Latest news with #FCEdmonton
Edmonton Journal
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Former FC Edmonton executive and local soccer legend Joe Petrone passes away
Article content For decades, Joe Petrone's name was synonymous with soccer in Edmonton, whether he was coaching a high school team or managing a professional franchise. Petrone lost his battle with cancer on Thursday. He was 78. Petrone was 12 when his family arrived in Edmonton from Italy. A young soccer phenom, he made it to the Canadian national team, playing at the 1967 Pan Am Games. Article content He then distinguished himself as a coach, mentor and booster of a game that had always trailed the so-called 'Big Four' in North America. He was an assistant coach at Eastern Illinois University, the same school were Sorrentino's restaurant chain founder Carmelo Rago played his college soccer. He coached the Edmonton Drillers of the North American Soccer League. He was director of soccer operations for the Edmonton Brickmen of the Canadian Soccer League, and the director of soccer operations for FC Edmonton when the team made its debut in the second iteration of the North American Soccer League. 'Joe was the driving force behind professional soccer in this city. He always believed it would work here,' said Jeff Paulus, who served as assistant coach, academy coach and finally head coach of FC Edmonton. 'He knew everything about everybody when it came to soccer in this city. Article content 'So many young players got their chances because of him. So many coaches got their chances because of him. And that includes me. Joe gave me a chance.' Antonio Rago played for FC Edmonton from 2011-13. His dad, Carmelo, and Petrone were friends for 50 years, since they played together for Edmonton's famed Ital Canadians club. 'Joe had four daughters and a son. But my brothers and I were like four sons to him, too.' said Rago. 'I know that when I made my professional debut, it was a proud moment for him.' Petrone also loved the other type of football. In fact, in 1971, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys. Legend has it that Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry flew to Edmonton to get the deal done. It was time when NFL teams were starting to seek out soccer-style kickers. Still, it was a big deal that an Edmontonian was getting a shot in the Big D. But after the preseason, Petrone returned to Edmonton and bought a house with the signing bonus. Rago recounted what has become family legend: When he was in Cowboys' camp, his teammates made him sing 'O Canada' in front of them. Petrone didn't like being the outcast, the butt of the joke, so he came home. Article content Latest National Stories
Edmonton Journal
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Card games and Tolstoy: How the Oilers pass the time in the air
Article content When he's not playing cards or honing his racing skills on Mario Kart, defenceman Darnell Nurse also enjoys reading on the plane. Right now, he's in the midst of Leo Tolstoy's epic, War and Peace. 'I've been working at War and Peace by Tolstoy for, like, a month and a half, two months,' said Nurse. 'So, maybe I can find a way to finish that one.' Poker face And, when it comes to cards, we had to ask: Who has the best poker face on the team? 'Maybe Mattias Janmark, just because he looks the same at all times,' said Kane. And the worst? He won't be playing in the series, but Kane decided to add a little insult to Zach Hyman's injury. 'Maybe Hyms,' said Kane. 'He's not going to be happy I said that. I get a bit of a read on him, sometimes.' While flying between the Miami area and Edmonton is pretty arduous, there are former FC Edmonton players who might be out there reading this article and snickering. When the now-defunct team played in the North American Soccer League, the Eddies would have to make a couple of visits a season to the Caribbean to face the Puerto Rico Islanders. And, unlike the Oilers, FC Edmonton's players and coaches had to fly commercial. The team would often not all fly together. Some players would connect in different airports. But, the best and quickest route would see the team fly to Minneapolis, then to Atlanta, and, finally, to San Juan. There were times that it would take the better part of two days to finish the route, and then the team would have to play in hot, humid, punishing conditions, then get back on a series of flights to return home.
Toronto Star
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Cavalry FC's Shamit Shome changes international allegiance to Bangladesh from Canada
Cavalry FC midfielder Shamit Shome, who won two caps for Canada in 2020, has switched his international allegiance to Bangladesh. The 27-year-old Shome was born in Edmonton to parents who came from Bangladesh in their 20s. FIFA has approved his application for a one-time change of association from Canada, meaning he could represent No. 183 Bangladesh in the June international window, which includes a 2027 Asia Cup qualifying match against No. 161 Singapore on June 10 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Like other countries, including Canada, Bangladesh has reached out to eligible footballers to build its roster. Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury, a former England under-21 player who was born in England to a father from Grenada and mother from Bangladesh, has also switched to Bangladesh. Choudhury is currently on loan to Sheffield United. Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan was born in Denmark to Bangladeshi parents. Shome says while Bangladesh football officials had been pursuing him for some time, he had put them off for a while. Talks turned serious a couple of months ago. With the Canada door seemingly closed, Shome was open to the opportunity. 'Truthfully I think everybody wants to play for the national team. And I got a taste of it luckily at an young age,' he said in an interview. 'There was always a part of me that hoped that maybe I would get an opportunity again. 'But obviously now that I'm getting older in my career and settling down a bit, I thought it was the right time to change things up and kind of pursue a new opportunity — and a different style of international football, one that I have no idea what will be like. Different traditions, different style of play. So I'm really excited for that challenge.' While he has not spoken to Canada Soccer about the change, he said the Canadian federation approved the request from Bangladesh quickly. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Shome was taken by Montreal in the second round (41st overall) of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. Then 19, he had been with FC Edmonton of the NASL before becoming part of the MLS's inaugural Generation Adidas Canada class. Shome, who came up through the FC Edmonton academy, was a nominee for Canadian under-20 player of the year in 2016. Shome said his parents are proud of his decision, as are relatives on his father's side still back in Bangladesh. 'They're really, really excited to see me and to see me play live, because they' haven't really got that chance (before).' Shome has visited Bangladesh several times as a boy with his family, with the most recent visit about three years or four ago. Cavalry (1-2-1) plays at Halifax (3-0-2) in Canadian Premier League play Saturday. —- This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2025
Winnipeg Free Press
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Cavalry FC's Shamit Shome changes international allegiance to Bangladesh from Canada
Cavalry FC midfielder Shamit Shome, who won two caps for Canada in 2020, has switched his international allegiance to Bangladesh. The 27-year-old Shome was born in Edmonton to parents who came from Bangladesh in their 20s. FIFA has approved his application for a one-time change of association from Canada, meaning he could represent No. 183 Bangladesh in the June international window, which includes a 2027 Asia Cup qualifying match against No. 161 Singapore on June 10 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Like other countries, including Canada, Bangladesh has reached out to eligible footballers to build its roster. Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury, a former England under-21 player who was born in England to a father from Grenada and mother from Bangladesh, has also switched to Bangladesh. Choudhury is currently on loan to Sheffield United. Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan was born in Denmark to Bangladeshi parents. Shome says while Bangladesh football officials had been pursuing him for some time, he had put them off for a while. Talks turned serious a couple of months ago. With the Canada door seemingly closed, Shome was open to the opportunity. 'Truthfully I think everybody wants to play for the national team. And I got a taste of it luckily at an young age,' he said in an interview. 'There was always a part of me that hoped that maybe I would get an opportunity again. 'But obviously now that I'm getting older in my career and settling down a bit, I thought it was the right time to change things up and kind of pursue a new opportunity — and a different style of international football, one that I have no idea what will be like. Different traditions, different style of play. So I'm really excited for that challenge.' While he has not spoken to Canada Soccer about the change, he said the Canadian federation approved the request from Bangladesh quickly. Shome was taken by Montreal in the second round (41st overall) of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. Then 19, he had been with FC Edmonton of the NASL before becoming part of the MLS's inaugural Generation Adidas Canada class. Shome, who came up through the FC Edmonton academy, was a nominee for Canadian under-20 player of the year in 2016. Shome said his parents are proud of his decision, as are relatives on his father's side still back in Bangladesh. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'They're really, really excited to see me and to see me play live, because they' haven't really got that chance (before).' Shome has visited Bangladesh several times as a boy with his family, with the most recent visit about three years or four ago. Cavalry (1-2-1) plays at Halifax (3-0-2) in Canadian Premier League play Saturday. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2025
