Alberta Major Soccer League Explained

Alberta Major Soccer League
Country:Canada
Confed:CONCACAF
Founded:1991
First:1991 (1992 for women's)
Teams:8
Relegation:Local Tier 1 Senior Leagues
Pyramid:Canadian soccer league system
Domest Cup:Challenge Trophy (men)
Jubilee Trophy (women)
League Cup:Mike Traficante Challenge Cup
Champions:Edmonton Scottish
Season:2024
Most Successful:Calgary Callies (10 titles)
Tv:CFN Media[1]

The Alberta Major Soccer League (AMSL) is the highest level of amateur soccer in Alberta. It is roughly level 4 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.

Overview

Founded 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

This 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

Men's division

[4]

Women's division

Year-by-year

GenderMen'sWomen's
YearLeagueCupChallenge TrophyLeagueCupJubilee Trophy[5]
1992 Edmonton Ital-Canadians Edmonton Scottish Runners-up Edmonton International AzzurreEdmonton International Azzurre 3rd Place
1993 Edmonton Ital-Canadians Edmonton Ital-Canadians Edmonton Ital-Canadians 3rd Place Edmonton InternationalLethbridge ChargersLethbridge Chargers Runners-up
1994 Edmonton Ital-Canadians Edmonton Ital-Canadians Champions Edmonton InternationalLethbridge ChargersLethbridge Chargers Runners-up
1995 Edmonton Victoria SC Edmonton Ital-Canadians Edmonton Ital-Canadians 5th Place Edmonton AngelsEdmonton AngelsEdmonton Angels Champions
1996 Calgary Dinosaurs Edmonton Scottish SC 7th Place Edmonton AngelsCalgary Dinosaurs RaidersCalgary Dinosaurs Raiders[6] 4th Place
1997 Edmonton Victoria SC Edmonton Ital-Canadians Edmonton Ital-Canadians Champions Edmonton AngelsLethbridge ChargersLethbridge Chargers 3rd Place
1998 Calgary Dinosaurs Calgary Dinosaurs 3rd Place Edmonton Ital AzzureEdmonton Ital-CanadiansEdmonton International 4th Place
1999 Calgary Celtic Champions Edmonton Ital AzzureEdmonton AngelsEdmonton Angels Champions
2000 Calgary Celtic 4th Place Edmonton AngelsEdmonton AngelsEdmonton Angels Champions
2001 Edmonton Victoria SC Edmonton Victoria SC Edmonton Victoria SC 5th Place Calgary DinosaursEdmonton Ital-CanadiansEdmonton International 3rd Place
2002 Calgary Callies 4th Place Edmonton VictoriaEdmonton VictoriaEdmonton Victoria Runners-up
2003 Calgary Callies Champions Calgary SaintsEdmonton VictoriaEdmonton Victoria 3rd Place
2004 Calgary Callies[7] Calgary Callies 9th Place Edmonton VictoriaEdmonton VictoriaEdmonton Victoria Champions
2005 Edmonton Green & Gold Runners-up, Calgary Dinosaurs 3rd Place Edmonton VictoriaEdmonton VictoriaEdmonton Victoria Champions
2006 Calgary Callies Runners-up Edmonton NW UnitedCalgary Dinosaurs RaidersCalgary Dinosaurs Raiders 7th Place
2007 Calgary Callies Champions Calgary SaintsEdmonton VictoriaEdmonton Victoria 3rd Place
2008 Calgary Callies Champions Edmonton NW UnitedEdmonton AngelsEdmonton NW United 5th Place
2009 Calgary Callies 4th Place Edmonton NW UnitedEdmonton VictoriaEdmonton Victoria Champions
2010 Calgary Dinosaurs Calgary Dinosaurs Calgary Dinosaurs 5th Place Edmonton AngelsEdmonton VictoriaEdmonton Victoria Runners-up
2011 Calgary Dinosaurs Edmonton Green & Gold 7th Place Edmonton VictoriaEdmonton VictoriaEdmonton Victoria 4th Place
2012 Edmonton Scottish SC Runners-up Edmonton VictoriaEdmonton AngelsEdmonton Angels 7th Place
2013 Edmonton Scottish SC 7th Place Edmonton VictoriaEdmonton VictoriaEdmonton Victoria Champions
2014 Lethbridge FC Calgary Callies Runners-up Edmonton NW UnitedEdmonton VictoriaEdmonton Victoria Champions
2015 Calgary Villains Elite Edmonton Scottish SC Runners-up, Edmonton Green & Gold 4th Place Edmonton NW UnitedEdmonton VictoriaEdmonton Victoria Champions
2016 Edmonton Scottish SC Champions, Edmonton Green & Gold 5th Place Edmonton NW UnitedEdmonton NW UnitedEdmonton NW United 4th Place
2017 Calgary Callies 9th Place Edmonton VictoriaEdmonton VictoriaEdmonton Victoria Champions
2018 Edmonton Scottish SC 5th Place Edmonton NW UnitedEdmonton VictoriaEdmonton Victoria 5th Place
2019 Edmonton Scottish SC 4th Place Edmonton NW UnitedEdmonton NW UnitedEdmonton NW United Runners-up

Sources:[5] [8] [9]

Note: In 1999 and 2000 the Calgary Callies played as Calgary Celtic SFC.[10]

Men's Titles

ClubWinsWinning seasons
Calgary Celtic / Calgary Callies1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2017
Edmonton Scottish SC1994, 2003, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2022, 2023, 2024
Edmonton Victoria SC1995, 1997, 2001
Calgary Dinosaurs1996, 2010, 2011
Edmonton Ital-Canadians1992, 1993
Edmonton Green & Gold2018, 2019
Lethbridge FC2014
Calgary Villains Elite2015

Women's Titles

ClubWinsWinning seasons
Edmonton NW United2006, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
Edmonton Victoria2002, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017
Edmonton Angels1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2010
Edmonton International1993, 1994
Edmonton Ital Azzure1998, 1999
Calgary Saints2003, 2007
Calgary Dinosaurs2001

Clubs

There 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

ClubYears
Edmonton Croatia Dinamo 2011 – 2015
2006–Present
Edmonton Green & Gold 2002? – present
Edmonton Knights of Columbus Trojans 2007–09
1992 – present
Edmonton Victoria 2004 – 2018
1998? – present
Calgary Darts 2010
Calgary Dinosaurs 2002? – present
Calgary Villains Elite 2002? – present
Calgary PARS 2009–2011
2019–present
Exhibition 2011–12
2019
Lethbridge FC 2007? – present
Red Deer Renegades 2005–08
Source[10] and

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: February 11, 2020. CFN Media & Alberta Major Soccer League Collaboration. dead. Canada Footy News Media. canadafootynews.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20201129002433/https://canadafootynews.com/index.php/2020/02/11/cfn-media-alberta-major-soccer-league-collaboration/ . Nov 29, 2020.
  2. Web site: Alberta Major Soccer League: About . February 21, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131220233632/http://www.albertamsl.com/PageDisplay.aspx?SideMenuID=4 . December 20, 2013 .
  3. Web site: Canada . Alberta Soccer Association - Home . Albertasoccer.com . 2016-05-19.
  4. Web site: Alberta Soccer Standards-Based Leagues : Powered by GOALLINE.
  5. Web site: Concacaf Main | CONCACAF Home | Member Associations | National Associations | Canada . April 12, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130405081707/http://www.concacaf.com/page/NationalAssociationsDetail/0%2C%2C12813~1051264%2C00.html . April 5, 2013 .
  6. News: Calgary sweeps the trophy table Callies and Dinos are off to Surrey as Alberta champs . Todd. Kimberly. 6 September 2006. The Calgary Herald.
  7. Web site: Callies Club Awards. www.calgarycallies.com. March 2, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150208153651/http://calgarycallies.com/awards.html. February 8, 2015. dead.
  8. Web site: History . Canada Soccer . 2016-05-19.
  9. Web site: Archive of League Champions . www.albertamsl.com . March 2, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150302073649/http://www.albertamsl.com/PageDisplay.aspx?SideMenuID=156 . March 2, 2015 .
  10. Web site: Alberta Soccer Association - Home . Albertasoccer.com . 2016-05-19.
  11. Web site: Alberta Major Soccer League . Itsportsnet.com . 2016-05-19.
  12. Web site: Golden Bears Soccer Program - University of Alberta . Greenandgoldsoccer.ualberta.ca . 2016-05-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160508074655/http://www.greenandgoldsoccer.ualberta.ca/en/GoldenBearsSoccer/GoldenBearsSoccerProgam.aspx . 2016-05-08 . dead .
  13. Web site: Schools enter soccer offseason training . Calgaryjournal.ca . 2012-11-21 . 2016-05-19.