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League1 BC Increases Accessibility to Featured Matches in the 2023 Season

By L1BC Staff, 03/29/23, 10:30PM PDT

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League1 BC featured matches will be broadcast via Youtube and linear TV

March 29, 2023 – Vancouver, BC

With one month left until kickoff of the first league match in 2023, League1 BC Presented by Hall is expanding access to featured matches for the upcoming season, no longer streaming matches via a paid subscription.

In 2023, League1 BC will be broadcasting sixteen (16) “Feature Matches”, in addition to the League1 BC Championship Finals live and free of charge. Supporters, scouts, stakeholders, and future League1 BC stars will be able to view these matches on an open and free platform via League1 BC’s YouTube channel, both live and on-demand. Each Club will be featured once Home and once Away, ensuring an equal distribution and opportunity for teams to enjoy the enhanced match day experience and multi-camera production. Featured matches will also be distributed to a wider audience via linear TV channel, soon to be announced.

“We are extremely pleased to provide free and open access of our League1 BC matches to increase exposure of the league, our clubs, and our players. The increased opportunity for engagement with all stakeholders is a vital component to build upon the league’s foundation.”, said Sian Bagshawe, League1 BC General Manager.

League matches that are outside of the “Feature Matches” during the season will also be hosted on League1 BC’s YouTube channel and available to be viewed on-demand.  Clubs and players will continue to have a chance to be showcased regardless of being a ‘Feature’ match.

League1 BC Featured Matches will be hosted by Katie Hamilton and Peter Schaad, bringing greater insight for viewers on all League1 BC matches.

Katie Hamilton is a lifelong servant to the sport having played for 20 years, is B-Licence certified, and is currently head Technical Coach for the Gorge FC Girl’s program. Katie’s media background includes side-line reporting with MediaPro/One Soccer for the CanWNT & Canadian Premier League, and she’s currently providing news reporting and show hosting on CFAX 1070. The Victoria-born and raised, BCIT-trained Hamilton also hosts a podcast on TELUS called “Her Love of Sports”.

Like Katie, Peter Schaad has been involved in the game since a young age in every capacity.  His childhood ambition was to be a soccer play-by-play announcer; a role he served for almost 20 years on local and national television. Peter’s broadcasting career spans 30 years, including 12 on the Island.  His greatest sense of satisfaction comes from coaching young players, including the soon-to-be U15’s at South Delta United.

The League1 BC season kicks off on April 29th. The entire Men's Division and Women's Division league schedules are now online.

FEATURE MATCH DAYS:

DATE HOME v AWAY
April 29 Harbourside FC v Unity FC
May 13 Rivers FC v Nautsa’mawt FC
May 21 Altitude FC v Rivers FC
May 27 Whitecaps FC v TSS Rovers
June 11 TSS Rovers v Altitude FC
June 24 Nautsa’mawt FC v Highlanders FC
July 2 Highlanders FC v Harbourside FC
July 15 Unity FC v Whitecaps FC
August 5-7 League1 BC Championship Finals


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SAFE SPORT STATEMENT: BC Soccer believes that everyone involved in soccer has the right to participate in safe and inclusive environments free of abuse, harassment, discrimination, and to enjoy the sport at whatever level or capacity they participate in. The welfare of everyone involved in soccer is the foremost consideration and in particular, the protection of children in the sport is the responsibility of everyone involved.

ABOUT LEAGUE1 BC: League1 BC is an adult open age Pro-Am Soccer League operated by BC Soccer. Established in 2021, the league is intended to bridge the gap between youth and professional soccer, targeting the “Training to Compete” stage within Long-term Player Development (LTPD). The League will engage communities across British Columbia providing standard-based competition and training environments for female and male players, coaches, and match officials. League1 BC serves as a key platform of development into further opportunities within the game.

ABOUT BC SOCCER: Established in 1904, BC Soccer is the largest provincial sports organization (PSO) in BC and the third largest soccer-specific PSO in Canada with over 150,000 participants, consisting of registered players, coaches, referees, administrators, and soccer leaders. As a professional not-for-profit society and a member of Canada Soccer, BC Soccer is committed to providing the widest opportunities for existing and potential participants, as well as provide support in the most effective and appropriate way for current players, parents, volunteers, member clubs, leagues, and districts.