But the arena game isn’t dead. And Peter Kovacs, the president and general manager of the new Toronto club that will play in the Major Arena Soccer League beginning in 2018, believes that his club’s efforts will create a new wave of interest in the traditional indoor game.

The new issue, out today, features a vintage shot from the World Cup qualifier which saw Canada qualify for the 1986 World Cup. And what can you find inside the issue?

Whether he’s on a field in Quebec or playing in an MASL arena, Frederico Moojen has a knack for to sniffing out goals. But, he’s also working hard to improve the standard of soccer in the province he’s adopted as his new home...

Issue 4 of Plastic Pitch is out today! What will you find inside?

And, the Edmonton Drillers — the team that played in the National Professional Soccer League in the late 1990s — will always hold a special place in my heart.

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.

Ottawa Fury President John Pugh was selected as a Builder in the USL Women’s Hall of Fame category. And, the best indoor player this country has ever produced, Hector Marinaro, was selected for his goal-filled career in the MISL, a league that is now owned by the USL.

Simon Fraser University alumnus and Hamilton FC product Josh Bennett will get his shot to earn a job in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

So, how did Ongaro latch on to the Chinese job? A year ago, he was coaching both the Canadian national futsal and beach soccer programs. Ongaro is also a FIFA instructor, and tours countries around the world. That brought him in contact with a lot of federations who have fledgling beach soccer programs. He got lots of coaching offers, but China was a bit more, ahem, persuasive in its pitch.

After a trying winter, CMISL president Mel Kowalchuk has confirmed that Calgary United FC will face the Edmonton Drillers in Cowtown on the weekend of April 21 for the league championship.