Indoor Soccer Archive

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Former Eddie Paul Craig finds his groove with the Rochester Lancers

By
Steven Sandor
– 12/30/2012

Paul Craig, in Rochester Lancers’ colours.

Paul Craig is a rookie all over again.

The Prince Edward Islander was one of many players cut by FC Edmonton at the end of the team’s 2012 campaign, after it finished at the bottom of the NASL standings. And even though Craig — who scored the final FCE goal of the season in a rousing last-gasp 2-2 comeback draw with Fort Lauderdale — was a fan favourite, he was on the way out.

But Craig didn’t remain unemployed for very long. Despite having no real experience in the indoor game, he went down to Western New York for a trial with the Rochester Lancers of the USL-owned Major Indoor Soccer League, and earned himself a one-year deal.

Now, Craig is learning a new game, taking the skills and experience from a solid CIS career and two years of life in the NASL , and applying it to the indoor game. And he’s still trying to wrap his head around some of the rules, formations and strategies that come with the MISL.
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CMISL to take one-year hiatus: Plans to return for 2013-14

By
Steven Sandor
– 12/21/2012

The Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League will not have a 2012-13 season. But league president Mel Kowalchuk is hopeful the circuit will return for 2013-14.

Kowalchuk said he was working on bringing new teams into the indoor soccer league, when he ran into health problems. While he is now almost back to 100 per cent, his health issue forced him to put the league on the back burner.

“We are looking at coming back next season,” he said. “But nothing is going to happen this year. It’s far too late to put anything together.”

Last year, the league was reduced to just two teams, Calgary United FC and the Edmonton Drillers, after the Winnipeg Alliance informed Kowalchuk it would not field a team for the season.
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Marinaro, Pugh named to USL Hall of Fame

By
Steven Sandor
– 11/19/2012

Hector Marinaro in a Canada jersey

Two prominent members of the Canadian soccer scene have been named to the USL Hall of Fame.

Ottawa Fury President John Pugh was selected as a Builder in the USL Women’s Hall of Fame category. And, the best indoor player this country has ever produced, Hector Marinaro, was selected for his goal-filled career in the MISL, a league that is now owned by the USL.

Marinaro is a polarizing figure in Canadian soccer. He was one of four Canadian national-team players who was censured for taking part in a match-fixing scandal at the Merlion Cup in Singapore. Marinaro was later reinstated, but it would take nine years before he would put on the Canadian jersey again. Still, his work on the outdoor grass was always overshadowed by the kind of player he was in the arena.

How good was Marinaro? In 533 indoor games, he scored 1,099 goals. With the Cleveland Crunch, which became the Cleveland Force in 2002, he was simply one of the most dominating indoor players in North America.
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Hamilton FC’s Bennett named one of MISL combine’s top players

By
Steven Sandor
– 10/01/2012

Josh Bennett

Simon Fraser University alumnus and Hamilton FC product Josh Bennett will get a shot to earn a job in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

The MISL, the pro circuit administered by the USL, held a combine over the weekend in Kansas City — and the top 22 players were selected by general managers as all-stars. Bennett was on the all-star list, which guarantees him an invite to an MISL training camp.

Bennett, who has trialed for both the San Jose Earthquakes and the Chicago Fire, was the lone Canadian to make the MISL’s all-star list.

Bennett played in 16 matches for Hamilton this past PDL campaign, earning two assists in 1203 minutes of action.
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Canada finishes CONCACAF futsal tourney with third straight loss

By
Steven Sandor
– 07/05/2012

Matthew Rios: Two goals for Canada

Canada will go home from the CONCACAF Futsal Championship after losing all three of its group-stage matches.

After a bright start from the Canadians, four rapid-fire first-half goals gave Panama an advantage it would not relinquish, as it went to beat the Maple Leafs by an 8-5 count.

Oscar Hinks bagged a hat trick for the Panamanians, who advanced to the semifinals of the tournament and sealed a spot in the Futsal World Cup. Canada’s dreams of going to Thailand were eradicated.

Hinks scored on a two-on-one to give the Panamanians the lead, but Canada’s Steve De Blasio scored two goals in the span of two minutes, the first coming on a blast inside the post after he was able to take a pass and spin towards goal.
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Chiles socks it to Canada in CONCACAF futsal championship

By
Steven Sandor
– 07/04/2012

Kraig Chiles

One of the best-known names in American indoor soccer has all but ruined Canada’s chances of getting to the Futsal World Cup.

Kraig Chiles,the two-time MVP for the Sockers team that went undefeated during the Professional Arena Soccer League season and won the world title at the FIFRA championships in Mexico, rocketed a shot under the bar to give the Americans a 3-2 win over Canada at the CONCACAF Futsal Championship.

The loss drops Canada‘s record to two losses in its first two group-stage games in Guatemala, and all but mathematically eliminates the Canadians from having any hope of reaching the elimination rounds.
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Canadian futsal squad felled by Escobar’s four-goal effort

By
Steven Sandor
– 07/03/2012

The Cardiac Kids from Canada scored the first two goals, but then succumbed to a barrage from the hosts. On Monday night, Canada lost its opening match of the CONCACAF Futsal Championship to Guatemala by a 7-3 count.

Humberto Escobar was the catalyst for the Guatemalans, who are the defending CONCACAF champions. He scored four goals on the evening, including a left-footed half-volley wonder strike in the first half.

An own goal created by some hard work from Robbie Tice and San Diego State University’s Jordan Ongaro gave Canada an early lead. Matthew Rios then absolutely pummeled a free kick through the Guatemalan keeper to put Canada two goals up.
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Edmonton Drillers claim one-game CMISL championship

By
Steven Sandor
– 04/22/2012

The Edmonton Drillers held their first practice less than a week ago.

Now, they are the Canadian indoor soccer national champions.

The Drillers headed south to Cowtown, jumped out to a 4-0 haltime lead and held on beat Calgary United FC 6-3 in the one-game Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League season and championship game. The win means that the Drillers will be the officially recognized national champions, and eligible to represent Canada at the next FIFRA world club championships. FIFRA held the inaugural world club championships in Mexico this past winter, with the powerhouse San Diego Sockers taking the title.

“We had two training sessions and this team was put together on a bit of a shoestring,” said Drillers’ coach Kevin Poissant. “We sort of flew by the seat of our pants. But that’s OK.”

The Drillers gathered for the first time Tuesday and trained again on Thursday. But they were up by four goals at halftime.
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Drillers begin preparations Tuesday for CMISL championship on Saturday

By
Steven Sandor
– 04/17/2012

Edmonton Drillers vs. Calgary United FC from 2011.

The Edmonton Drillers are playing to be the internationally recognized Canadian champion of indoor soccer on Saturday.

But it’s not like they will show up to the game as a well-oiled machine. In fact, they are holding their first practice on Tuesday night. They will have one more workout Thursday before heading to Calgary’s Genesis Wellness Saturday, where they will contest the Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League final. The winner of that match will be invited to the FIFRA world club championship next season.

This year, both Calgary (the champs) and Edmonton (CMISL runners-up and FIFRA’s second choice) turned down invites, before a team from the University of Sherbrooke volunteered to take the spot — and finished dead last in the field.
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4

CMISL to have one-game season in 2012

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/19/2012

The Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League’s 2012 schedule will feature one game and one game only.

After a trying winter, CMISL president Mel Kowalchuk has confirmed that defending champion Calgary United FC will face the Edmonton Drillers in Cowtown on the weekend of April 21 for the league championship. Kowalchuk said the winner of that game will earn the right to go to Anaheim in October for a North American championship that will feature the top teams from the U.S. and Mexico.

But Kowalchuk expects the indoor league to rebound in 2012-2013 — and could feature as many as five teams.

Last season, just three teams — Calgary, Edmonton and the Winnipeg Alliance — competed in the CMISL schedule. In November of 2011, Alliance owner Tony Pesce confirmed that he would no longer run the team.
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