On Wednesday, Wanderers announced the signing of the club’s first local player, 17-year-old Scott Firth.

Cavalry FC has inked four more Canadians, three of whom were with last year's PDL-winning Foothills FC side.

Wheeldon said Minatel will fit the Cavalry style as he can both finish chances and create goals. Minatel has scored for the Fury in the Canadian Championship, so he has experience in that tournament, as well. The fact that the goal came against FC Edmonton might make the Cavalry fans smile, well, just a little bit.

Greenhouses don’t have as many seedings as the new, improved Canadian Championship will have in 2019.

The first-ever No. 1 pick in a Canadian Premier League draft is Carleton University’s Gabriel Bitar.

But, according to FCE coach Jeff Paulus, the fact that the tour is skipping Edmonton plays in the Eddies favour. All the other teams had/will have their region show off their top hopefuls, while FCE might be able to sit on a player or two who wasn’t able to travel for a trial.

The task is daunting. The CanPL coaches are building a soccer league in a country that has never really embraced one. Success on the field, in the stands, and with player development may be elusive for years.

But, in the end, it was the Everton supporter coaching the team wearing red getting one over on the Liverpool supporter coaching the team wearing blue. The teams finished 90 minutes of play level at 1-1, but the Calgary-based side won the exhibition match/trialist evaluation on penalties, 3-2.

"Everybody across the table is someone you can rely on," said Wheeldon as the coaching staff was officially introduced to the media at a press conference Tuesday at Spruce Meadows.

But, boy, the two Alberta teams are already sending warning shots to the rest of the league.