Shanay Sangha, Kathleen Gratz and Jessica Anderegg
For immediate release
October 1, 2013
Christine Sinclair to visit CCAA Championship at KPU
Metro Vancouver, BC – Canadian soccer star Christine Sinclair will be paying a special visit to the 2013 CCAA Women's Soccer National Championship: A four-day competition between Canada's eight top provincial conference teams hosted by Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) this November.
Captain of the Canadian national team, Burnaby-born Sinclair won the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, won the Canada Soccer Player of the Year award 10 times and was last year named Canada's Female Athlete of the Year. This September, she was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame; this November, she will be attending the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) tournament where some of the country's top female student-athletes will vie for the championship title November 6-9 at the Newton Athletic Park in Surrey, British Columbia.
"We already know this is going to be an outstanding tournament, but having one of the best players in the world attend brings it to a new level. With Christine attending the event it will raise its profile, bring even more excitement and be very special for the players," says Assistant Coach Joan McEachern, who used to wear Sinclair's number (12) on Canada's national team.
The KPU Eagles women's soccer team – who won bronze at the 2009 CCAA National Championship – will double as hosts as well as participants: A hosting berth reinforced by years of successful campaigns at the provincial and national levels. For the past four consecutive years, the team has qualified for the PACWEST provincial championships, winning bronze in 2008, and secured the title of consecutive provincial champions with wins in 2009 and 2010. They went on to play in the CCAA Nationals both years, placing third in the country with a bronze in 2009.
“The KPU players are extremely excited to have the opportunity to play for the championship in front of their home fans. It is a unique opportunity the players will seize in a phenomenal four days of soccer from the best CCAA teams from across Canada,” says McEachern.
While this is the first time KPU will host the competition, the university is no amateur when it comes to hosting major sporting events. The institution's hosting committee is comprised of sport-event professionals and educational leaders who have collectively hosted collegiate, single- and multi-sport events, including hosting the 2007 BCCAA Provincial Soccer Championship, co-hosting the 2010 BCCAA Provincial Soccer Championship and co-hosting the 2012 PACWEST (formerly BCCAA) Provincial Basketball Championship.
The tournament, just blocks from KPU Surrey, is open to the public with seating for 1,000 at the varsity field. Elementary, high school and post-secondary students are eligible for free admission with a valid student ID. There are also other ways to get involved: Volunteer opportunities are open to the general public, allowing students, sports buffs and community members the unique chance to participate in a national event with the nation's top female student soccer players.
For more information on the event, visit: www.kpu.ca/eagles, or contact Joshua Mitchell, Director of Student Engagement, atjoshua.mitchell@kpu.ca or 604.599.2474.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been serving the Metro Vancouver region for 30 years, and has opened doors to success for more than 250,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs, including business, liberal arts, science, design, health, trades and technology, apprenticeships, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 18,000 students annually have a choice from over 145 programs, including bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates and citations. Learn more at www.kpu.ca.
-30-
For more information about KPU, contact:
Hayley Woodin
Media Specialist
Tel: 604.599.2883
hayley.woodin@kpu.ca