VANCOUVER, BC – The schedule is set for the 2015 Amway Canadian Championship, a national competition that features each of Canada’s five professional soccer clubs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC will look to earn a second consecutive berth as Canada's representative as the CONCACAF Champions League. The 'Caps will make their Champions League debut this coming season.
Whitecaps FC will enter this year's battle for the Voyageurs Cup in the semifinal round. As the top seeded team in the tournament, Whitecaps FC will begin their run on May 6 in the first leg of the semifinal before hosting the second leg on May 13 at BC Place. Tickets for Amway Canadian Championship matches at BC Place are included in Whitecaps FC season ticket packages. Single match tickets will be available for purchase in conjunction with MLS single match tickets. All matches will again be broadcast on the Sportsnet network.
For the second time, the Canadian Championship will feature five teams: Whitecaps FC, Toronto FC, Montreal Impact, FC Edmonton, and Ottawa Fury FC. They will all vie to lift the Voyageurs Cup and represent Canada in the 2016-17 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League.
The Blue and White will meet the winner of the preliminary round matchup between FC Edmonton and Ottawa Fury FC. The first leg of the preliminary round will be hosted by Ottawa Fury FC on April 22, 2015; the second leg match will take place seven days later on April 29, 2015 in Edmonton.
Canada’s three Major League Soccer clubs are seeded based on the league’s 2014 regular season standings. The ‘Caps, who finished the season with 50 points, will enter the tournament as the top seed, followed by Toronto (41 points) and Montreal (28 points).
2015 Amway Canadian Championship seeding
1. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2. Toronto FC
3. Montreal Impact
4. FC Edmonton
5. Ottawa Fury FC
2014 Amway Canadian Championship schedule (home team listed first)
PRELIMINARY ROUND
First leg – April 22, 2015: Ottawa Fury FC vs. FC Edmonton
Second leg – April 29, 2015: FC Edmonton vs. Ottawa Fury FC
SEMIFINAL 1
First leg – May 6, 2015: FC Edmonton/Ottawa Fury FC vs.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Second leg – May 13, 2015:
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
vs. FC Edmonton/Ottawa Fury FC
SEMIFINAL 2
First leg – May 6, 2015: Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC
Second leg – May 13, 2015: Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact
FINAL
First leg – Aug. 12
Second leg – Aug. 26
The ‘Caps will be looking to win their first Amway Canadian Championship. Prior to last season, when Vancouver fell to Toronto FC in the semifinals, the Blue and White had finished as runners-up in five consecutive years from 2009 to 2013. Toronto FC have won the most titles, having won four championships in a row from 2009 to 2012. The Impact, who won the inaugural competition in 2008, have also claimed the past two titles.
As with previous years, each stage of the competition is played on a home and away knockout format in which the highest ranked team will play at home in the second leg. The aggregate score of each team (combined goals) over the two matches will determine which team qualifies for the final. Away goals will be used as the tiebreaker if the teams are tied after the two matches. In the event that the aggregate score and way goals are tied, 30 minutes of extra time will be played immediately after the second leg, divided into two 15-minute halves. If no winner has been decided at this point the game will go to penalty kicks, beginning with a best of five shooters before going to sudden death if required.
Whitecaps FC 2014 season tickets start at just $349, subject to
applicable
fees. The 'Caps are also offering a flexible range of ticket products, including half-season tickets ($244), 5-packs ($149), student season tickets ($199), and a youth soccer half-season ticket ($100). For more information on all Whitecaps FC ticket options, call 604.669.9283 ext. 2 or visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
