Windsor’s own professional soccer team––the Windsor Stars––asks the community to be the team’s 12th player

In Play Magazine

Inaugural season kicks off on May 7, 2011, at Windsor Stadium

WINDSOR, Ontario, April 28, 2011 – Windsor brings back pro soccer to the border city following a

three-year absence. The Windsor Stars––the new Canadian Soccer League, professional soccer

team––will play its inaugural home opener, taking on the Montreal Impact Academy on May 7 at

Windsor Stadium.

Anticipation for the home opener is growing for Filip Rocca, restaurateur and president of the Stars.

It’s taken nearly a year, but Rocca’s efforts have paid off. “As with any new experience, you never

know what to expect. I’m very proud of what we have achieved so far in terms of our team and

sponsors. As a non-profit, the support from our sponsors and the community is fundamental to our

success. The hard work involved in making this team a reality is well worth the effort seeing the

excitement from the kids and having a professional soccer team in Windsor.” says Rocca.

“It is truly something special to see your dreams unfold before your eyes. It is an honour to bring

professional soccer back to Windsor and restore the prestigious sport of soccer in our community. I

cannot wait to start working with the youth in the city and helping them achieve their dreams.” vice

president, Gino Berardi explains.

The team was born out of a need to create an avenue for youth players in Windsor-Essex, both girls

and boys, to advance in their soccer careers and to continue chasing their dreams through

development and recruitment.

“It’s exciting to have pro soccer back in Windsor. The team will be very competitive and enjoyable to

watch.” says Coach Jeff Hodgson.

The team looks forward to entertaining fans on the field and giving back to the community off the field.

They hope that the experience you take home with you after a game keeps you coming back to enjoy

more games with your family and friends. They are also excited to be offering special events and

services for youth in Windsor-Essex, including meet the players nights, year-round youth camps,

game-day youth matches, ‘Practice with the Stars,’ scholarship services, and much more.

The team asks for support from the residents of Windsor-Essex. “It will be a long, tough road ahead,

but we look to take one step at a time.” says Coach Steve Vagnini. “[Our] first step is the Montreal

Impact Academy on May 7, and we need as much support from the community as we can get. That

support will be our 12th player on the field and will make all the difference for us and the experience

everyone takes away from each game.”

Ticket information

Tickets can be purchased at Centro located at 770 Erie Street

East for $7 in advance for adults, $5 for children 12 and under.

Game day tickets will be $10 for adults, $7 for children 12 and under.

Season tickets are also available: Pre-season sale for family pass (4

people access) is $120. Single Pass (1 person access) is $60.

Complimentary shuttle service will be offered every game day from

Centro starting at 6 p.m. with the opportunity to meet the players before every game starting at 5 p.m.

Season schedule can be found online at: windsorstarssoccer.com and you can follow the team on

Facebook at: facebook.com/WindsorStarsSoccer

Player Roster

Name  Jersey #

Anthony Santilli  1

Sam Habib  3

Filip Rocca  4

David Kadoic  5

Chris Suta  6

Daniel Fernandez  7

Ciprian Codea  8

Rob Malbasic  9

Cristian Danny Dragoi  10

Mohamad Saffiedine  11

Ryan Wise  12

Eric Kiebert  13

Ricardo Castaneda  15

Gino Berardi  16

Corey Vickers  17

Aaron Byrd  18

Franco Girogi 20

Emilio Giorgi  21

Justin Danelon  84

About the Canadian Soccer League

The Canadian Soccer League (CSL) is Canada's only professional soccer league and is a

continuation of earlier leagues, the National Soccer League (NSL), the Canadian National Soccer

League (CNSL) and the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL), going back more than 80

years.

The league is in direct membership with the Canadian Soccer Association, Canada`s national

governing soccer body and has a mandate for expansion on a regional basis across Canada.

The Canadian Soccer League is a very physical league with a lot of back and forth excitement. It is a

fast paced league with a lot of chances at both ends of the field. The league features many

professional players from overseas and Canadian Internationals with a great mix of young and

experienced players.

Read In Play! Magazine Here

U.S. Women Fall to Canada, 3-1, in Game Prior to 2011 IIHF World Women's Championship

The Windsor Sports Scene by
In Play Magazine 

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The U.S. fell to Canada by a 3-1 score here tonight at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube in a game prior to the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship. The U.S. squad was made up of 20 of the 30 players vying for a spot on the U.S. Women's National Team, while Canada was skating with its final 21-player tournament roster. The two teams will face off again tomorrow night at 7 p.m. EDT before the U.S. roster is announced on Saturday (April 9). The game can be viewed live at USAHockey.FASTHockey.com. Jen Schoullis (Erie, Pa.) scored for the U.S., while Brianne McLaughlin (Sheffield Village, Ohio) made 18 saves in her first-ever action against the Canadian National Team. In a scoreless opening frame, the shots were 9-8 in favor of Canada. The U.S. penalty kill was successful on the team's only infraction of the frame, holding the Canadians shotless during the two-minute advantage. Canada scored three consecutive goals in the second period to take a 3-0 lead before the U.S. tallied late in the stanza to make it 3-1. First, Canada's Sarah Vaillancourt drove up the left side and shot the puck inside the near post at 1:55, then Meaghan Mikkelson notched a goal just after the Americans' first power play had expired at 9:14. Jayna Hefford kept the Canadian momentum going at 13:40 when she scored on a shorthanded breakaway, but the U.S. responded less than three minutes later as Schoullis, who is looking make the U.S. Women's National Team roster for the first time, scored at 16:39. The 3-1 score held through the third period, during which time Canada held a 6-4 edge in shots.

Read In Play! Magazine Here