Today was released the schedule for this years Amway Canadian Championship: Preliminary Round 22-Apr: Ottawa v Edmonton 26-Apr: Edmonton v Ottawa Semi-Finals 06-May: Ott/Edm v Vancouver; Montreal v Toronto 13-May: Vancouver v Ott/Edm; Toronto v Montreal Final 12-Aug: Lowest Seed v Highest Seed 26-Aug: Highest Seed v Lowest Seed Winner will qualify for 2016/17 CONCACAF Champions League
I'm guessing that seeds 1-3 are based on last year's MLS finish, meaning, in order, Whitecaps - TFC - Impact, while the winner of the NASL match is #4?
From the link I provided: This method of seeding has been in place since 2011! Also, is it possible to change the title of this thread to "2015 Amway Canadian Championship [R]"? Thanks
Its great that TD Place in Ottawa is now ready for the start of the season. As well Clarke stadium with the new turf also now can be used. I see that they are not prepared to include the USLPro clubs as of yet. Calgary so far is speculating on being in the USLPro as a independent opposed to the NASL as of right now. I image that there may be an attempt to get Calgary S&E to partner with the Foothills to have the finical worth that the NASL requires. cost efficient for Calgary S&E already having 4 teams under their brand and the Foothills already having a full academy system right up to the PDL. hamilton as well is still planning a NASL club but the delay in the stadium could mean a delay in the start of their first season.
I guess that is a matter of opinion and the objectives of the powers to be. USOC basically includes every club pro and Amatuer with the lower division playing preliminary rounds. USLPro, NASL, then MLS enter in the later rounds in the order of D3, D2, then MLS. Right now with the MLS season starting a month ahead of USLPro and NASL. USL clubs could play a pool play round the month before their season starts. At a chosen or rotating MLS club site. All three MLS clubs have or will have first class training and practice facilities as well as others in the areas. The top two advance to the next round and visit the current NASL clubs for a knockout game before the start of the USL and NASL season. Then can move into the current rounds that exist.
I posted this elsewhere, but the split in the schedule will make things interesting from the perspective of team form. A team could be playing badly in May but rolling in August (or vice versa).
Ha ha. Good point. In fact, it might even be more accurate to say that their performance in the Voyageurs' is inversely proportional to their standing in the league.
Under the radar of Montréals CCL antics, the preliminary round was played over the last week: 22-Apr: Ottawa 1-3 Edmonton 29-Apr: Edmonton 3-1 Ottawa Edmonton win 6-2 on aggregate Semi Finals start next Wednesday (no rest for Montréal!) 06-May: Edmonton v Vancouver 06-May: Montréal v Toronto Return legs scheduled for 13-May.
If Edmonton's Daryl Fordyce scores another goal, he will become the all time top scorer in this tournament. Right now he is tied with DeRo and Camilo (neither of whom play in the tournament any more) for top spot.
FC Edmonton @ Vancouver Whitecaps draw 1-1 last Wednesday in Vancouver. Return Leg this Wednesday in Edmonton at Clarke Stadium, Eddies played a partial B team yesterday in their league game to rest some of the frontline players. One of the biggest games for NASL's FC Edmonton in their 5 year history. Should be fun!
Only watched the first third, but oh man that ending! Eddies had their hopes dashed at the 96th+ minute for the 2nd straight season.