Creating opportunities

We’re still four months away from the 2012 Whitecaps FC College Showcase, but it’s already shaping up to be an outstanding event. Teams interested in applying for the showcase should contact Chris Murphy, head of recruitment, for more information. 

The best talent in the province will be on display this March, with each team from the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League already committed to attend. The talent does not stop at British Columbia though, as applications have come in from across the country, with top teams from neighbouring Alberta and Washington also set to take part, as well as applicants from Manitoba, Ontario and throughout the United States. Among the registered teams is Calgary Blizzard Juventus, who have qualified for the Canadian National Championships two of the past three years.

“The 2011 Whitecaps FC College Showcase provided Blizzard Juventus with early spring outdoor competition and exposure to potential colleges and universities,” praised Blizzard head coach Paul Lombardo. “The players are excited to attend again in 2012 and look forward to an even greater experience, competing against elite level teams from within Canada and the United States.”

The Whitecaps FC College Showcase provides players with excellent exposure for college and university scholarship opportunities. Among the Canadian institutions attending are the University of British Columbia (UBC), who have won 11 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) men’s soccer championships and five CIS women’s soccer championships, as well as the University of Victoria, who recently added their fifth CIS men’s soccer championship to go along with a 2005 CIS women’s soccer championship.

“The Whitecaps FC College Showcase has proven to be an excellent player recruitment tool for us over the past couple of years,” explained Gary Moody, UBC women’s soccer assistant coach. “It’s an unbelievable chance to see many elite soccer players from across the country attending and playing over the same weekend.”

The list of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) schools attending includes 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship tournament participant Florida Gulf Coast University and NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship tournament participant Louisiana State University (LSU). Other strong programs coming to the event include the University of Washington and Santa Clara University, with the latter having won NCAA Division I championships for both men and women.

“College recruiting gets tougher and more competitive every year,” attested Santa Clara associate women’s head coach Gregg Murphy. “It only makes sense to evaluate talent outside of the United States, and even more sense because of the proximity of athletes from Canada.  The Whitecaps FC College Showcase is a well run event with games played on quality fields, that provide college coaches the opportunity to see some of the best Canadian talent in a single weekend."

For more information on the Whitecaps FC College Showcase click HERE or contact: