For the first time in club history, Woodbridge Strikers SC will compete in the 2026 TELUS Canadian Championship this evening, as the 2025 Ontario Premier League champions travel to Laval, Que. to face Canadian Premier League newcomers FC Supra du Québec on Friday, May 8 (6:30 p.m. ET at Stade Boréal on OneSoccer).

The match marks a milestone moment for both the club and OPL, with the Woodbridge Strikers representing the league on the national stage during the club’s 50th anniversary year.

Head coach Peter Pinizzotto said excitement around the occasion has been felt throughout the entire organization.

“Everyone at the club, the board of directors, they’re all excited about this game,” said Pinizzotto. “For the club, it’s something big to play in the Canadian Championship. It’s very special for the club. We celebrate 50 years, and this came up at a good time.”

Woodbridge qualified for the competition after capturing the 2025 OPL title, earning the opportunity to test themselves against professional opposition in one of Canadian soccer’s biggest domestic competitions.

For Pinizzotto, the focus is less about his own experience and more about what the opportunity means for his players.

“We have a very young team,” he said. “For some of the kids, you never know down the road — some of these kids are dreaming of playing pro, so it really gives them an opportunity to see what they can do at this level.”

The Woodbridge squad entering Friday’s match includes several young players still early in their development, including multiple under-17 players. Despite losing a few players to CPL clubs during the offseason and dealing with injuries, the group remains eager for the challenge ahead.

Pinizzotto also believes matches like this are an important reflection of the level continuing to develop within the OPL and PSLC.

“It’s great for the league for sure that we represent the whole league,” he said. “It’s important for Woodbridge too. People in other provinces maybe don’t know the club, so this is a chance to show who we are.”

FC Supra, meanwhile, enter the competition in their inaugural CPL season after joining the league ahead of the 2026 campaign. Pinizzotto expects a difficult test from the Québec side, whom he described as “one of the better teams in the CPL for a first-year franchise.”

Still, Woodbridge plans to approach the match with confidence.

“We’re looking forward to going on the field and being very competitive,” said Pinizzotto. “We know we have to play a perfect game against a very good, solid Supra team.”

The match also serves as another opportunity for the Strikers to showcase the pathway environment the club continues to build for players aspiring to reach the professional level.

“We treat our players like they’re pros,” Pinizzotto added. “We try to do everything possible for the players to go through the right pathway.”

Several former Woodbridge players have already progressed into CPL and MLS environments in recent years, and Friday’s national-stage matchup presents another valuable benchmark for the club’s next generation.

Regardless of the result, Friday’s match already marks a historic moment for one of the province’s longstanding clubs.

“Our board members, our president, vice-president, the rest of the board — they’re excited coming down to watch the game,” said Pinizzotto. “For them, it’s something special too, to have our team represent our club during our 50th anniversary year. I think it’s an exciting time.”

Woodbridge Strikers SC’s 2026 TELUS Canadian Championship preliminary round match against FC Supra du Québec will take place Friday, May 8 at Stade Boréal in Laval, Que. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and the match will be broadcast live on OneSoccer.