Canadians used to heavily populate the professional indoor circuits. But, as the indoor game begins a new chapter with the formation of the new Major Arena Soccer League, it’s hard to find our players. The one exception is in the state of Wisconsin, where Ian Bennett and coach Giuliano Oliviero, are expected to lead the Milwaukee Wave to championship heights. Is the Wave Canada’s indoor team? You bet.

While MLS wrapped up its regular season, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Minnesota Stars gave us an NASL championship that was far more enthralling than any MLS Cup in recent memory.

John Smits has never before been in a situation where he’s had to play out the string.

FC Edmonton turned September into Christmas for the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Antoniuk, who scored the first-ever winning goal in FC Edmonton’s NASL history but was released by the team at the end of the 2011 season, got the only tally as the Tampa Bay Rowdies edged the Eddies by a 1-0 score.

In the wake of the 5-0 loss to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the first round of the NASL playoffs two weekends ago, the team has announced major changes will be made. Eleven players have been told they will not be back next year. On that list are defenders John Jonke, Eddy Sidra and Alex Surprenant.

A rousing second-half comeback and an astonishing miss from NSC Minnesota forward Amani Walker has propelled FC Edmonton within touching distance of the NASL playoffs.

Just as it did in losses to Carolina and FC Tampa Bay, FC Edmonton started poorly, surrendering two goals to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the first 29 minutes of the game. And, it led the way to a comprehensive 3-0 defeat.

In an entertaining, end-to-end match which saw both teams create their fair shares of scoring chances, FC Tampa Bay got a second-half goal from Shane Hill and an insurance marker from Pascal Millien to give the home side a 3 -1win over FC Edmonton.

FC Edmonton would have been in tough against the Carolina RailHawks had they had to play in what we’d consider normal summer conditions. But with the mercury at more than 100 F at kickoff, the combination of the Railhawks’ skill and the punishing heat was too much for the Eddies. Carolina capitalized on tired legs and defensive mistakes for a 4-1 game that wasn’t nearly as fast-paced as the score would indicate.