After a one-year absence, 麻豆社国产Soccerfest is back on April 18 and 19.
And teams from all over the Pacific Northwest haven鈥檛 forgotten about the 34th edition of the annual celebration of soccer in Squamish.
Last year saw the event cancelled for the first time in its history due to Soccerfest falling on the same weekend as Easter and a number of youth tournaments also occurring that weekend.
It鈥檚 full steam ahead for 2015 and Soccerfest representative Dave Harrison said the early response has been positive.
鈥淥ur last meeting we were 10 days into planning and we already had 18 teams signed up,鈥� he said, noting the meeting occurred earlier this month. 鈥淲e鈥檙e on track for another full tournament.鈥�
Soccerfest regularly maxes out with a total of 36 men鈥檚 and 36 women鈥檚 teams of all levels from all over the province descending onto Squamish. Divisions are split up into men鈥檚 open, men鈥檚 over 30, men鈥檚 over 40, women鈥檚 open, women鈥檚 over 30 and women鈥檚 over 30 recreational.
Harrison said there should be a lot of local flavour in this year鈥檚 tournament, with 麻豆社国产FC confirmed for the men鈥檚 open division and the Ellis Moving Eagles from the Howe Sound Men鈥檚 Soccer League in the men鈥檚 over 30. He said a number of other teams from the HSMSL, Whistler and local women鈥檚 leagues should be representing the Sea to Sky Corridor.
He added that teams from the Interior, Vancouver Island and Sechelt have already all signed up and he expects more.
The event takes over Brennan Park and its surrounding fields for the two-day event, with the fields filled with players from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both days. As in previous years, there will be beer gardens, plenty of food options and an awards ceremony at the event鈥檚 conclusion.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always a lot of fun and it鈥檚 a great time for everyone to watch some great soccer,鈥� he said.
There are still spots available for interested teams to register and the deadline to sign up is March 31. For more information on the event, visit www.squamishsoccerassociation.com/pages/soccerfest-tournament.php.
