The Padel Association of Canada and the CUPL join forces to build a national collegiate pathway for the sport
Tuesday 12th May 2026, Montreal, Canada: The Padel Association of Canada (PAC), the national governing body for padel in Canada, has recognised the Canadian Universities Padel League (CUPL) as a leading collegiate padel movement in the country. This marks a pivotal moment in the growth of the sport at the student level in Canada - as well as an important step toward building a pipeline of competitive Canadian talent on the global stage.
With padel’s continued rise on the global stage, PAC’s mission to grow participation while elevating the calibre of Canadian talent has never been more important. Recognising the CUPL is a direct reflection of that mission at a time when the sport is rapidly gaining momentum across Canada.
The CUPL is Canada's first real inter-university padel ecosystem. Run by students, for students, it aims to lower barriers to participation and provide a structured competitive framework for student athletes to play at the highest level across the country. In its inaugural season, the CUPL brought together over 70 student athletes from 8 universities across Eastern Canada - laying the foundation for a national movement of student padel players.
The partnership between PAC and CUPL goes beyond symbolic recognition. Together, the two organisations will work to establish a formal collegiate pathway and with the goal of setting a benchmark for student padel globally - aligning calendars and amplifying events, while opening the door to the possibility of students competing internationally. In the short term, this means students competing in CUPL events will be integrated into the broader national padel ecosystem for the first time, with the CUPL providing a bridge for strong player development.
Arthur Brousse and Hector Brown, Co-Founders of the CUPL said: “This partnership with the Padel Association of Canada marks an important step forward for student padel. Together, we’re building a more structured, competitive pathway for university players, one that connects campus competition to the national system and ultimately to the global stage. We’re excited to get going.”
Nancy Malone, President of PAC said: “The recognition of the Canadian Universities Padel League marks an important step in the continued development of padel in Canada. Collegiate sport plays a critical role in building sustainable, competitive pathways, and the CUPL is already demonstrating what’s possible. We look forward to supporting its growth and helping create more opportunities for student athletes across the country”
The next phase for the CUPL is national expansion. The league is actively working with student bodies, campus unions, and padel clubs to launch a Pacific Conference - bringing universities in Western Canada into the fold and completing a coast-to-coast competitive structure.
Looking further ahead, the joint coalition is laying the groundwork for Canada's first collegiate national championships and a pathway for student athletes to represent Canada at international competitions - both of which align directly with PAC's mandate to build a competitive national presence on the world stage.
ENDS
Media Contact - Ben Nichols, Founder of Padel 22
ben@padel22.com; padel22.com; +44 (0) 7457 413702
Partnerships & League Inquiries - Arthur Brousse, Co-Founder of CUPL
arthur.brousse@mail.mcgill.ca; +33 6 95 53 04 36