CBC announced on Friday that it will broadcast the inaugural Nutrilite Canadian Champions League — the Canadian qualifying tournament for the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Champions League.
The tournament will feature three Canadian teams — Toronto FC, Montreal Impact and the Vancouver Whitecaps — who will compete for the right to represent Canada at the new continental club championship.
The CONCACAF Champions League winner will then qualify as the CONCACAF representative at the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup.
The winner of the Nutrilite Canadian Champions League will also receive the Voyageurs Cup trophy, awarded to the top professional Canadian team since 2002 and donated by the Canadian Soccer Association for the event.
"We are thrilled to add coverage of the first-ever Canadian Champions League to our soccer lineup," said Scott Moore, executive director, CBC Sports. "Our agreements with FIFA and MLS show that CBC is committed to helping to grow the game in Canada.
"This will be an exciting tournament with intense competition between Canada's professional teams. Bringing it to Canadians is an important part of our commitment."
CBCSports.ca will provide video streaming of four matches, providing coverage both live and on demand.
Toronto FC is enjoying an excellent start to their sophomore season in Major League Soccer. The club is currently riding a six-game unbeaten streak, sitting fourth in the league's Eastern Conference (4-2-2).
The Whitecaps and the Impact both play in the United Soccer Leagues' first division.
Vancouver has posted a record of 3-1-1 through five games, good for a third-place tie in the first division standings. Montreal has struggled in its first seven games, sitting in eighth place by virtue of a 2-4-1 record.
Coverage of the Nutrilite Canadian Champions League kicks off live on the CBC digital channel bold and CBCSports.ca, on Tuesday, May 27, at 7:30 p.m. ET, as the Montreal Impact hosts Toronto FC at Saputo Stadium. In other Nutrilite Canadian Champions League action:
Tuesday, July 1 - Vancouver Whitecaps at Toronto FC (3 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca) Wednesday, June 25 - Montreal Impact at Vancouver Whitecaps (8 p.m. PT/11 p.m. ET, bold and CBCSports.ca) Tuesday, July 22 - Montreal Impact at Toronto FC (7 p.m. ET, bold and CBCSports.ca)
