NSL co-founder Diana Matheson likes what she sees as new women's league countdown to kickoff hits 100 days
CBC
As the countdown to the Northern Super League kickoff hits 100 days, Diana Matheson likes what she sees.
"It feels like we're right where we need to be," Matheson, co-founder and chief growth officer of the women's professional league, said of Monday's milestone.
"We'll be ready," added AFC co-founder Helena Ruken.
There is still plenty of work to do before the April 16 opener.
The NSL schedule has yet to come out, with the league waiting on the CFL to finalize its dates given shared facilities in Ottawa and Calgary. Matheson expects the NSL schedule to come out in early February with jersey sales to start in March.
And then comes kickoff for the founding franchises in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.
"Picturing those opening games in every market, that's definitely the image I've had in my mind for two years-plus. So I'm really looking forward to those few weeks when all those teams have their home openers," said Matheson, who won 206 caps for Canada in a distinguished international career that stretched from 2003 to 2020.
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There will be a one game opening day on April 16, a Wednesday, with two more on the 19th. The league has yet to announce the opening locations.
Vancouver and Montreal have yet to confirm where they will play home games, although Roses FC says it will use several venues in Montreal.
And while the six clubs had only announced a little more than two dozen players prior to Monday, Matheson says many more have already signed with "some exciting" Canadian talent set to be announced this month. The league completed its coaching lineup Friday with England's Lydia Bedford confirmed as Calgary Wild coach.
Matheson also expects more sponsorship announcements this month, with "some pretty top-tier Canadian brands and multinationals" joining Canadian Tire as league partners.
The league already has a kit provider (Hummel), even an official insurance brokerage partner (Westland Insurance). And broadcast deals with CBC and TSN/RDS.
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