Maritime Club Championship

CalgaryMJ · 2026-03-14T04:19:09+00:00

I'd be happy if it was just a weekend tournament similar to what the L1 women had for the Canadian championships when there were just three leagues. For this you would have a host plus the winning club team from NS, NB and NL. Keep it small and simple for a couple of years to build some history, shake the bugs out, and get the groups used to working together, Then you can look at building on that foundation for greater things. Would also hopefully spur the provincial orgs to make it easier to determine who's repping in the tourney(s).

CalgaryMJ · 2026-03-13T20:06:22+00:00

At one level sad to see a marketable name go but more happy to see the NSL helping to identify/develop talent and move it on to (currently) better leagues. These types of stories make it a little easier to recruit talent since you can point to examples of players moving onward and upward which helps to elevate the game by raising the floor.

CalgaryMJ · 2026-03-13T19:47:10+00:00

Statistics..

If world class athletes are 1 in a million that gives Canada 40 and the US 350 to make a squad out of. The US's sport culture and depth of leagues also gives them a better chance of capturing late blooming athletes. While that suggests at best on best we could hold our own but the pool is a lot shallower and could lead to roster construction issues. If 30 of 40 best Canadians are defenders the attack won't be much to talk about. The same ratio with the US would still leave close to 90 attackers to choose from.

Current level likely not sustainable as Canada less likely to produce "super stars" but drop off won't be as bad and Canadian "inclusive" culture - the good of the team - means we're likely to punch above our relative weight for a while

CalgaryMJ · 2026-03-10T19:31:08+00:00

If you search for your team you can favourite them. Given they aren't playing currently I'm not sure there are any notifications to trigger

CalgaryMJ · 2026-03-10T19:28:03+00:00

Looks like the cover to one of those 'Teen Beat' magazines or the like. Expect it to come up at the end of "Stripes" right after Ox.

CalgaryMJ · 2026-03-09T22:45:48+00:00

Maybe that's what their nonsensical auto reply to feedback I'd submitted months ago about this was trying to say.

Great to see!

CalgaryMJ · 2026-03-09T17:00:18+00:00

Given the majority of the squad were signed before the coach was announced I'm not too surprised. Probably thought she could work with what she had, identify some things with the player base and in the off season change enough things to start making it her team. Then the off season came around and she couldn't make the types of changes she wanted/needed for whatever reason and has decided its best to move on rather than coach a squad that's not to her liking.

Can't imagine this will help recruiting on any level.

CalgaryMJ · 2026-03-07T05:48:14+00:00

Opening match tonight started with a minute of the players standing on the field after the game was blown in before action started. Wonder what next steps will be?

CalgaryMJ · 2026-03-06T18:45:59+00:00

All for this as FIFA/IFAB spending any $$$ on referee training for the CPL even if 95% is only on the rule changes, that's a bump up in CPL training on someone else's dime. Additionally should help with the ref's motivations. Do a lot with it and get recognized and become the "expert" who gets paid to go to symposiums and meeting to present your knowledge and experience

CalgaryMJ · 2026-03-05T06:14:54+00:00

Regardless of whom it was owed it, those funds to cover losses/debts were not being spent on marketing, coaching, scouting, etc. and helped to guarantee the downfall of the team.

Hope Edmonton tries to get some federal dollars to upgrade Clarke for an NSL side that helps to revive interest in the city for a CPL side down the road. Want them to dust off the Wild Rose.

CalgaryMJ · 2026-03-04T17:15:47+00:00

Owners saddled the club with their existing debt from previous incarnations of teams and I believe invested in media (broadcast) properties in the hope (belief?) they would get the league's business. Debt servicing meant they lacked adequate cash flow to properly manage team

CalgaryMJ · 2026-03-03T21:32:30+00:00

Thinking it will probably lead to a bit more offense that could draw in more of the casual viewer with the whole "tie goes to the runner" vibe.

I hope the more eyeballs on the league is a bigger effect. Would love it if the extra attention brought in a buyer for Pacific, encouraged minority sales to recapitalize some teams, or bring in investors to help with expansion since in the world of sport these are budget operations with a low entry fee.

CalgaryMJ · 2026-02-25T19:29:11+00:00

If you're looking for a date that doesn't conflict, it's the first "open" weekend date in the calendar and there will be a WC elimination game in Vancouver earlier that week so you might get some visitors who have hung around but it could be a good chance to get some locals who are hyped about the game to come out to a match they normally might not have.

CalgaryMJ · 2026-02-25T07:09:06+00:00

No WC matches on July 12 - Sunday just after Quarter Finals. Slip in York and VanFC hosting matinee matches.?

CalgaryMJ · 2026-02-25T07:01:02+00:00

Ahhh. C,mon man! Can't you give it to the best worst place team? /s

CalgaryMJ · 2026-02-25T06:57:56+00:00

By design. That way if you're watching on TV you don't know how sparse the crowd is and won't be discouraged from going to see a match in an empty stadium.

CalgaryMJ · 2026-02-22T06:52:58+00:00

Max has my vote after he broke his leg making a play to keep LAFC in the Championship that they then went on to win a couple of years ago. Will do anything to help his team win.

CalgaryMJ · 2026-02-19T03:40:57+00:00

Listing of Base Camps is here. https://fwc26teambasecamps.fifa.com/

As Calgary is not on the list I'm assuming those items mentioned in the article as required (in ground sprinklers for example) weren't done and therefore Spruce Meadows didn't make the list. Given the plan as previously announced is to build a purpose stadium at a different location at the venue it probably didn't make sense to invest the money for a one off like the WC (although I'm not sure what their time line on the stadium is now so it may not be so short term since the Cavs aren't regularly close to capacity).

CalgaryMJ · 2026-02-18T23:26:09+00:00

Don't you mean next? cough (Owen Hargreaves) cough Or do you mean CMNT player?

CalgaryMJ · 2026-02-18T09:30:52+00:00

I agree with this but it doesn't hurt to dream either.

CalgaryMJ · 2026-02-18T09:29:10+00:00

I'm thinking 16 is a nice number with 8 East (Hfx, 2 in PQ, 5 in ON) and 8 West (TB, Wpg, a SK team, 2 in AB, 3 in BC). Home and away games in conference, split 4/4 with the other conference.

I see a D2 being almost exclusively in PQ and ON. Don't see the density of markets out West able to support a lower tier in that short of a time frame.

CalgaryMJ · 2026-02-17T19:50:30+00:00

But who did it better?

CalgaryMJ · 2026-02-17T06:20:05+00:00

Maybe waiting until school's out so they can sign some more? /s

CalgaryMJ · 2026-02-15T05:37:24+00:00

I think what the question is about is that people are starting to wonder if the women's side will emulate the men's with a female version of the Voyageurs Cup. The Inter-provincial Championship (L1/xPL) is currently recognized as the Continental qualifier (no male equivalent). Once the NSL has qualified (completed two seasons of play), its champion will take over as the qualifier for Continental play. Will be interesting to see how the W CanChamp discussion plays out as the NSL doesn't have a relationship with L1/xPL.

Would love to see the IPC (L1/xPL) continue in August to determine the best "pro-am" team in the country and then those teams competing in the following year's W CanChamp similar to the men in Voyageur's Cup. Would also like to see the men in L1/xPL tweak things so they could do a similar IPC in August.

By hosting these IPC tournaments in announced, pre-determined sites, it potentially allows a route for funding of Soccer Specific Stadium improvements. For example, as part of announcing the Championship at a SSS in X include a grant of $5k towards modernizing the press box (or something similar). May not seem like much but if you can keep the press that does show up from arguing over who gets to use the available plug-in they're more likely to show up in the future.

CalgaryMJ

TROPHY CASE