Canada Soccer has announced the list of nominees for the 2016 Canada Soccer Player Awards, with voting open today for both media and coaches. At the top of the list are the nominees for the 2016 Canadian Players of the Year award, celebrating the top male and top female footballers from the 2016 calendar year.
Voting for the 2016 Canadian Players of the Year award is split between media and coaches from coast to coast to coast across Canada. Voting is open from Monday 28 November to Thursday 8 December.
Canadian coaches also have the opportunity to vote for both the Canadian U-20 Players of the Year and the Canadian U-17 Players of the Year. Voting for these two categories will be split between national team coaches and other coaches, including those with Canada Soccer Coaching A & B Licences.
This marks the 24th year since the Canada Soccer Player Awards were introduced in 1993. The Awards recognise player performances with both the national teams and their respective club teams. Announcements for this year’s awards, including the Canadian Para Soccer Player of the Year, will run from 9-16 December.
New this year, the Allstate Canadian National Teams Good Hands Award will recognise the top save by Canada Soccer’s National Team goalkeepers during international play. Canadian soccer fans can vote for their top save of the year via CanadaSoccer.com starting from 5-11 December. The will be announced on Monday 12 December.
All fans who vote for their top save will have the opportunity to be entered to win a Canadian National Team signed jersey.
SCHEDULE: 9 December – Canadian Para Soccer Player of the Year 12 December – Allstate Canadian National Teams Good Hands Award 13 December – Canadian U-17 Players of the Year 14 December – Canadian U-20 Players of the Year 15 & 16 December – Canadian Players of the Year
Also new this year is the 2016 Canada Soccer Moment of the Year. From 17 to 31 December, fans will have the opportunity to choose from a top 10 list of moments from the past 12 months on CanadaSoccer.com. Throughout the holiday period, fans can follow as the top moments are featured on Canada Soccer’s digital channels: Twitter (@CanadaSoccerEN), Facebook (www.facebook.com/canadasoccer), YouTube (www.youtube.com/canadasoccertv) and Instagram (@canadasoccer). From there, they can vote for their favourite moment on CanadaSoccer.com.
Fans who register with their vote will be eligible for #CanadaRED prize packs, to be distributed ahead of the announcement of the 2016 Canada Soccer Moment of the Year on 5 January 2017.
Five Alberta Players have been nominated this year including the following players:
Canada Soccer Men’s National Team Program
Tesho Akindele, Calgary, AB
Tosaint Ricketts, Edmonton, AB
Canada Soccer Women’s National Team Program
Stephanie Labbé, Stony Plain, AB
Canada Soccer Men’s U-20 Program
Shamit Shome, Edmonton, AB
Canada Soccer Men’s U-17 Program
Alphonso Davies, Edmonton, AB