It's been quite a while since Helen Stoumbos suited up the boots for Canada, but the former member of Canada's national women's team still has strong ties to the program.
On Saturday afternoon Stoumbos will host a viewing party at Buffalo Wild Wings as Canada takes on New Zealand in round-robin play at the 2019 World Cup. Game time is 3 p.m.
A portion of the proceeds will go to the Canadian Women's National Team Alumni Association, of which Stoumbos is president.
"I always have a viewing party anyway at my house, but we thought this would be a great way to do something anyone can attend and raise some money for the alumni association," Stoumbos said.
"It's free to attend. We get a percentage of sales."
Stoumbos, a member of the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame and the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame, earned a place in Canadian soccer history in 1995 when she became the first Canadian, woman or man, to score a goal in a World Cup game, curling one in direct from a corner kick against England.
Canada entered the tournament ranked fifth in the world, behind the United States, Germany, France and England.
"The competition and level of play so far has been unbelievable," Stoumbos said. "I'm just blown away by the quality of the top teams. The amount the women's game has improved is insane."
Canada beat Cameroon 1-0 in its first game.
The hot topic thus far at the cup was the level of celebration the US women engaged in when they hammered Thailand 13-0.
Stoumbos, like many, believes it was over the top.
"Celebrating like you've just won the World Cup on your 13th goal is just like putting your finger in someone's face and yelling at them. I didn't think it was necessary.
"Thailand was not up to snuff. I get the goal scoring (goal differential counts), but I just think that when you've scored five goals you don't need to wrap your legs around somebody else and cheer like it's the World Cup final and you've just scored the winning goal."
Stoumbos said she's been on the losing end of many blow outs and knows how it feels.
"You don't need to throw it in people's faces," she said.
Stoumbos is hoping to have another viewing party in the elimination round.
