And it got good news, big time. As the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Convention sets up shop in Indianapolis, NASL stole the thunder from MLS — which is holding its SuperDraft on Thursday — with two major announcements.

The NASL has announced its spring schedule — and FC Edmonton will spend four of the first five games of the season on the road.

The Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group has confirmed that it received 4,107 entries into its name-the-teams contest.

“I’ve worked for Don, I have worked with Don, I’ve known Don for probably 17 years. When the time is right to have those conversation, both he and I will know,” said Peterson.

At the same time as the MLS Cup was awarded, the New York Cosmos released its expansion plan for the 2013 NASL season.

“No, we aren’t comfortable with financing a Division-1 league,” said Leip. “Our owners are not interested in moving up a league. We have a lot of respect for the the kind of financial commitment MLS owners have made to create Division 1, and we certainly don’t want to tread on their territory. And, certainly the Cosmos only came to us after every road to MLS had been exhausted.”

With a stellar amateur career behind him, Brian Decaire signed with his hometown team in 1982, becoming the first local talent to enlist with the NASL’s Montreal Manic. He spent two seasons with the team and, now almost 30 years removed from the pitch, looks back on his time in the pro ranks with mixed emotions.