Lynx and Oakville Soccer Club Announce Progressive Partnership
April 7, 2005 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Toronto Lynx News Release
(TORONTO, ON) - At a well-attended Press Conference today at the Oakville Town Hall, the Oakville Soccer Club and the Toronto Lynx announced that they have formed a partnership to launch the W-League team that will be playing as the Toronto Lady Lynx in 2005. The conference was hosted by Mayor Ann Mulvale, a self-confessed soccer mom, who has shown her enthusiasm for this initiative noting that the Oakville Soccer Club is one of the largest Youth Soccer Clubs in North America with great resources and a very progressive perspective on the world's game. Oakville has produced some of the finest female soccer players in our country, as exemplified by soccer superstars on the National Team and on the Lady Lynx Roster. The mayor underscored the importance of the Lady Lynx establishing close ties at the grassroots level. The partnership includes the sharing of human resources to establish a strong coaching staff; mentorship programs for Oakville youth and discounted outings to Lynx games.
Dick Howard, the Lynx Technical Consultant, representing the Lynx, presented the Mayor with a Lady Lynx jersey and invited her to wear it to the exhibition game on May 7th. He stated that the future of soccer is feminine and that the Lynx are committed to growing the feminine side of the game. The owner and Chief Operating Officer of the Lynx, Nicole Hartrell is delighted with the partnership and applauds the leadership shown by the Oakville Soccer Club. Hartrell suggested, "that it is exactly these type of partnerships that are going to allow Canadians to grow the game across the country!"
The Lady Lynx are looking very strong with the recent signings of 6 Canadian National Team players signed to date: Amanda Cicchini, Deana Everrett, Natalie Martineau, Melanie Booth, Robin Rushton, and Stacey VanBoxmeer, as well as several young and up-comming NTC-O players, and Japanese and Scotland internationals. Lady Lynx head coach, Brett Mosen, welcomed the initiative and stated that, "he was encouraged by the recent signings and has high hopes of reaching the playoffs in their inaugural season!" Unfortunately no players were present due to school commitments both in Canada and the United States, however Mosen was able to introduce his experienced coaching staff.
The Clubs also announced that the first pre-season friendly will be taking place on May 7th against the London Gryphons of the W-League in Oakville to allow for the many supporters to get a first view of these female soccer stars.
Jean Gandubert, the CAO, of the Oakville Club, who was instrumental in bringing the Oakville Soccer Club and the Lynx together, also announced that Sonia Denoncourt will be in Oakville that same weekend to conduct a referee grassroot development session and later attend the Lady Lynx/Gryphons frriendly in Oakville to assess the referee (Oakville resident Patty Pebbles, a leading female referee in Ontario).
The National team coach, Even Pellerud, who unfortunately could not attend due to other commitments provided a very enthusiastic endorsement of the Lady Lady, declaring in a CSA news release that, "The news of the Lynx having a W-League team in 2005 is great for the women's game in Canada" explained Even Pellerud, Canada's Women National Team Coach, "not only does it offer opportunities for our National Team players to evolve in a quality environment under professional coaching, it also gives a chance to our younger and up-and-coming players to take much needed high competition experience as well as for the younger soccer players to watch their role-models in action".
He further adds a voice of confidence regarding the partnership and the coaching staff that has been put in place in saying,"I am quite pleased to see the Lynx and the Oakville Soccer Club working together to make this a successful venture. This is the way to go and I would encourage more clubs in the Greater Toronto Area to join in", said Even Pellerud, "having Brett Mosen attend our National Team training camp in February showed that this was a serious organisation that wanted to ensure the proper environment for the players and it also helped me establishing a good working relationship with the new Lady Lynx head coach. I can say that I am impressed with the Lady Lynx staff as I know Joe Moscato ( Assistant Coach), Marno Olafon ( goal keeping coach) and Moya Lang ( Manager) personnally. They will do a great job."
He concludes by saying, "The Lynx have now signed 7 of our National Teams players. This is to their credit and I can only offer my support and encouragements, when the players ask me for guidance, now that we have this type of environment available to them in the GTA with the right attitude towards international level athletes", mentionned Even Pellerud, "With the tradition of excellence shown by the Oakville Soccer Club, and players like Diana Matheson and Kara Lang developed there, it is fitting to see young talents such as Amanda Cicchini, Deana Everrett and Nathalie Martineau from that same town making it both to the National Teams and on the roster of the Lady Lynx. All the best to them and to the team for this first season!"
USL First Division Stories from April 7, 2005
- Timbers re-sign veteran Benedetti - Portland Timbers
- City Islanders Introduce Roster, Unveil Jersey - USL-1
- Lynx and Oakville Soccer Club Announce Progressive Partnership - Toronto Lynx
- Battery takes on Eagles in pre-season exhibition - Charleston Battery
- Bill George and Thunder to make major announcement Friday - Minnesota Thunder
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