The needs of television have outweighed the needs of Canada’s fledgling professional team. The Canadian Soccer Association and Rogers Sportsnet unveiled the broadcast schedule for the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, and the news was awful for FC Edmonton’s front office.

Russell Teibert’s signing wasn’t a surprise. But his designation as a Generation Adidas prospect does represent a historic moment for Canadian soccer fans. Both Toronto FC and the Whitecaps signed trialists on Thursday, filling out their rosters ahead of the MLS opener. But Teibert was the biggest news of the lot.

FC Edmonton has announced its full preseason schedule for the Arizona portion of its training camp. Highlighting the trip is a game against MLS Cup finalist FC Dallas, March 7 in Casa Grande, Ariz.

Mel Kowalchuk has announced his resignation as the general manager of FC Edmonton. The team, which leaves Monday for the Arizona portion of its preparations for its first NASL season made the announcement Friday.

With TSN becoming the official national broadcaster of MLS in 2011, Rogers Sportsnet has ensured it won’t be left out in the cold. Sportsnet announced Thursday that it will be the official regional broadcaster of the Whitecaps. Rogers announced that it will produce 21 Whitecaps games in 2011. Eleven of those will air on Sportsnet Pacific, nine more on premium specialty channel Sportsnet One — and one additional game, June 4 at Real Salt Lake, will air on Citytv, which is owned by Rogers.

Two more Albertans highlight the four signings FC Edmonton announced Monday. The club, which is set to make its debut in the NASL and the Nutrilite Canadian Championship in 2011, has confirmed deals with Edmonton native Chris Lemire, Lethbridge, Alta. teenager Niko Saler, former Portland Timber Mutanda Kwesele and Dutch defender/midfielder Paul Matthijs.

The North American Soccer League did its best impression of an organization NOT in crisis Tuesday, as it released its full 2011 schedule, and announced that six of the circuit’s eight teams will make the playoffs

The fledgling North American Soccer League has confirmed that the United States Soccer Federation has yanked its pledge to sanction it as the region’s official Division 2.

Can a Nutrilite Canadian Championship game generate enough interest to sell 50,000 tickets? That question will be answered in May, when FC Edmonton hosts Toronto FC at Commonwealth Stadium.

Several Dutch media outlets, including De Telegraaf — which isn’t a blogger speculation site but a reputable news organization — are quoting former Dutch national teamer Aron Winter, claiming he has a three-year deal with Toronto FC in place to take over as the new technical director of the club. But the reports also suggest that this will mark the …