Voyageurs Cup
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| Founded | 2002 |
|---|---|
| Region | Canada (CONCACAF) |
| Number of teams | 5 |
| Current champions | Toronto FC |
| Most successful club(s) |
Montreal Impact (9 times) 7 times as Montreal Impact |
| Television broadcasters |
Sportsnet (English) TVA Sports (French) |
The Voyageurs Cup is the domestic trophy for professional soccer in Canada, awarded to the best club in the country.
The Cup was conceived and commissioned by fans of the Canada men's national team, the Voyageurs, in 2002. From 2002 to 2007, the cup was awarded annually to the Canadian team finishing with the best record in the USL First Division, from regular season matches against other Canadian teams in the league. Since 2008, the trophy has been presented to the winner of the Canadian Championship, which also awards Canada's berth in the CONCACAF Champions League. Montreal Impact won the first seven trophies while Toronto FC took the next four.
The current Cup holders are Toronto FC, after winning the 2016 Canadian Championship.
The Voyageurs Cup was first conceived in March 2002 by fans of the Canada men's national team, known as the Voyageurs, following Canada's surprise success at the 2000 Gold Cup. After years of being promised a domestic Canadian cup by the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), the Voyageurs took it upon themselves to commission a national trophy using member donations. Veteran Voyageurs member and chief fundraiser since the group's founding in 1996, Dwayne Cole, solicited donations on the Voyageurs internet forum, resulting in $3,500-$4,000 donated. The money was used to commission the trophy, made in Winnipeg, Manitoba by awards manufacturer, AwardsCanada.com. The cup itself is a handled wine cooler made from solid brass and electroplated in sterling silver. The base is lacquered, solid Canadian Oak and set with die cut polished aluminum maple leaf annual plates. An accompanying solid oak case was also crafted for safe transport.
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