Calgary Blizzard FC returns to the League1 Canada Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship as the League1 Alberta titleholder for the second consecutive year in 2025, bringing with them momentum, confidence and home-province advantage.
The Blizzard will travel just a few hours from home this year to Sherwood Park. Alberta. Head coach Cedric Bovon believes his group is ready to take another step after finishing fourth at last year’s competition, thanks to a strong returning core and an injection of young talent.
Bovon spoke with Mackenzie Barwell ahead of the competition to reflect on the regular season, the club’s player development pathway and the expectations heading into Friday’s second semifinal against CS Mont-Royal Outremont. Kickoff is set for Friday, Aug. 8 at 10:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. MT.
On defining their identity
“With regard to our DNA and that identity, I think for us it’s all about how we play. We worry about [ourselves] first when it comes to our training mentality, when we prepare for matches.
“I think it has always come down to how we want to affect the game that day, and the opponent is secondary for us. That has led us to being so solid defensively, building a foundation for that, and ensuring that everybody on the field wants to get on the ball in good areas, in the tough areas, but managing those moments accordingly.”
On creating a legacy and finishing the job:
“Our goal was, ‘Can we do it again?’ Three years ago, we won the Exhibition Series, the first iteration of League1 Alberta. So, for us, it’s now creating that legacy. Can we still build that prosperous legacy and aim for excellence year after year?
“Ultimately, we were the underdog, we were the newbie (in 2024). We’re trying to take those lessons that we learned, that every minute in those competitions matters, and the details and habits matter.”
On experience, youth and the blend that works:
Bovon highlighted the club’s veterans as anchors, while touting the emerging talent that is rising to the occasion.
“Lauren Houghton in goal is, in my opinion, probably one of the best goalkeepers in Alberta,” he said. “Tori Martyn was stellar this year as a standout centre back. Maggie Zacsko, a senior fullback, also works for us at Calgary Blizzard on the female side, so [she’s] connected internally.”
“We have such an exciting young crop of players … who helped us last week to clinch the title and are going to help us [this weekend].”
On pride in hosting, and showing up, at home:
“I definitely think that extra sense of pride [is there], having this hosted in Alberta,“Three hours down the road from Calgary. We’re excited because we know we can get families and friends to come and fill the seats in the stands and really support our group.”
On handling the moment:
“[There are] a lot of [nerves and excitement]. We’ve got some different faces who have helped us at the end of the year where we really needed it […] and ultimately, that means prepping them for what this looks like, managing those nerves [and] creating some of that stress in training so it’s not a surprise on Friday when we’re in the pitch.
“But the excitement is real. It’s palpable. Everybody we asked to come along was a quick yes within a second.”
The final word:
“We want to do a little bit better than last year. Can we get the first goal? Can we get a win here at the Inter-Provincials and start us on the road to maybe one day being in a space where we feel, ‘Hey, let’s go win this competition.?’”
Tickets to the 2025 League1 Canada Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship can be purchased at Emerald Hills Stadium in Sherwood Park, Alta. on Friday, Aug. 8 and Sunday, Aug. 10 for $15.
All four matches will air live on OneSoccer. Friday’s semifinals will be available on OneSoccer’s main channel, as well as on FuboTV and TELUS Optik TV (channel 980) in Western Canada.
Sunday’s matches will stream on OneSoccer’s secondary channel and can be viewed via onesoccer.ca or the OneSoccer app on iOS or Android.
Fans of the League1 Canada Women’s Inter-Provincial who are new to OneSoccer can subscribe at a discounted rate of just $4.99 for the first month (regular price 14.99) by using promo code Inter2025 at watch.onesoccer.ca. To sign up, click Subscribe in the top right corner of the homepage. Then click Register to create your account. Choose the Monthly Pass, enter your payment information along with the promo code Inter2025, and click Pay to Subscribe.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.