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.
