Forge FC’s Daniel Nimick and Rezart Rama and Atletico Ottawa’s Noah Abatneh are the finalists for the Canadian Premier League’s Defender of the Year award.

Abatneh is also nominated for the league’s Best Canadian U-21 Player award.

The 21-year-old topped the league in successful passes (1,855) and passing accuracy (95.6 percent). His lone goal of the campaign was a timely one, a 96-minute winner against York United in April.

Nimick, 25, led the CPL in blocks (24) and possessions won in the defensive third (99) and ranked second among all defenders with at least 500 minutes played in goals conceded per 90 minutes (0.83). At the other end of the field, he scored two goals and added four assists in his first season with Forge.

Nimick was also nominated for the award in 2023.

Rama, 24, le

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