Blue Devils look to impress in championship debut

NEIL DAVIDSON

TORONTO The Oakville Blue Devils started work early this season, looking to make the most of a berth in the newly expanded Canadian Championship.

Canada’s annual knockout soccer showcase has opened its doors to League I Ontario champion Oakville and Quebec club champion AS Blainville, who will face off in a new two-legged qualifying round starting this week.

For the amateur Blue Devils, it’s a chance to showcase their skills on a bigger stage.

“It’ll be obviously the biggest game our club’s played to date,” said Oakville coach Duncan Wilde.

“If we win, we climb up the ladder and get even more competitive. So it’s an exciting time for us.”

The first leg is Wednesday in Laval, Que., with the Oakville leg set for June 13 at the Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan. The winner faces the USL’S Ottawa Fury FC in the second round, with defending Canadian and MLS champion Toronto FC awaiting the victor.

The Montreal Impact play the Vancouver Whitecaps in the other semifinal. The Canadian champion gets to hoist the Voyageurs Cup and earns a berth in the CONCA- CAF Champions League.

Oakville, which normally starts its pre-season in early April, began training in January. Wilde also took his full squad to Bermuda for five days, playing games against the Bermuda junior national team and an island all-star lineup.

“We think we’ve done as much as we possibly can to give ourselves a shot,” said Wilde.

Oakville stands second in the League 1 standings this season with a 3-0-2 record. The team hadn’t given up a goal prior to a 2-2 tie with Windsor on Sunday.

Midfielder Taylor Mcnamara captains the squad. Forward Anthony Novak leads the Blue Devils in scoring with four goals. Matt George is solid in goal. Former Canadian international Stephen Ademolu, 35, adds experience off the bench.

Oakville won the League 1 Ontario championship final 4-3 in a penalty shootout over Woodbridge after the teams played to a 1-1 draw.

Blainville, which clinched the 2017 Quebec title with three matches remaining, currently sits atop the PLSQ standings with a 4-0-2 record.

Forward Pierre-rudolph Mayard leads the league with six goals.