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.

It is home to the likes of Michael Cera, Rick Nash and Rohinton Mistry. It was where premier Bill Davis called home. It’s arguably the lacrosse capital of Canada. And, it’s Canada’s most important soccer city. Why is the suburb lovingly known as ‘Flowertown’ our home of footie?

When Canadian U-23 coach Tony Fonseca announced his 20-man roster for the upcoming Olympic qualifiers, it was a bittersweet moment for midfielder Evan James.

Simeon Jackson has opened his Premier League scoring account. The Canadian national-team regular scored his first Premier League goal, Tuesday, as Norwich City had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

So, Mississauga, Ont.’s Simeon Jackson — who came on as 76th-minute sub for the Canaries, and Brampton, Ont’s Junior Hoilett, who scored just before halftime to give Blackburn a 1-0 lead, had to settle for the draw.

Glen McNamara had hopes that his young son would follow him as a soccer professional. The former All-Canadian goalkeeper from York University began work with his boy, Taylor Mikael, when the kid was a three-year-old. Twenty years later, the younger McNamara has hit the professional circuit like his father – just not at the same position. “When I was young, he always wanted to get me the ball at my feet but every once in a while, he gave me some hand drills,” says McNamara, a midfielder with Dayton Dutch Lions FC of the United Soccer Leagues’ Pro division. “He realized that I wasn’t growing fast enough to be a keeper.”

Jackson scored all of Norwich’s goals, including the match-winner six minutes into stoppage time, as Norwich preserved its one point lead over Cardiff for second spot in the League Championship, which means automatic promotion to the English Premier League. Jackson scored with his head, then added a 20-yard drive to give Norwich a 2-1 lead. But Derby came back to tie the match. With Cardiff winning 1-0 over Preston North End, Norwich had to get the full three points to hold onto second place. Jackson obliged with a left-footed shot from inside the penalty area.