2016 Canadian Championship schedule released

Published on

Action from the Amway Canadian Championship game between the Vancouver Whitecaps (white jersey) and the host Impact de Montreal on August 12, 2015. (Photo courtesy of Canada Soccer)

OTTAWA -- Canada Soccer unveiled Friday the schedule for the next Amway Canadian Championship, an annual competition that features Canada's five professional clubs, with the winner earning a spot in 2017-18 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.

The 2016 edition gets started on May 11, when FC Edmonton hosts Ottawa Fury FC in a preliminary round, first-leg encounter. A week later, the sides will meet in the Canadian capital to confirm which of the two North American Soccer League rivals will square off against defending champion Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the semifinals.

"The 2016 edition of the Amway Canadian Championship promises to be exciting once again this year,” said Victor Montagliani, President of Canada Soccer. “The Amway Canadian Championship is always an intense competition, so it bodes well for the future growth of the game in our country."

In the other semifinal pairing, Toronto FC will face the Impact de Montreal.

The two-legged final is slated for June 21-22 (first leg) and June 28-29 (second leg).

Toronto has won the title a record four occasions, while Montreal – a 2014-15 SCCL finalist -- has lifted the trophy three times.

2016 AMWAY CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Schedule

Preliminary Round

Wednesday – May 11, 2016

FC Edmonton v Ottawa Fury FC

Wednesday – May 18, 2016

Ottawa Fury FC v FC Edmonton

Semifinals

Wednesday – June 1, 2016