The Holland Hurricanes, Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), and City of Summerside jointly announced on Wednesday, from the Credit Union Place Dome, that the 2023 CCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship would be hosted at the Credit Union Place in Summerside.

The event is scheduled for November 8-11 and will feature the top eight collegiate women’s soccer teams from across Canada as they compete to crown the 2023 National Champion.

“To say we are excited to host the CCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship in Summerside would be an understatement,” shared Director of Athletics and Recreation at Holland College, Albert Roche. “Everyone involved sees the wonderful opportunity to work with the City of Summerside and the Credit Union Place to welcome teams from across the nation to our Island. We have always taken great pride in showcasing our Island to our visitors and Summerside’s renowned hospitality will be on full display for the week of nationals. Our goal will be to provide a memorable student-athlete experience and create an atmosphere where the competition will be enjoyed by all. Holland College has a strong identity in Summerside and we can’t wait to bring the CCAA national championship to the city.”

This will be the Hurricanes tenth time hosting a CCAA National Championship, with it being the first time they’ve hosted in Summerside.  Holland College has previously hosted CCAA National Championships in 2008 (golf, Fox Meadow), 2011 (golf, Brudenell), 2012 (women’s soccer, Cornwall), 2015 (men’s volleyball, Charlottetown), 2016 (golf, Fox Meadow) (women’s volleyball, Charlottetown), 2017 (men’s basketball, Charlottetown), 2018 (men’s soccer, Cornwall) and 2022 (women’s volleyball, Charlottetown).

“Today’s announcement is exciting for athletes, families and fans,” said Dan Kutcher, Mayor for the City of Summerside. “It is also very exciting for our local tourism and business sector who stand to benefit from the over $3.5 million in projected economic benefit these events carry.”

JP Desrosiers, Director of Community Services for the City of Summerside echoed Mayor Kutcher’s excitement.

“This event marks the first sport hosting partnership between the City of Summerside and Holland College and it’s my hope that this partnership will open the door to many future hosting opportunities at the collegiate level.”

The Hurricanes will compete as hosts, with the other seven qualifying positions going to members of the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA), Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ), Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA), Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC), Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) and the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST). Teams earn berths into the national championship by winning their conference titles, or one of the wildcard positions.

“It is a special moment for us to play host to the best teams in the CCAA,” said Jonathan Vos, Athletics and Event Coordinator and soccer head coach for the Hurricanes. “Playing at Nationals is every team’s goal and getting to host is a unique moment for all the student-athletes, coaches and everyone associated with Holland College. We are looking forward to playing on the big stage with the support of the Island behind us.”

The Hurricanes, six-time conference champions (2008, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021), will return to regular season action in the fall alongside the other six teams in the ACAA, where they will look to build momentum towards a seventh championship banner, and being at their best at the National Championship.

“This is a very exciting challenge for our program,” said veteran striker, and the programs all-time leading goal scorer, Emily Lepine. “Soccer is a lifelong passion and we’re grateful to have the opportunity to play at this level, but to have the opportunity to compete at a national championship is even more special, we’re all really looking forward to it. This will be an excellent opportunity to grow and recruit to our program for the years to come.”

Connect with the women’s soccer Hurricanes at www.twitter.com/caneswsoccer and www.instagram.com/caneswsoccer.  Hurricanes women’s soccer booster club and CCAA National Championship ticket information will be released this spring.

For more information on the 2023 CCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship, visit www.ccaa.ca.

For more information on the Holland Hurricanes, please visit www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes, www.twitter.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.

In this picture: (Back left to right) Councillor Barb Gallant; Councillor Bruce MacDougal; Councillor Barb Ramsay; Mayor Dan Kutcher, City of Summerside; Holland College President Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald; Doug Currie, Vice President, Corporate Services, Strategic Development and Stakeholder Relations, Holland College. (Front left to right) Hurricanes women’s soccer team members Keanna Ryan, Hayden Chaisson, Emily Lepine and Kina Azuma.