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| Nickname(s) | The Islanders | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground | UPEI Sports Comlex | ||
| Coach | John Diamond | ||
| League | PEI Senior Soccer League | ||
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Churchill Arms FC is a senior men's amateur soccer club from Charlottetown, PEI. The team is comprised mainly of current and former UPEI Men's Soccer players. They were the 2008, 2009 and 2010 provincial representative for Prince Edward Island at the BMO Canadian National Soccer Championships and are currently Challenge Cup champions [1].
History
editNSSL
editFrom 2000-2007, the team was known as Breakers FC/VUFC.
In 2007 and 2008 the team played in the Nova Scotia Soccer League due to a lack of a premier league on Prince Edward Island. As Avondale Islanders, the team finished 3rd (2007) and 4th (2008) in the NSSL, did not compete in playoffs, and represented PEI at the BMO National Championships. In 2008, the Islanders defeated Nova Scotia representative Halifax City in a shootout to advance to the bronze medal game[2]. Avondale then won the club's first national medal with a 3-2 victory over BC's Gorge FC.
MSSL
editIn 2009, there was a move away from the Nova Scotia Soccer League due to travel concerns between provinces. The team joined with Moncton and Fredericton Picaroons Reds to form a Maritime Senior Soccer League. In its inaugural season, the PEI and NB Canada Games teams also entered the league to gain experience for the 2009 Canada Games. The Islanders again represented PEI at the national championships, winning their second bronze medal in as many seasons with a shootout win over the defending national champion, Calgary Callies.
National Championship
editIn 2010, the Maritime League folded and the Islanders were left to play an exhibition schedule and league games versus the PEI Selects. The PEI Selects team had been created because New Brunswick was not able to send a representative to the 2010 BMO Nationals, thus Prince Edward Island (as host) had the right to send a second team.
The PEISA scheduled a 2-game series to determine the "representative" team and the "host" team. The series was played on August 22 and 25, 2010. Churchill Arms defeated PEI Selects (later named Hunter's Ale House) 2-1 in the first match and 1-0 in the second match.[3] Josh Vessey scored the winning goal in both Challenge Cup matches.
Churchill Arms FC won the first BMO Nationals gold medal in Prince Edward Island soccer history, with a thrilling 2-0 OT win over Gorge FC from British Columbia. Brett Norton and Ryan Anstey scored for the Islanders, and captain Jonathan Vos accepted the Challenge Trophy.
Team Sponsors
edit2001-2007: Breakers/Velvet Underground
2008/2009: Avondale Golf Club
2010-present: Churchill Arms
Year-by-Year
edit| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Nationals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Senior Amateur | PEI Challenge Cup | 1st | Champions | 5th |
| 2007 | Senior Amateur | NSSL | 3rd | N/A | 9th |
| 2008 | Senior Amateur | NSSL | 4th | N/A | Bronze |
| 2009 | Senior Amateur | MSSL | 1st | N/A | Bronze |
| 2010 | Senior Amateur | PEI Challenge Cup | 1st | Champions | Gold |
Players
editCurrent roster
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Former players
editMark MacGillvary (2007-2008)
Jeff Ellis (2005-2006)
Timma Kalinowski (2007-2009)
Ben Paynter (2007-2009)
Bart Vermunt (2005-2009)
John Smith (2002-2009)
Lucas Vessey (2007-2009)
Tim McLeod (2007-2009)
Awards/Honors
edit2010
editBMO Challenge Cup Champions
PEI Senior Men's Challenge Cup Champions
PEI Soccer Association Team of the Year
PEI Soccer Association Coach of the Year (John Diamond)
PEI Soccer Association Senior Male Player of the Year (Jonathan Vos)
References
edit- ^ http://www.canadasoccer.com/natchamps/challenge.asp
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huZSeGl1rjM
- ^ "PEI Soccer Forum". Retrieved 21 August 2010.