Formed in 1975 Les Castors Montreal earned promotion to the National Soccer League’s First Division in their first year of existence. Owner Tony Iammatteo invested heavily in the team before the start of the 1976 National Soccer League season. Castors started the season in Toronto where they lost against Panhellenic on May 1.
Due to snow their first league game scheduled for Montreal was switched to Toronto, with Castors losing the match 1-0 to Macedonia on May 8. Gradually the Castors season changed into winning ways. After 27 league games Les Castors finished in second place in the final league standings, four points behind champions Toronto Italia.
Player roster
Aguinaldo Moreira – goalkeeper. 32 years old. Born in Santos, Brazil. Former teammate of Pelè at Santos. Also played for Corinthians.
Tino Lettieri – goalkeeper. 18 years old. Born in Torito Bari, Italy. Canadian national team player. Joined Minnesota Kicks before the 1977 NASL season. Later played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. Member of Canada’s 1986 World Cup squad.
Wally Smith – goalkeeper. Formerly of Montreal Olympique.
Hercules Brito – defender. 36 years old. Played for Brazil in more than 80 international games. Member of three Brazilian World Cup squads.
Juan Monje – defender. 33 years old. Born in Madrid, Spain. Canadian national team player.
Jacob Shanee – forward. 23 years old. Born in Israel. Had played in Israel, Hong Kong and South Africa. Also had tryout with Manchester United. Later played for Cleveland Cobras in the American Soccer League.
Tony Vaccaro – midfielder. 20 years old. Born in Sicily, Italy. Canadian national team player. Later played in the NASL and MISL.
Igor Bachner – 29 years old. Born in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. Former member of Montreal Olympique and Boston Minutemen in the NASL. Canadian national team player. Joined San Diego Sockers in 1978.
Franco Gallina – 31 years old. Born in Napoli, Italy. Former Serie A player. Joined Montreal Olympique in 1971. Also played for Toronto Italia in the National Soccer League.
Toninho Guerreiro – midfielder. 33 years old. Born in Bauru, Brazil. Former teammate of Pelè at Santos.
Gordon Wallace – midfielder. 21 years old. Born in Glasgow, Scotland. Played for Montreal Olympique and Toronto Metros in the North American Soccer League. Later joined Toronto Blizzard.
Canè (Jarbas Faustinho) – forward. 36 years old. Starred for Napoli in Serie A.
Lima DePadua – forward. Born in Brazil. Twice top scorer in the Brazilian league.
Paul McGee – forward. 22 years old. Born in Sligo, Ireland. Formerly with Finn Harps and Sligo Rovers. Joined Queens Park Rangers in 1977.
Aldo De Simone – forward. Born in Italy. Formerly of Montreal Cantalia.
1976 Division 1 final standings
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
| Toronto Italia | 27 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 53 | 13 | 41 |
| Montreal Castors | 27 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 47 | 18 | 37 |
| Panhellenic | 27 | 15 | 5 | 7 | 46 | 19 | 37 |
| First Portuguese | 27 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 51 | 27 | 33 |
| Windsor Stars | 27 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 47 | 31 | 28 |
| London City | 27 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 44 | 40 | 28 |
| Serbian White Eagles | 27 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 38 | 48 | 26 |
| Macedonia | 27 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 33 | 49 | 21 |
| Hamilton Croatia | 27 | 4 | 20 | 3 | 26 | 68 | 11 |
| Welland Lions | 27 | 3 | 22 | 2 | 18 | 88 | 8 |
National Soccer League 