News Releases

DUNDAS, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 10, 2011) - The Dundas Dragons U11 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 opportunity to give something back to the community is the driving force behind the Dragons' campaign, as the Dundas community has a great need for a new soccer pitch. The team is head over heels with excitement this week as they continue to promote their position as a finalist for BMO Team of the Week.

"The $125,000 prize would be a tremendous boost for the Dundas Youth Soccer Club as well as for soccer in the Hamilton area. The girls were very grateful for the opportunity to donate $500 to the Terry Fox Foundation for being selected as a team of the week, but they now sense that as a team and a community, they have a chance to do even more, so the work is not yet complete," said team coach Troy Thompson.

For the last several weeks, the Dundas Dragons have been promoting their team by proudly displaying signs and posters at local shops and businesses. They have made themselves available to visit soccer fields and events to hand out flyers and to speak to as many people as possible about the contest. The community has been very receptive to their efforts and there is a real buzz in the air as a result.

In addition to these activities the girls were out promoting at the annual Buskerfest, and during the Dundas Canada Day Celebration. A big highlight for the girls was participating as ball girls at a Hamilton FC Rage women's soccer game. They invited three other teams from their Multijurisdictional League to scrimmage with them at halftime and to enjoy a night out watching elite level soccer.

"The families on our team have delighted in watching the girls pull together. The community has also taken notice, and the girls have been asked to marshal this years' Cactus Parade, which is our town's biggest annual celebration. This experience has been extremely rewarding for all involved and we hope to share this joy with everyone in Dundas should we win the BMO Team of the Week challenge," added Thompson.

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 select 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.