CSA announces schedule for 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship

The three-team, six-match tournament runs from this May 6 to June 17. The 2009 winner will advance to represent Canada in 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League season.



The Impact, last year's winner in the 2008 Nutrilite Canadian Championship, is still involved in 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League play. In fact, the Impact plays its first match in the quarterfinal stage this Wednesday, against Mexican club Santos Laguna.



As 2008 champions, the Impact will host the final game of the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship on June 17. The Montreal club will play against last year's runner up, Toronto FC, for the 2009 tournament finale.



Toronto FC will host the first two matches at BMO Field - against the Whitecaps on Wednesday, May 6 and against the Impact on May 13. The schedule will then shift to Saputo Stadium, when the Impact will host the Whitecaps on Wednesday, May 20.



The Vancouver Whitecaps then host back-to-back games at Swangard Stadium on Wednesday, May 27, against the Impact and Tuesday, June 2 against Toronto FC.



Five of the six matches will be played on Wednesday night, with only the June 2 game played on Tuesday (just before the break for FIFA matches). Montreal and Toronto matches will kick off at 8 pm, while the Vancouver matches will start at 7 pm.



All three teams play four games in the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship - two home and two away against each opponent. Each team receives three points for a win and one point for a draw. The first-place team wins the 2009 Voyageurs Cup and advances to the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League. The CONCACAF champion advances to the annual FIFA Club World Cup.



PHOTOS PÉPÉ



-30-



Sources:

Richard Scott, Canadian Soccer Association

Info : 613.818.0305



Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact

Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 227)