Canada provides a real issue for CONCACAF; our recognized national championship is the Voyageurs Cup. How well a Canadian club does in USL, NASL or MLS has no bearing on Champions League qualification. In the eyes of the region, the Voyageurs Cup is a more important trophy for a Canadian team to win than MLS Cup.

And, after starting keeper Callum Irving was subbed out at half, back-up Sean Melvin was injured, forcing coach Michael Findlay to put defender Adam Straith in goal.

In a reply sent to The 11, the league stated that: "Each season, clubs will play each other home and away, plus they'll have two additional games — one home, one away. The owners/league wanted to give the fans/teams more than just 28 games."

That's why, when his playing career is over, he fully intends to become a soccer coach, working with youth players in Edmonton. He's even thinking about opening his own academy. As FC Edmonton's all-time leading scorer and former Northern Irish youth international, he'll certainly have the reputation to attract young talent.

"It is very disappointing," said Miller. "The club made him what I thought was a very good offer. But a club like ours can't compete with the bigger soccer markets in the United States, and the Canadian dollar kills us."

“It was, obviously, disappointing on how the draft worked out but, luckily, I had my dad with me,” Shome said. “And we talked about how it doesn’t matter where you’re picked, it’s about making an impression once you get to camp. So, really, this will be motivation for me.”

In this extended interview, Chencinski talks about his much-travelled career, why he and his wife decided Ireland would be the place to be, and how he would love one day to return home to play in the Canadian Premier League

But, despite Reid being a standout scorer in League1 Ontario and Shome being the only player in the draft class with significant professional experience — with 26 NASL games played — they both fell to the late stages of the second round of Friday’s SuperDraft.

Three members of the Canadian women's national team will hang up their cleats after February 4's friendly against Mexico at BC Place.

“We are solely Canadian,” says general manager Will Cromack. “We only have player spots for Canadians. We want to focus regionally as well, to focus on local players. That being said, if you’re Canadian and want to travel here and knock on our door, we’ll take a look.”