News Releases

VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Aug. 10, 2011) - The Cordova Bay Impact U12 Girls' team 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. Canadians can log on to BMOsoccer.com to cast their vote. The team with the most number of votes will be the BMO Team of the Week 2011 Champion.

"The Impact players are very excited to be chosen as one of the final 15 teams in the running to be awarded $125,000! They are a focused group that works hard to maintain their fitness level and improve their 'possession' style of play," said Doug Noel, coach of the Cordova Bay Impact.

"The Impact recently returned from playing in the Gothia Cup youth soccer tournament in Gothenburg, Sweden. Plans to attend this tournament began over a year ago and the dream to attend this event served as a catalyst to bring the team together in so many ways. Over the course of the past year, while they have continued to develop their soccer skills, they have reached out to the community and supported events such as walking to support their teammate in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation TELUS Walk for Type 1 Diabetes. They were also recently the clean-up crew at Victoria's first Tour De Victoria bike race, led by 2010 7th overall Tour de France competitor Ryder Hesjedal," Noel added.

"All of my teammates have worked so hard over the past year to prepare for the trip to the Gothia Cup. When we heard about being awarded the BMO Team of the Week, we were so happy and proud. We now need the community's support through votes to be named the 2011 Grand Champion," said Taylor Noel, defender for the Cordova Bay Impact.

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. The final weekly winner was announced July 13.

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.