Northwest Champions League joins NPL

by US Club Soccer
April 16, 2014

CHARLESTON, S.C. – In a move to maintain the Northwest’s firm position as one of the leading competitive regions in the country, the Northwest Champions League will join US Club Soccer’s National Premier Leagues (NPL) beginning in the 2014-15 season.

Representing the highest level of club competition in the Pacific Northwest, the Northwest Champions League will be comprised of qualifying clubs from two existing NPLs – the Oregon Premier League and Washington State Premier League – as well as other qualifying clubs from Washington and Idaho.

Teams will compete in U-11 through U-19 boys and girls age groups, and the competition will feature an innovative schedule to accommodate different high school seasons in the region.

“Thanks to continuous successful seasons in both the Oregon Premier League and Washington State Premier League, the timing is perfect to create an even better competitive platform in the NPL in the Northwest,” NPL General Manager Chris Baer said. 

Clubs participating in the 2014-15 Northwest Champions League season in the U-11 through U-14 age groups are as follows:

ASE

Eastside Timbers

Harbor FC

Spokane Foxes FC

Boise Nationals

Eugene Timbers FC

Idaho Rush SC

Tualatin Hills United SC

Cascade FC

FC Alliance

Issaquah SC

Washington Premier FC

Central Washington SA

FC NOVA

NEU PDX

Washington Rush

Crossfire Oregon

FC Portland

RSA Elite

Washington Timbers FC

Crossfire Premier

FC Salmon Creek

Seattle United

Westside Timbers

Eastside FC

FC Spokane

Snohomish United

XiFA

The complete list of clubs for the U-15 through U-19 boys and girls age groups is being finalized.

Winners in the U-13 through U-18 age groups will represent the Northwest Champions League at the NPL Finals – the targeted destination for all NPL teams, where NPL national champions are crowned.

Northwest Champions League participating clubs will also have the opportunity to compete in NPL Showcases, the first of which was held for U-16 through U-18 boys, March 7-9 in suburban Las Vegas.

“Crossfire Premier competes at the highest levels,” said Crossfire Premier Director Bernie James, “including our U.S. Soccer Development Academy teams and ECNL teams, and we are excited to compete for NPL national championships. This is a competition we want to win.”

“The experience our members have received in participating in the Northwest Champions League has been fantastic,” said Oregon Premier Council President Rob Baarts. “Bringing some of the best clubs in the Northwest together to compete only makes us better.”

“This represents the next stage of development for clubs that compete in the Washington State Premier League,” said Stanley Holmes, President of the Puget Sound Premier League. “Giving all of the competitive clubs an opportunity to test themselves against the best in the region not only develops better players but will send even stronger teams to the NPL Finals.” 

US Club Soccer’s Player Development Program (PDP) will also expand within the region, as the Northwest Champions League will join the Oregon Premier League and Puget Sound Premier League/Washington State Premier League in hosting PDP events.

The addition of the Northwest Champions League gives the NPL 19 member leagues across the country for the 2014-15 season.

ABOUT US CLUB SOCCER: 

A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer is an organization committed to the development and support of soccer clubs in the United States. 

US Club Soccer offers youth and adult registration, league- and cup-based competition platforms at the recreational and competitive levels, as well as a variety of other programming, including the Olympic Development Program-sanctioned id2 Program and Player Development Programs.

Through US Club Soccer, all of a club’s programs – recreational, competitive and adult – are able to be united under one organizational umbrella, creating a “members for life” culture within each club. US Club Soccer is sponsored by Nike and the Army National Guard.

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