Rogers Sportsnet announces Championship broadcast schedule

The Canadian Soccer Association and Rogers Sportsnet have announced the broadcast schedule for the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship. All six matches featuring Impact Montréal, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC will be broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet over six consecutive Wednesday nights from 28 April to 2 June.



Now in its third year, the Nutrilite Canadian Championship is Canada’s professional club championship. The champion of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship advances to the confederation championship, the 24-team CONCACAF Champions League which will also be in its third season this coming 2010-11 season. The confederation champion then moves on to the FIFA Club World Cup.



“The Nutrilite Canadian Championship is the premier soccer championship in Canada featuring Impact Montréal, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC,” said Canadian Soccer Association General Secretary Peter Montopoli. “We are thrilled that Rogers Sportsnet will be the destination for fans across the country to view all six matches of the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship.”



“It’s with great pleasure to continue our partnership with the Canadian Soccer Association and the commitment to promoting the sport of soccer in Canada,” said Dave Akande, Vice-President of Content, Rogers Sportsnet. “Our viewers were treated to a great tournament last year and we expect nothing less featuring the country’s top professional soccer clubs.”



Rogers Sportsnet will broadcast all six matches, with five of the six shown live on Sportsnet East and Sportsnet West. The opening match is 28 April featuring the two previous winners: 2009 champion Toronto FC hosts 2008 champion Impact Montréal at BMO Field in Toronto, ON. The championship then visits Vancouver, BC for the 5 May match featuring Whitecaps FC and Impact (22.30 ET / 19.30 PT) before moving back east to Montréal, QC for the 12 May match featuring Impact and Toronto FC (20.00 ET / 17.00).



On 19 May, the Whitecaps FC-Toronto FC match from Vancouver will be broadcast at 23.00 ET / 20.00 PT on a 30-minute tape delay following the 22:30 ET / 19:30 PT kick off. The championship then returns to Montréal for the 26 May match between the Impact and Whitecaps FC (20.00 ET / 17.00 PT). The final match is 2 June featuring Toronto FC-Whitecaps FC in Toronto (20.00 ET / 17.00 PT).



CanadaSoccer.com will once again be the official home of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. After six weeks, the team with the most points will win the Voyageurs Cup as Canada’s national champion. In all, each team is playing four games – two at home and two on the road. Just last year, the three professional clubs played in front of an average capacity of 92% at Stade Saputo (Montréal), BMO Field (Toronto) and Swangard Stadium (Vancouver).



2010 NUTRILITE CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Impact Montréal

Toronto FC

Vancouver Whitecaps FC



PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS

2009 – Toronto FC

2008 – Impact Montréal



2010 BROADCAST TIMES ON ROGERS SPORTSNET

28.04.2010 – 20.00 ET / 17.00 PT – BMO Field – Toronto FC – Impact Montréal

05.05.2010 – 22.30 ET / 19.30 PT – Swangard Stadium – Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Impact Montréal

12.05.2010 – 20.00 ET / 17.00 PT – Stade Saputo – Impact Montréal – Toronto FC

19.05.2010 – 23.00 ET / 20.00 PT – Swangard Stadium – Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Toronto FC (30-minute tape delay)

26.05.2010 – 20.00 ET / 17.00 PT – Stade Saputo – Impact Montréal – Vancouver Whitecaps FC

02.06.2010 – 20.00 ET / 17.00 PT – BMO Field – Toronto FC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC