Rhian Wilkinson's Official Website

SOCCER MEDIA REPORTS:

CANADA NATIONAL WOMEN'S TEAM ARRIVES IN TORONTO

7th July 2008

Based on a CSA Report

Canada's National Women's team arrived in Toronto tonight, landing at Pearson International Airport in the late afternoon. They are in town for their Thursday 10 July match against Brazil at BMO Field, presented by Winners. The kick off is at 19.00 ET, and some tickets to the match are still available through Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.ca or 416.872.5000).

The team has a busy few days ahead of the match. First, they will launch their week in Toronto with their first ever special appearance at the Winners store at College Park on Tuesday 8 July from 10.15-12.00 ET (444 Yonge Street).

The Tuesday 8th July Winners store event will give fans the opportunity to meet the players and ask for autographs. The athletes will be visiting the store from 10.15-12.00 noon, to sign autographs and meet Canada’s soccer fans. The first 50 young fans to arrive will be given a soccer ball. The Canadian team's appearance will help highlight Winners new line of soccer clothes and equipment.

It will also promote the winners.ca contest in which fans can win a Canadian cross-country trip. While making its appearance, the Canadian team will get to check out the new soccer campaign launched by Winners. Posters featuring some of the star players are proudly displayed in stores across Canada. The winners.ca website also encourages fans to send the Canadian team their best wishes.

The Winners store event is all part of the build up to the Thursday 10 July match at BMO Field. The women’s team is making its debut at the Toronto stadium and it is the first home game they have played for almost two years. The match will be Canada’s last full international friendly played at home before the team departs for Asia and the 2008 Olympic Games Tournament.

From the Winners event, the team will return to their downtown hotel before a team practice. There will be a further practice on Wednesday evening at BMO Field. There is some confusion about whether these are closed session practices only open to CSA invitees. One practice has guest teams attending, but apparently, there is no additional space.

Captain Christine Sinclair heads the Canadian lineup, but she is joined by several players with roots and contacts in Ontario. Robyn Gayle and Jonelle Filigno hail from Mississauga, while Diana Matheson and Kara Lang grew up just a little further west in Oakville. Melissa Tancredi grew up down the road in Ancaster while Candace Chapman grew up on the other side of Toronto in Ajax. Rhian Wilkinson's father lives in Mississauga.

Canada’s women’s national team, whose title sponsor is Winners and whose presenting sponsor is Teck Cominco, was most recently ranked 9th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings. The team has competed in each of the last four FIFA Women’s World Cups.

The match will be broadcast live on Sportsnet West, at 19.00 ET / 17.00 MT / 16.00 PT. The Sportsnet broadcast will feature Gerry Dobson and Soccer Hall of Fame honoured member Craig Forrest. Along with the live broadcast, the match will be replayed on Sportsnet East and Sportsnet Ontario at 23.30 ET / 20.30 PT as well as on Sportsnet Pacific at 23.00 ET / 20.00 PT.

The 10 July match will be Canada's last full international friendly before the 2008 Women's Olympic Football Tournament in Beijing. The Women's Olympic Football Tournament runs 6-23 August.

Canada’s women’s national team, whose title sponsor is Winners and whose presenting sponsor is Teck Cominco, was most recently ranked 9th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings. The team has competed in each of the last four FIFA Women’s World Cups.

CANADA SQUAD

1 Karina LeBlanc | G | Maple Ridge, BC
2 Kristina Kiss | D/M | Ottawa, ON
3 Emily Zurrer | F/D | Crofton, BC
4 Clare Rustad | D/M | Salt Spring Island, BC
5 Robyn Gayle | D | Mississauga, ON
6 Sophie Schmidt | M | Abbotsford, BC
7 Rhian Wilkinson | F | Baie d’Urfé, QC
8 Diana Matheson | M | Oakville, ON
9 Candace Chapman | M | Ajax, ON
10 Martina Franko | D | Squamish, BC
11 Randee Hermus | D | Langley, BC
12 Christine Sinclair | F | Burnaby, BC
13 Amy Walsh | M | St-Hilaire, QC
14 Melissa Tancredi | F | Ancaster, ON
15 Kara Lang | F | Oakville, ON
16 Jonelle Filigno | F | Mississauga, ON
17 Brittany Timko | D/M | Coquitlam, BC
18 Erin McLeod | G | Calgary, AB
19 Chelsea Stewart - The Pas, MB

Head Coach / Entraîneur-chef : Even Pellerud
Assistant Coach / Entraîneur adjoint : Ian Bridge
Goalkeeper coach / Entraîneur des gardiens : Paul Rogers
Team Manager / Gérant d’équipe : Les Meszaros
Equipment Manager / Gérant d’équipement : Maeve Glass
Doctor / Docteur : Dr. Andrew Pipe
Athletic Therapist / Thérapeute athlétique : Becky Swan
Massage Therapist / Massothérapeute : Nicole Stephen