News Releases

HUNTER RIVER, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND--(Marketwire - Aug. 10, 2011) - The Central Queens Clippers are in the running to be named BMO Team of the Week 2011 Champion and win the grand prize, which includes $125,000 to upgrade their community soccer pitch.

The champion team will also win a road trip to see a Toronto FC or Vancouver Whitecaps FC home game and a $5,000 donation to the charity of their choice.

The Central Queens Clippers Soccer Club and the Prince Edward Island Soccer Association would like to congratulate and cheer on the Central Queens Clippers U12 Girls team in their effort to become the BMO Team of the Week 2011 Champion.

The Central Queens Clippers U12 girls team showed great pride and spirit as they continually made an effort to better themselves each and every game of the season, regardless of the outcome. This began during this year's spring league and has continued during the summer youth league.

For their efforts, the girls secured their spot among the best across Canada, becoming one of the 15 national finalists in the BMO Team of the Week competition. Despite some challenges, the team came together as a squad and battled for wins, having great outcomes against top rated teams in their league.

"The Central Queens Clippers U12 Girls soccer team from Hunter River, PEI, is thrilled to be selected as a finalist in the BMO Team of the Week 2011 Champion competition. The Central Queens Clippers Soccer Club exists without city or town financial support for field maintenance because of its rural location. The whole Club is excited at the possibility of substantial financial support for field refurbishment (without additional mortgage) should the U12 girls soccer team win the BMO Team of the Week 2011 Champion competition," said team coach John VanLeeuwen.

The girls' love of the sport goes further than just playing matches and training. A number of the girls have volunteered their time to assist their club – Central Queens Clippers – in officiating house league matches for the Under-6 and Under-8 Central Queens teams, giving those younger than themselves the opportunity to play and to learn about the beautiful game.

"The girls' commitment to club and community is demonstrated further by a number of the girls' participation in the 5km Run for the Cure. Running in their team colors along with older girls' teams from the club, the girls show their support for the battle against cancer, raising money for the research they hope will lead to a cure," added coach VanLeeuwen.

With all the efforts these girls have put into coming together as a team, supporting each other during tough matches, learning and developing as players, and giggling (literally) in the face of adversity, their confidence is high. These girls can be summed up in one word, "inspiring."

The Clippers, without question, deserved the award of BMO Team of the Week. They have supported their community and each other continually. It is now the turn of the communities surrounding them to show their support of the team, by voting for the Central Queens Clippers U12 Girls in the BMO Team of the Week 2011 Champion competition.

Daily voting began online at www.BMOsoccer.com on August 1^st and will continue until August 15^th. Please show your support, and let us, the PEI community, bring home this victory for the Clippers U12 Girls.

About BMO Team of the Week

From April 1 to June 30, Canadian soccer coaches and parents were invited to nominate their favourite soccer team by logging on to www.BMOsoccer.com.

A panel of judges selected weekly winners and each BMO Team of the Week received $500, track suits and a gift to a charity of their choice.

Canadians can vote for their favourite BMO Team of the Week until August 15. The Champion will receive $125,000 toward a field refurbishment, a trip to see a Toronto FC or Vancouver Whitecaps FC home game, and $5,000 to a charity of their choice.