The Alberta Major Soccer League (AMSL) is the highest level of amateur soccer in Alberta. It is roughly level 4[citation needed] on the Canadian soccer pyramid although levels below 3 are not formally designated by the Canadian Soccer Association. The champions of the League Cup, renamed the Mike Traficante Challenge Cup in 2008, go on to compete in the national senior men's and women's championships.
 | |
| Founded | 1991 |
|---|---|
| First season | 1991 (1992 for women's) |
| Country | Canada |
| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Number of clubs | 8 |
| Relegation to | Local Tier 1 Senior Leagues |
| Domestic cup(s) | Challenge Trophy (men) Jubilee Trophy (women) |
| League cup(s) | Mike Traficante Challenge Cup |
| Current champions | Edmonton Scottish (2024) |
| Most championships | Calgary Callies (10 titles) |
| TV partners | CFN Media[1] |
| Website | www |
Overview
editFounded in 1991, the AMSL consists of two divisions, the Men's Division of eight teams and the Women's Division of eight (the Women's Division was added in 1992). Every year since the league's founding, the champions of the league have gone on to compete for the Canadian National Challenge Cup (men) and the Jubilee Trophy (women).
The AMSL is operated by the Alberta Soccer Association (ASA), the provincial governing body for soccer in Alberta. This has been at times a problematic arrangement, but it has stood up for the time that the league has been in existence. The various district associations in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge and Red Deer fulfill some of the administrative functions that would normally be handled by such a league, and this has led to rules being interpreted differently for different teams in the same league. Districts other than Edmonton and Calgary can use their entire men's or woman's league program as "reserve teams". Calgary and Edmonton clubs are expected to field reserve teams in the local tier 1 senior leagues. The teams to be entered into the AMSL for the following season shall be based on previous season league results and relegation-promotion games, unless accepted as an expansion team. Teams wishing to withdraw or enter the league must notify the ASA in writing before November 15 of each year and attend the fall planning meeting on the last weekend in November.[2]
Challenge Cup & Jubilee Shield
editThis competition determines the Provincial Champions and traditionally has the top 6 teams from the AMSL Standings competing. There are non-AMSL members who can challenge but this is rare, it designates the Alberta Provincial Champion and Canadian National Challenge Cup representative. [2] With 4 of the most populous of the 18 districts having teams in the AMSL; however, the majority of the soccer players in the province are represented.[3]
Teams
editYear-by-year
edit| Gender | Men's | Women's | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | League | Cup | Challenge Trophy | League | Cup | Jubilee Trophy[5] |
| 1992 | Edmonton Ital-Canadians | Edmonton Scottish SC | Edmonton Scottish Runners-up | Edmonton International Azzurre | Edmonton International Azzurre 3rd Place | |
| 1993 | Edmonton Ital-Canadians | Edmonton Ital-Canadians | Edmonton Ital-Canadians 3rd Place | Edmonton International | Lethbridge Chargers | Lethbridge Chargers Runners-up |
| 1994 | Edmonton Scottish SC | Edmonton Ital-Canadians | Edmonton Ital-Canadians Champions | Edmonton International | Lethbridge Chargers | Lethbridge Chargers Runners-up |
| 1995 | Edmonton Victoria SC | Edmonton Ital-Canadians | Edmonton Ital-Canadians 5th Place | Edmonton Angels | Edmonton Angels | Edmonton Angels Champions |
| 1996 | Calgary Dinosaurs | Edmonton Scottish SC | Edmonton Scottish SC 7th Place | Edmonton Angels | Calgary Dinosaurs Raiders | Calgary Dinosaurs Raiders[6] 4th Place |
| 1997 | Edmonton Victoria SC | Edmonton Ital-Canadians | Edmonton Ital-Canadians Champions | Edmonton Angels | Lethbridge Chargers | Lethbridge Chargers 3rd Place |
| 1998 | Calgary Celtic | Calgary Dinosaurs | Calgary Dinosaurs 3rd Place | Edmonton Ital Azzure | Edmonton Ital-Canadians | Edmonton International 4th Place |
| 1999 | Calgary Celtic | Calgary Celtic | Calgary Celtic Champions | Edmonton Ital Azzure | Edmonton Angels | Edmonton Angels Champions |
| 2000 | Calgary Celtic | Calgary Celtic | Calgary Celtic 4th Place | Edmonton Angels | Edmonton Angels | Edmonton Angels Champions |
| 2001 | Edmonton Victoria SC | Edmonton Victoria SC | Edmonton Victoria SC 5th Place | Calgary Dinosaurs | Edmonton Ital-Canadians | Edmonton International 3rd Place |
| 2002 | Calgary Callies | Calgary Callies | Calgary Callies 4th Place | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria Runners-up |
| 2003 | Edmonton Scottish SC | Calgary Callies | Calgary Callies Champions | Calgary Saints | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria 3rd Place |
| 2004 | Calgary Callies[7] | Calgary Callies | Calgary Callies 9th Place | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria Champions |
| 2005 | Calgary Callies | Edmonton Green & Gold | Edmonton Green & Gold Runners-up, Calgary Dinosaurs 3rd Place | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria Champions |
| 2006 | Calgary Callies | Calgary Callies | Calgary Callies Runners-up | Edmonton NW United | Calgary Dinosaurs Raiders[6] | Calgary Dinosaurs Raiders 7th Place |
| 2007 | Calgary Callies | Calgary Callies | Calgary Callies Champions | Calgary Saints | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria 3rd Place |
| 2008 | Calgary Callies | Calgary Callies | Calgary Callies Champions | Edmonton NW United | Edmonton Angels | Edmonton NW United 5th Place |
| 2009 | Edmonton Scottish SC | Calgary Callies | Calgary Callies 4th Place | Edmonton NW United | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria Champions |
| 2010 | Calgary Dinosaurs | Calgary Dinosaurs | Calgary Dinosaurs 5th Place | Edmonton Angels | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria Runners-up |
| 2011 | Calgary Dinosaurs | Edmonton Green & Gold | Edmonton Green & Gold 7th Place | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria 4th Place |
| 2012 | Edmonton Scottish SC | Edmonton Scottish SC | Edmonton Scottish SC Runners-up | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Angels | Edmonton Angels 7th Place |
| 2013 | Edmonton Scottish SC | Edmonton Scottish SC | Edmonton Scottish SC 7th Place | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria Champions |
| 2014 | Lethbridge FC | Calgary Callies | Calgary Callies Runners-up | Edmonton NW United | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria Champions |
| 2015 | Calgary Villains Elite | Edmonton Scottish SC | Edmonton Scottish SC Runners-up, Edmonton Green & Gold 4th Place | Edmonton NW United | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria Champions |
| 2016 | Edmonton Scottish SC | Edmonton Scottish SC | Edmonton Scottish SC Champions, Edmonton Green & Gold 5th Place | Edmonton NW United | Edmonton NW United | Edmonton NW United 4th Place |
| 2017 | Calgary Callies | Calgary Callies | Calgary Callies 9th Place | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria Champions |
| 2018 | Edmonton Green & Gold | Edmonton Scottish SC | Edmonton Scottish SC 5th Place | Edmonton NW United | Edmonton Victoria | Edmonton Victoria 5th Place |
| 2019 | Edmonton Green & Gold | Edmonton Scottish SC | Edmonton Scottish SC 4th Place | Edmonton NW United | Edmonton NW United | Edmonton NW United Runners-up |
Note: In 1999 and 2000 the Calgary Callies played as Calgary Celtic SFC. [9]
Men's Titles
edit| Club | Wins | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Calgary Celtic / Calgary Callies | 10
|
1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2017 |
| Edmonton Scottish SC | 9
|
1994, 2003, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| Edmonton Victoria SC | 3
|
1995, 1997, 2001 |
| Calgary Dinosaurs | 3
|
1996, 2010, 2011 |
| Edmonton Ital-Canadians | 2
|
1992, 1993 |
| Edmonton Green & Gold | 2
|
2018, 2019 |
| Lethbridge FC | 1
|
2014 |
| Calgary Villains Elite | 1
|
2015 |
Women's Titles
edit| Club | Wins | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Edmonton NW United | 8
|
2006, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 |
| Edmonton Victoria | 7
|
2002, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017 |
| Edmonton Angels | 5
|
1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2010 |
| Edmonton International | 2
|
1993, 1994 |
| Edmonton Ital Azzure | 2
|
1998, 1999 |
| Calgary Saints | 2
|
2003, 2007 |
| Calgary Dinosaurs | 1
|
2001 |
Clubs
editThere have been a number of changes with the Alberta Soccer Association and also to the AMSL in 2011. With the addition of FC Edmonton to the Alberta soccer system their reserve team will be playing an exhibition schedule with 7 of the 8 AMSL teams.[11]
The Calgary Dinosaurs and Edmonton Green and Gold are affiliated with the summer CIS soccer programs for the University of Calgary and University of Alberta respectively.[12][13] A number of alumni typically play on these teams as well.
Clubs that have competed in the Alberta Major Soccer League
| Club | Years |
|---|---|
| Edmonton Croatia Dinamo | 2011 – 2015 |
| Edmonton Drillers | 2006–Present |
| Edmonton Green & Gold | 2002? – present |
| Edmonton Knights of Columbus Trojans | 2007–09 |
| Edmonton Scottish | 1992 – present |
| Edmonton Victoria | 2004 – 2018 |
| Calgary Caledonian (Callies) | 1998? – present |
| Calgary Darts | 2010 |
| Calgary Dinosaurs | 2002? – present |
| Calgary Villains Elite | 2002? – present |
| Calgary PARS | 2009–2011 |
| Cavalry FC U20 | 2019–present |
| FC Edmonton Reserves | Exhibition 2011–12 |
| FC Edmonton U20 | 2019 |
| Lethbridge FC | 2007? – present |
| Red Deer Renegades | 2005–08 |
References
edit- ^ "CFN Media & Alberta Major Soccer League Collaboration". Canada Footy News Media. February 11, 2020. Archived from the original on Nov 29, 2020 – via canadafootynews.com.
- ^ a b "Alberta Major Soccer League: About". Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
- ^ Canada. "Alberta Soccer Association - Home". Albertasoccer.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ "Alberta Soccer Standards-Based Leagues : Powered by GOALLINE".
- ^ a b "Concacaf Main | CONCACAF Home | Member Associations | National Associations | Canada". Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ a b Kimberly, Todd (6 September 2006). "Calgary sweeps the trophy table Callies and Dinos are off to Surrey as Alberta champs". The Calgary Herald.
- ^ "Callies Club Awards". www.calgarycallies.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
- ^ "History". Canada Soccer. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ a b c "Alberta Soccer Association - Home". Albertasoccer.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ "Archive of League Champions". www.albertamsl.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
- ^ a b "Alberta Major Soccer League". Itsportsnet.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ "Golden Bears Soccer Program - University of Alberta". Greenandgoldsoccer.ualberta.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-05-08. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ "Schools enter soccer offseason training". Calgaryjournal.ca. 2012-11-21. Retrieved 2016-05-19.