The Nutrilite Canadian Championship returns on Wednesday with the defending champion Toronto FC hosting the Montreal Impact at BMO Field.
“It’s with great pleasure to continue our partnership with the Canadian Soccer Association and the commitment to promoting the sport of soccer in Canada,” said Dave Akande, Vice-President of Content, Rogers Sportsnet. “Our viewers were treated to a great tournament last year and we expect nothing less featuring the country’s top professional soccer clubs.”
Now in its third year, the Nutrilite Canadian Championship is Canada’s professional club championship. The champion of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship advances to the confederation championship, the 24-team CONCACAF Champions League which will also be in its third season this coming 2010-11 season. The confederation champion then moves on to the FIFA Club World Cup.
“The Nutrilite Canadian Championship is the premier soccer championship in Canada featuring Impact Montréal, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC,” said Canadian Soccer Association General Secretary Peter Montopoli. “We are thrilled that Rogers Sportsnet will be the destination for fans across the country to view all six matches of the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship.”
Toronto and Montreal will compete with the Vancouver Whitecaps in a three-team, six-match tournament to determine Canada’s representative in the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League season. All three teams play four games, with the team finishing in first place also winning the 2010 Voyageurs Cup.
Last year’s tournament featured a dramatic final game as Toronto had to defeat Montreal by at least four goals in order to secure their first Nutrilite Canadian Championship. The Reds subsequently went on an offensive explosion by blowing out the Impact 6-1 in the final game to take the Voyageurs Cup. Toronto striker Dwayne De Rosario led all tournament scorers with three goals and one assist.