Jubilee Trophy champions return to Winnipeg
In 30 years, teams from British Columbia and Alberta have won the Jubilee Trophy 22 teams as Canadian senior women's champions. The two most famous teams are back to compete at the 2012 competition in Winnipeg, with Surrey United qualifying again as British Columbia champions and Edmonton Angels winning the Alberta crown for the first time in 12 years.
Surrey United has won nine-straight provincial titles since 2003-04. From 2004 to 2011, the team won two gold medals, two silver medals and four bronze medals in eight National Championships. Surrey United won the Jubilee Trophy in both 2006 and 2011.
The Edmonton Angels were the original Jubilee Trophy champions in 1982, repeating as national champions in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1995, 1999 and 2000. This year marks the team's first return to the National Championships since 2000.
The 2012 Surrey United club features 13 returning members from the 2011 squad (plus returning coach Jeff Clarke). Seven of those 13 are in fact two-time national champions, having also won the Jubilee Trophy in 2006 (April Coffin, Randee Hermus, Theresa Nuttal, Kate Qually, Mylee Ross, Nicole Stewart and Bianca Wilkinson).
The 2012 Edmonton Angels team, meanwhile, features two players from the Edmonton Victoria team that won back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005: Merran Whiteley and Christina Le.
One other 2012 team features Jubilee Trophy winners, last year's national runners up Royal Sélect Beauport. The Beauport team features a mix of youngsters and veterans, with the veterans one-time Jubilee Trophy winners in 2007 with the defunct Dynamo Québec team.
In all, 20 of the 176 players participating in the 2012 Jubilee Trophy competition are former national champions. This year's National Championships run 3-8 October 2012.
JUBILEE TROPHY WINNERS:
Surrey United - goalkeeper Theresa Nuttal, defenders Courtney Duncan, Chelsey Hannesson, Kate Qually, Mylee Ross and Bianca Wilkinson, and midfielders/forwards Alexandra Benes, April Coffin, Randee Hermus, Rachael Pelat, Nicole Stewart, Katie Thorlakson and Caitlin Young.
Royal Sélect Beauport - full back Geneviève Gagné and midfielders/forwards Kathy Gosselin, Geneviève Marcotte, Caroline Vaillancourt and Marie-Michèle Vallée.
Edmonton Angels - goalkeeper Merran Whiteley and centre back Christina Le.