Edmonton players home for opener
‘You can ... feel the response’
Thirteen years ago, Stephanie Labbé was sitting in the stands at Commonwealth Stadium with her mother Bev, watching Team Canada win a silver medal at the U-19 FIFA World Championship in her hometown.
Labbé had trained with the team, but didn’t end up on the field.
“There were so many people. It was packed and the atmosphere was amazing,” Bev recalled. “And now, to have it back here at home and for her to be a part of it, it’s so awesome. I’m so proud.”
Labbé isn’t the only local player on Canada’s roster that is looking forward to playing in front of the home crowd when the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off Saturday, with Canada facing China.
Labbé, from Stony Plain, St. Albert’s Erin McLeod and Edmontonian Selenia Iacchelli are anticipating the opening game in front of what is expected to be boisterous, sellout crowd.
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to be in Canada and for me, Erin and Selenia to be in our hometown and on our home pitch, it’s pretty remarkable,” Labbé said. “We’re really excited to get this thing going and feel the excitement of the Edmonton crowd.
Local families are perhaps equally excited to see their sisters, daughters and granddaughters on the pitch.
“You can kind of feel the response from the city as a whole that people are getting more hyped up about this and getting more engaged in the sport,” Labbé’s brother Kevin said. “There’s been a lot more focus on women’s soccer since the Olympics. I think people are really jumping on board and are excited to cheer Canada on.”
Bev, who was close to tears when Labbé and the rest of team Canada arrived at the airport earlier this week, said it’s exciting to see the city throw its support behind women’s soccer.
“The girls are getting excited, people at work are getting excited, everyone we talk to is excited,” Bev said. “In the last few days, it’s been really great. We can’t wait until Saturday.”