Bush rounds out Canadian sweep of NASL awards

The Canadian teams have swept the NASL players of the week awards. Montreal Impact keeper Evan Bush was named the Defensive Player of the Week Monday. FC Edmonton’s Shaun Saiko, who scored twice and recorded an assist over two games, was named the Offensive Player of the Week. Bush stopped seven shots and preserved a 0-0 home draw Saturday against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Bush was thrust into the starting lineup because of an injury that regular No. 1 Bill Gaudette suffered to his ankle in a loss at Puerto Rico two weekends ago. Gaudette is forecast to miss at least a month, so Bush — who played for Crystal Palace Baltimore last season — is the go-to guy as the Impact tries to recover from a brutal start to the season. It’s an honour for me to earn this title,” Bush was quoted in a release. “It’s good to get the clean sheet, but I would have preferred to get it in a win, because the result of the game is the most important thing. I feel better with this team every day and my level of confidence is better, on and off the field. Now the focus is only to get the three points in Edmonton.” The Impact visit Edmonton — the only team it has beaten this season — on Sunday. Saiko will miss the game after being sent off Saturday in Minnesota.