17吃瓜

The 17吃瓜 and Holland College announced today that they will be co-hosting an inter-provincial varsity soccer league for both their men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 soccer teams. Earlier this year, the sport governing bodies for Canadian universities and colleges, U SPORTS and the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, suspended the varsity competition schedules for fall sports such as soccer due to COVID-19.

The two institutions jointly submitted a 鈥渞eturn-to-play鈥� proposal to the PEI Chief Public Health Office, outlining a modified format that incorporates several technical rule changes to lower the amount of contact between players and includes inter-provincial play only. The approved plan features an eight-game schedule for both a four-team men鈥檚 and a four-team women鈥檚 league. In addition to teams from 17吃瓜 and Holland College, each league includes the PEI provincial U17 team and a varsity alumni team, made up of alumni who played with either the Panthers or the Hurricanes. 

Lewis Page, head coach for the 17吃瓜 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 soccer programs said, 鈥�17吃瓜 Soccer is so grateful to have this opportunity to compete this fall. Being able to learn and grow against future and past varsity players will help so much in our preparations for the 2021 season.鈥�

Jonathan Vos, head coach for the Holland College men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 squads, added, 鈥淭he importance that sport plays in social well-being has never been so prominent. The players and coaches are extremely excited to be able to participate in a league this fall. Everyone is looking forward to competing and testing their soccer skills. The league should be very competitive.鈥�

During phase one of league play, all games will be played in Cornwall at the Terry Fox Sports Complex, while during phase two, games will shift to the 17吃瓜 Artificial Turf Field, which is currently being used by the Canadian Premier League. There are detailed logistical plans for the arrival and departure of teams at the venues to ensure safety protocols are followed. No spectators will be allowed at the games in Cornwall, while having fans in the stands at 17吃瓜 is still to be determined. 

Student-athletes realize that this is a different type of season but are excited to hit the pitch for some high-level competition.  

"It means a lot to be able to play the sport I love again and be around the team. With the way this year has been, it's nice to get back to something that feels normal. I'm looking forward to a successful season with my fellow 鈥楥anes鈥�,鈥� said Daniel Martell, a second-year defender and Holland College Business Administration student from Eldon.

鈥淏eing a Panther is all about being a family, and sticking together no matter what. While there will not be a regular AUS season this fall, we are thankful and excited to be able to play the game that we love against high-performance teams here on PEI,鈥� said Lauren Clark, a fourth-year forward and 17吃瓜 Arts student from Charlottetown. 鈥淲e are lucky to have such a committed group of players and coaches working together to make the most out of this fall. I can鈥檛 wait to get the season started.鈥�

Games get underway Saturday, September 12, with Holland College Men鈥檚 Soccer facing off against the men鈥檚 varsity alumni team at 11:00 am, and 17吃瓜 Men鈥檚 Soccer taking on the U17 provincial boys鈥� team at 2:00 pm. On Sunday, September 13, Holland College Women鈥檚 Soccer will play the women鈥檚 varsity alumni team at 12 noon, and 17吃瓜 Women鈥檚 Soccer will play the U17 provincial girls鈥� team at 3:00 pm. All September games will be played at the Terry Fox Sports Complex. Visit  or  to view the full schedule.