Traficante, Kern honoured by Alberta Soccer

The Alberta Soccer Association honoured two of its past presidents on Saturday, renaming its two senior club provincial trophies after Mike Traficante and Fred Kern. The new men’s trophy will bear the name Mike Traficante Cup while the new women’s trophy will bear the name Fred Kern Shield.



Mr. Traficante, a director at large on the Canadian Soccer Association’s executive committee, was the Alberta Soccer Association president from 2003-04. Mr. Kern followed him with a term from 2005-08. Mr. Kern was succeeded this year by incoming president Chris Billings.



Alberta’s two senior provincial championships provide entry to the BMO National Championships. In 2008, the Calgary Callies won the provincial title before advancing and then winning the Challenge Trophy at the national competition in St. John’s, NL. Northwest United, meanwhile, won the women’s provincial title before finishing fifth in the Jubilee Trophy competition.



This year’s first-ever champions of the Mike Traficante Cup and Kern Shield will advance to the 2009 BMO National Championship senior club competition in Saskatoon, SK. Of note, the Callies need to win the Mike Traficante Cup before taking on the country in their attempt to become the first-ever three-peat national champions.



Also on Saturday night, Mr. Traficante was awarded ASA life membership. He was previously awarded the ASA Shield of Merit in 1991 and the ASA President’s Award in 2005. Mr. Kern, meanwhile, was awarded the inaugural lifetime achievement award. He was previously awarded the ASA President’s Award.