Congratulations are in order for Caribou Brewmasters, Alfredo's Pub and QML Contracting.
They've all been promoted to a higher division based on their results this season as division leaders in the Prince George Women's Soccer Association.
With promotion comes relegation, and that means three PGWSA teams -- Scottie's Hotties, Golden Girls and Tillmanns -- have each been dropped to a lower-calibre division when the league resumes play July 11 after an 18-day summer break.
"We just want to see what it's like and we're going to try this for a few years," said PGWSA president Kirsty Ames. "Until this year we couldn't make a team move up. We've been like, 'Oh you guys don't want to move up, even though you're too good for your division?' This year we are making them move up."
The 18-team league started the season with five Division 1 teams -- Kodiak Chrome, Accelerated Physiotherapy, Mountain Air Kettle Corn, Xconditioning and Scottie's Hotties. The Brewmasters have moved up to the top division, while the Hotties are now part of Division 2 along with CNC Continuing Education, CNC TyAnda and Division 3 leaders Alfredos' Pub. Division 3 consists of Myatoivic Construction, Pathfinder Forestry, Westcana Electric and Division 4 leaders, QML Contracting. Tillmanns drops to Division 4 along with Columbia Bitulithic, NIFI/Liquor Warehouse and Can You Dig It Contracting.
Division 1 includes 10 players who are either current members of the UNBC Timberwolves varsity team, T-wolves alumni, or who played on the Prince George Youth Soccer Association under-18 all-star team last year.
"If they want to play in our league, they're dispersed [in a draft] among the teams," said Ames. "Last year we put a limit on the number of what we call premier players because that's why our Division 1 initially broke down a few years ago. All the best players were going to the same team and the rest of the teams couldn't keep up.
"The scores have been close, so I think it's working."
The season resumes Friday, July 11 at Michelle Lamarche Field with undefeated Kodiak Chrome (6-0-1) taking on fourth-place Xconditioning (2-3-2). For the first time in several years the schedule runs into September.
Sydney Hall of Kodiak Chrome leads all Division 1 shooters with 13 goals in seven games, followed by Nicole Lodge of Xconditioning (eight goals) and Jamie McFarlane and Janessa Jones, both of Accelerated Physiotherapy (six goals each).
