TORONTO (May 14, 2004) - The Voyageurs, Canada's national soccer fan club, have announced the start of the third season of the Voyageurs Cup, Canada's only national, fan-awarded soccer trophy. The Voyageurs Cup is a lasting emblem of soccer fans' commitment to the improvement, advancement and enjoyment of the game in Canada.
The Voyageurs Cup trophy is awarded annually to the most successful Canadian A-League team based on league points earned in matches between these teams. The Canadian A-League teams are the Calgary Mustangs, Edmonton Aviators, Montreal Impact, Toronto Lynx and Vancouver Whitecaps.
After two successful years, and with the Cup gaining in popularity and stature, this year's competition promises to be the biggest and most interesting yet, with a new team in Calgary and with Edmonton added to the growing list of Canadian cities represented in the A-League.
Moreover, 2004 will see the inauguration of the Women's Voyageurs Cups. A Women's Voyageurs Cup will be awarded to the most successful Canadian team in each of the Eastern and Western conferences of the W-League based on league points earned in matches between these teams.
The Women's Voyageurs Cup West involves the Calgary Wildfire, Edmonton Aviators and Vancouver Whitecaps, and kicks off on Friday, May 14 with the Whitecaps hosting the Wildfire at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby.
The Women's Voyageurs Cup East includes the Montreal Xtreme, Ottawa Fury, Sudbury Canadians and Toronto Inferno, and begins on Sunday, May 23 with the Xtreme at home to the Inferno at the Catalogna Soccerplexe in Lachine.
In both 2002 and 2003, the (Men's) Voyageurs Cup was won by the Montreal Impact in tight, late-season competitions. Montreal will again begin their title defence in the first match of the 2004 competition against the Toronto Lynx at Centennial Stadium in Toronto on Saturday, May 29.
Match schedules, results and standings for all Voyageurs Cup competitions are provided at www.voyageurscup.ca.
ABOUT THE VOYAGEURS
The Voyageurs soccer fan club was founded in 1996 as a national group of fans of Canada's men's World Cup team. Since then, they have been a visible presence at Canadian national team games both in Canada and abroad, at all age levels, for both the men's and women's teams.
The Voyageurs are maintained, run, and funded entirely by its fiercely enthusiastic members. The Voyageurs host the most active Canadian soccer forum on the Internet at www.canadian-soccer.com.
The entire cost of the Voyageurs Cup, including purchasing, maintaining, engraving, shipping, and promoting the trophy and tournament, is borne entirely by private donations from individual Voyageurs.
CONTACTING THE VOYAGEURS
Matthew Bin, Director of Communications for the Voyageurs Cup, is available to provide any further information about the Voyageurs or the Voyageurs Cup competition.
Matthew Bin
125 Cyrus St
Cambridge, Ontario N3H 1H2
519-729-8432
info@voyageurscup.ca
