perfect 6–0 at the opener with a 74.1% game win rate — the clear favourites for a CNPL threepeat. The Eastern Split is the first real test of whether London, Toronto or York can knock the champs off their pedestal. Beating Montreal on the Island would be the statement of the season so far.
Toronto United sit in a dead heat with London at 4–2 and have the firepower to climb. With Maria Klokotzky finding her rhythm in a new league and new format, a strong PEI showing could vault the club clear into the upper half — and set up a marquee clash with Montreal.
A 1–5 opener wasn't the start the rebranded franchise wanted, but a regional split with everything to gain is the perfect place to flip the script. Three weeks of practice and a fresh slate on the Island give the Yeti a real chance to bank some confidence-building wins.
Maria Klokotzky's road east
The biggest draw for Apollo fans this weekend is, of course, Maria Klokotzky — Canada's #1 ranked female pro and Apollo Pickleball's sponsored athlete — making her first Eastern Split appearance with Toronto United. After a solid CNPL debut at the Season Opener, Maria heads to PEI looking to build on those numbers and help push Toronto United up the standings.
At the opener, Maria posted a balanced 6–6 record across 12 games and earned a Player of the Match honour — strong numbers for a pro adjusting to a brand-new league, new teammates and a new format. With three weeks to build chemistry with her Toronto United partners, expect her win rate to climb as the season rolls on. The Eastern Split is the next step.
🇨🇦 Why this matters: When Canada's top-ranked female pro travels to PEI to play in a Canadian-only pro league with a Canadian-engineered paddle, it tells you the CNPL is becoming a true national stage. The league is showing up in Atlantic Canada — and Apollo is proud to back Maria every step of the way.
Eastern Split players to watch
Beyond Maria, the Eastern Split field is stacked with talent. Here are the top names from the four PEI-bound teams, ranked by their Season Opener form. These are the players most likely to decide who comes out of the Island weekend on top.
| # | Player | GP | GW | GL | Win % | POTM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ariana RodriguezMontreal Lions | 12 | 11 | 1 | 91.7% | 3 |
| 2 | Aibika KalsarievaLondon Smash | 12 | 10 | 2 | 83.3% | 3 |
| 3 | Ryan TorresinLondon Smash | 12 | 10 | 2 | 83.3% | 1 |
| 4 | Mark CleminsonLondon Smash | 11 | 8 | 3 | 72.7% | 2 |
| 5 | Max WildToronto United Pickleball Club | 11 | 8 | 3 | 72.7% | 1 |
| 6 | Anne-Sophie CourteauLondon Smash | 12 | 8 | 4 | 66.7% | — |
| 7 | Ernesto FajardoMontreal Lions | 12 | 8 | 4 | 66.7% | 2 |
| 8 | Michael RizzoToronto United Pickleball Club | 9 | 6 | 3 | 66.7% | — |
| 9 | Christina ChinMontreal Lions | 12 | 8 | 4 | 66.7% | — |
| 10 | Louis-Charles AmyotMontreal Lions | 12 | 7 | 5 | 58.3% | — |
| 11 | Jada BuiToronto United Pickleball Club | 12 | 7 | 5 | 58.3% | 1 |
| 12 | Maria KlokotzkyApollo ProToronto United Pickleball Club | 12 | 6 | 6 | 50.0% | 1 |
GP = Games Played · GW/GL = Game Wins/Losses · POTM = Player of the Match awards · All figures from the Season Opener
How to watch & attend
Every match of the Eastern Split streams live on Game+, the CNPL's official broadcast partner — so you can catch all the action from anywhere in the country. If you're on the Island and want to be there in person, head to Atlantic Pickleball Club in Stratford on June 6 & 7. Tickets and the full schedule are available at cnpl.ca.
After PEI, the CNPL rolls on toward its Midseason event and the rest of the C4 calendar, with every team fighting for playoff position. But this weekend belongs to the east coast — and to the four clubs ready to make some noise on the Island.
Why this weekend matters for Canadian pickleball
Forget the standings for a second. The biggest story of the Eastern Split is that the CNPL is showing up in Atlantic Canada at all. A purpose-built club on PEI, a national broadcast, and the country's best players competing in front of an east-coast crowd — that's exactly what growing the sport from coast to coast looks like.
The CNPL is building the kind of professional infrastructure Canadian pickleball has always needed: Canadian teams, Canadian players, Canadian fans, and a real competitive league that gives our best athletes a professional pathway without having to head south. PEI is the newest stop on that journey — and it won't be the last.
"Canadian pickleball deserves to be grown right here at home — by Canadian leagues, Canadian players, and Canadian brands. Bringing the Eastern Split to PEI proves the CNPL is committed to that vision for the whole country. Apollo is proud to back Maria Klokotzky as part of that story."
— Apollo Pickleball, on the Eastern Split
The MK47 Signature Pro is Apollo's most advanced paddle to date, co-designed court-side with Maria Klokotzky — Canada's #1 ranked female pro. Free shipping across Canada. Zero import fees. $219.99 CAD all in.
