Edmonton Drillers on indoor world championship schedule, but they won’t be going

FIFRA says that the Edmonton Drillers will represent Canada at the new world indoor club soccer championships. The Drillers say no way.

The Drillers, who finished second to Calgary United FC in the Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League, are listed as Canada’s representative in the upcoming club championships, which will take place February 2-5 in Mexico (SEE HERE). FIFRA, which is the governing body for indoor soccer (not futsal — we are talking about the game that has boards) is inviting the national indoor soccer champions from Canada, the United States, Mexico and Ecuador to face each other. The American invitee is the PASL champion San Diego Sockers, which feature former FC Edmonton striker Daniel Antoniuk.

Originally, Calgary, as the recognized Canadian champion, was invited. But CMISL president Mel Kowalchuk confirmed earlier this year that the team would not go; the bubble around the team’s home field had collapsed.

The Drillers confirmed that not only that they won’t be going, but that the FIFRA mention of the team was the first the club had heard of the tourney.

According to FIFRA, Edmonton is to play the Ecuadorean national champs Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. local time.

The CMISL itself hasn’t begun play. Last November (see below), Winnipeg Alliance president Tony Pesce announced the team wouldn’t be back. But there is still being work done behind the scenes to try and ensure that some semblance of a league schedule will be played this season.

A potential Vancouver owner-operator had expressed some interest in a franchise earlier this season.

But, as it stands, only Calgary — which should have a home again in the coming months — and Edmonton are confirmed for CMISL play.