Voyageurs Cup

Infobox football tournament
title = Voyageurs Cup

founded = 2002
region = flagicon|Canada Canada (CONCACAF)
number of teams = 3
current champions = Montreal Impact
most successful club = Montreal Impact (7 times)
broadcasters = CBC Sports, bold, GOLTV
motto =

The Voyageurs Cup is the only trophy for top-level professional soccer in Canada. From 2002 to 2007, the cup was awarded annually to the Canadian United Soccer Leagues division one team finishing with the best record from regular season matches against other Canadian teams in the USL. From 2008 until at least 2010, the trophy will be awarded to the winner of the Canadian Championship.

History

Montreal Impact have won all seven titles to date, the first six by virtue of their regular-season record in the USL against other Canadian sides. They won the inaugural Canadian Championship in 2008 to retain the trophy, their seventh straight Voyageurs Cup victory.

Calgary had never finished higher than fourth in the competition until their departure from the USL while Edmonton Aviators finished third in their lone appearance in the tournament. Both Alberta teams folded after the 2004 season. Toronto Lynx finished as runners up in four of the five years they participated, eventually dropping down to the Premier Development League in 2007 and effectively withdrawing from the Voyageurs Cup. As a result, in 2007 the trophy was decided on regular-season USL results between Montreal and Vancouver.

The cup is awarded by "the Voyageurs", who were founded in 1996 as a national organization of fans of Canadian national teams at all age levels. Until 2008, Costs associated with the cup, such as its engraving, shipping, maintenance, and promotion had been paid for by private donations from individual members of "the Voyageurs". In 2008, the trophy was handed over to the CSA to be presented to the winners of the Canadian Championship. The terms of the agreement will be reviewed in 2010.ref|bio2

Through its history, the cup has been contested by Montreal Impact, Toronto Lynx, Vancouver Whitecaps, Calgary Storm (later renamed the Calgary Mustangs), Edmonton Aviators and Toronto FC.

Canadian Championship

In 2008, the winner of the first Canadian Championship was to be awarded the Voyageurs Cup.ref|bio1 The 2008 edition was contested by Montreal Impact, Toronto FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps. The Montreal Impact drew 1-1 against Toronto FC in the final game at BMO Field to clinch its 7th consecutive Voyageurs Cup. The Impact is the only team to have won the cup since its inaugural edition in 2002.

For women

There is also a Voyageurs Cup West for Women and Voyageurs Cup East for Women awarded since 2004. The first Women's Voyageurs Super Cup was contested in 2006.

Past winners

Prior to 2008, from when it has been awarded to the Canadian Championship winners, the men's title was decided on regular-season matches between Canada's USL First Division sides.

Women's Voyageurs Super Cup

External links

* [http://www.voyageurscup.ca Voyageurs Cup site]
* [http://www.canadian-soccer.com The Voyageurs]

Footnotes

# cite web|url=http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=3190|work=canadasoccer.com|title=Association announces partners for new Nutrilite Canadian Champions League|accessdate=May 25|accessyear=2008
# cite web|url=http://www.canadian-soccer.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=0.84&TOPIC_ID=15554#201492|work=forum post by Winnipeg Fury|title=Here's the name|accessdate=May 25|accessyear=2008

fb start Canadian Championship Canada Soccer fb end