The Canton Invaders was an
indoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer (known internationally as indoor football, fast football, or showball) is five-a-side version of minifootball, derived from association football and adapted to be played in walled hardcourt indoor arena. Indoor socc ...
club based in
Canton, Ohio
Canton () is a city in and the county seat of Stark County, Ohio. It is located approximately south of Cleveland and south of Akron in Northeast Ohio. The city lies on the edge of Ohio's extensive Amish country, particularly in Holmes and ...
that competed in the
National Professional Soccer League.
After the 1995–96 season, the team relocated and became the Columbus Invaders.
History
The Canton Invaders were a professional indoor soccer team from Canton, Ohio. Named by Michael George of Canton, Ohio. One of the charter members of the
American Indoor Soccer Association
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
(AISA), they played their home contests in the Canton Civic Center, a municipal owned facility in the downtown area of Canton, Ohio.
The Invaders and the AISA began play in 1984 with six teams (
Chicago Vultures
The Chicago Vultures were an indoor soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association.
After their first season, the club was renamed the Chicago Shoccers.
Coaches
Luis Dabo 1985–1986
Aleks Mih ...
, Canton Invaders,
Columbus Capitals The Columbus Capitals were an indoor soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association. The club played its home games at the Columbus Convention Center from 1984–1986, then known as the Battelle Hall.
...
,
Kalamazoo Kangaroos
The Kalamazoo Kangaroos were an indoor soccer club based in Kalamazoo, Michigan that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commo ...
,
Louisville Thunder
Louisville Thunder was an indoor soccer club based in Louisville, Kentucky that was one of the founding clubs competing in the American Indoor Soccer Association. Peter Mahlock served as President and General Manager and Keith Tozer was the head c ...
, and
Milwaukee Wave
The Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded in 1984, they have been the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in the United States and are seven-time league champions, m ...
). The Invaders won the league championships for the 1984–85 and 1985–86 seasons as well as advancing to the championship series for the 1986–87 campaign only to be defeated by their opponent of the previous two championship contests, the Louisville (KY) Thunder. (Footnote: The Louisville Thunder folded following the 1986–87 season.)
The following three seasons saw the Canton Invaders again capture the league championship crown but their attendance dwindled. A group of diehard fans continued to come to the home games and the seats behind one goal area became known as The Twilight Zone with spectators dressing in dark colored clothing and face painting for the Invaders’ motif. The area behind the other goal was actually the stage for the Canton Civic Center and no spectators were permitted to sit there during games.
Prior to the 1990–91 season, the league set about reinventing itself as the National Profession Soccer League (NPSL). Ten teams now reached from New York to Milwaukee and south to Jacksonville. In an effort to make the games more equitable, players were traded amongst the teams and the Canton squad’s ability to win a majority of their games was eliminated. Canton never again hoisted the championship banner in the Civic Center and for the 1996–97 season, the team relocated to Columbus where they compiled a dismal 5 and 35 record finishing dead last in the Central Division of the American Conference of the NPSL. The Invaders disbanded following one season in Columbus and players were distributed to the remaining dozen teams of the league.
The Invaders had a rivalry with the nearby
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch are an American professional indoor soccer club located in Cleveland, Ohio competing in as a charter member of the Major League Indoor Soccer (MLIS). The rebranded Crunch returned to indoor play as a member of the MASL 2 in ...
for their last five seasons of play.
The National Professional Soccer League continued operations for ten more seasons before officially folding operations. The ten teams of the league then established a re-structured league to be known as the
Major Indoor Soccer League.
Coaches
*
Klaas de Boer
Klaas de Boer (born 6 January 1942, Kollum) is a retired U.S. soccer player and coach. He played professionally in the American Soccer League and was the 1977 NSCAA Coach of the Year and 1985 American Indoor Soccer Association Coach of the Yea ...
(1984–85)
*
Trevor Dawkins
Trevor Dawkins (born 7 October 1945) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a defender or midfielder. He spent seven seasons in the Football League, five in South Africa, and seven in the United States, most in indoor league ...
(1985–88)
*
Steve M. Paxos (1988)
*
Timo Liekoski
Timo Liekoski (born June 30, 1942) is a Finnish soccer coach who managed teams in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League, American Indoor Soccer Association and Major League Soccer. He currently holds a variety of coach ...
1989-1992)
Athletic trainers
*
Alex Villoneuva (1993–1995)
*
John D Smith
John Dargavel Smith (born August 26, 1946) is a former professor of Sanskrit at Cambridge.
His studies have primarily focused on topics in the language/literature/culture of Rajasthan. Much of this time was devoted to a major project on the hero ...
(1995–1996)
Yearly awards
AISA Season MVP
*1985–1986 –
Don Tobin
Don Tobin (1 November 1955) is an English retired footballer who played in leagues including the English Football League, the League of Ireland, the American Soccer League, and Major Indoor Soccer League. Since 1995 he has coached at various l ...
*1986–1987 –
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski (born August 9, 1959) is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time American Indoor Soccer Association MVP and served as an assistant coach his last year as a player.
Yo ...
*1987–1988 –
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski (born August 9, 1959) is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time American Indoor Soccer Association MVP and served as an assistant coach his last year as a player.
Yo ...
*1988–1989 –
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski (born August 9, 1959) is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time American Indoor Soccer Association MVP and served as an assistant coach his last year as a player.
Yo ...
*1989–1990 –
Jamie Swanner
James Swanner (born January 13, 1961, in St. Louis, Missouri) is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper (football), goalkeeper and current soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap (sports), cap with the Un ...
NPSL Season MVP
*1991–1992 –
Jamie Swanner
James Swanner (born January 13, 1961, in St. Louis, Missouri) is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper (football), goalkeeper and current soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap (sports), cap with the Un ...
AISA Coach of the Year
*1984–1985 –
Klass De Boer Klass is a Germanic surname. Notable people
with the surname include:
* Alisha Klass (born 1972), American pornographic actress
* Christa Klaß / Christa Klass (born 1951), German politician
* Craig Klass (born 1965), former water polo player
* Da ...
*1985–1986 –
Trevor Dawkins
Trevor Dawkins (born 7 October 1945) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a defender or midfielder. He spent seven seasons in the Football League, five in South Africa, and seven in the United States, most in indoor league ...
AISA Defender of the Year
*1984–1985 –
Oscar Pisano
Oscar Pisano (born 3 September 1956) is a retired Argentine football defender who went on to become a football manager. Pisano spent time in numerous North American indoor and outdoor leagues including the North American Soccer League, Major In ...
*1985–1986 –
Oscar Pisano
Oscar Pisano (born 3 September 1956) is a retired Argentine football defender who went on to become a football manager. Pisano spent time in numerous North American indoor and outdoor leagues including the North American Soccer League, Major In ...
*1986–1987 –
Tim Tyma
Tim Tyma (born December 14, 1960) is a former American soccer forward, coach and referee. Tyma played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and USISL.
Player
Youth
Tim Tyma, younger brother of ...
NPSL Defender of the Year
*1990–91 –
Denzil Antonio Denzil is a Cornish given name. It may refer to:
People
*Denzil Batchelor, British journalist and writer
*Denzil Best, American jazz percussionist
*Denzil Botus, Trinidadian pannist
*Denzil Davies, British politician
*Denzil Dean Harber, British Tr ...
AISA Rookie of the Year
*1986-1986 –
Jamie Swanner
James Swanner (born January 13, 1961, in St. Louis, Missouri) is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper (football), goalkeeper and current soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap (sports), cap with the Un ...
AISA Leading Goal Scorer
*1986–1987 –
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski (born August 9, 1959) is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time American Indoor Soccer Association MVP and served as an assistant coach his last year as a player.
Yo ...
(51 Goals)
*1987–1988 –
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski (born August 9, 1959) is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time American Indoor Soccer Association MVP and served as an assistant coach his last year as a player.
Yo ...
(24 Goals)
AISA Leading Points Scorer
*1986–1987 –
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski (born August 9, 1959) is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time American Indoor Soccer Association MVP and served as an assistant coach his last year as a player.
Yo ...
(81 Points)
*1987–1988 –
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski (born August 9, 1959) is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time American Indoor Soccer Association MVP and served as an assistant coach his last year as a player.
Yo ...
(42 Points)
AISA Goalkeeper of the Year
*1986–1987 –
Jamie Swanner
James Swanner (born January 13, 1961, in St. Louis, Missouri) is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper (football), goalkeeper and current soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap (sports), cap with the Un ...
*1988–1989 –
Jamie Swanner
James Swanner (born January 13, 1961, in St. Louis, Missouri) is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper (football), goalkeeper and current soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap (sports), cap with the Un ...
*1989–1990 –
Jamie Swanner
James Swanner (born January 13, 1961, in St. Louis, Missouri) is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper (football), goalkeeper and current soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap (sports), cap with the Un ...
NPSL Goalkeeper of the Year
*1990–1991 –
Jamie Swanner
James Swanner (born January 13, 1961, in St. Louis, Missouri) is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper (football), goalkeeper and current soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap (sports), cap with the Un ...
*1991–1992 –
Jamie Swanner
James Swanner (born January 13, 1961, in St. Louis, Missouri) is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper (football), goalkeeper and current soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap (sports), cap with the Un ...
AISA All-Star Team
*1984–1985 –
Kia Zolgharnain
Kia Zolgharnain (born November 10, 1965) is an Iranian-American soccer coach and former player who is the current head coach and technical director of Akron City FC. As a player, Zolgharnain was a forward who led the American Indoor Soccer Ass ...
,
Oscar Pisano
Oscar Pisano (born 3 September 1956) is a retired Argentine football defender who went on to become a football manager. Pisano spent time in numerous North American indoor and outdoor leagues including the North American Soccer League, Major In ...
*1985–1986 –
Oscar Pisano
Oscar Pisano (born 3 September 1956) is a retired Argentine football defender who went on to become a football manager. Pisano spent time in numerous North American indoor and outdoor leagues including the North American Soccer League, Major In ...
,
Kia Zolgharnain
Kia Zolgharnain (born November 10, 1965) is an Iranian-American soccer coach and former player who is the current head coach and technical director of Akron City FC. As a player, Zolgharnain was a forward who led the American Indoor Soccer Ass ...
,
Tim Tyma
Tim Tyma (born December 14, 1960) is a former American soccer forward, coach and referee. Tyma played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and USISL.
Player
Youth
Tim Tyma, younger brother of ...
,
Don Tobin
Don Tobin (1 November 1955) is an English retired footballer who played in leagues including the English Football League, the League of Ireland, the American Soccer League, and Major Indoor Soccer League. Since 1995 he has coached at various l ...
*1986–1987 –
Jamie Swanner
James Swanner (born January 13, 1961, in St. Louis, Missouri) is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper (football), goalkeeper and current soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap (sports), cap with the Un ...
,
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski (born August 9, 1959) is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time American Indoor Soccer Association MVP and served as an assistant coach his last year as a player.
Yo ...
,
Tim Tyma
Tim Tyma (born December 14, 1960) is a former American soccer forward, coach and referee. Tyma played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and USISL.
Player
Youth
Tim Tyma, younger brother of ...
*1987–1988 –
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski (born August 9, 1959) is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time American Indoor Soccer Association MVP and served as an assistant coach his last year as a player.
Yo ...
*1988–1989 –
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski (born August 9, 1959) is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time American Indoor Soccer Association MVP and served as an assistant coach his last year as a player.
Yo ...
,
Jamie Swanner
James Swanner (born January 13, 1961, in St. Louis, Missouri) is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper (football), goalkeeper and current soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap (sports), cap with the Un ...
*1989–1990 –
Jamie Swanner
James Swanner (born January 13, 1961, in St. Louis, Missouri) is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper (football), goalkeeper and current soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap (sports), cap with the Un ...
,
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski (born August 9, 1959) is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time American Indoor Soccer Association MVP and served as an assistant coach his last year as a player.
Yo ...
NPSL All-Star Team
*1990–1991 –
Jamie Swanner
James Swanner (born January 13, 1961, in St. Louis, Missouri) is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper (football), goalkeeper and current soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap (sports), cap with the Un ...
,
Denzil Antonio Denzil is a Cornish given name. It may refer to:
People
*Denzil Batchelor, British journalist and writer
*Denzil Best, American jazz percussionist
*Denzil Botus, Trinidadian pannist
*Denzil Davies, British politician
*Denzil Dean Harber, British Tr ...
,
Gino DiFlorio
Gino DiFlorio is a Canadian former professional soccer player who had an extensive indoor career in North America during the 1990s. Since 2001, he has been the director of coaching at the youth soccer club in Eastern Pennsylvania called HMMS.
Pl ...
*1991–1992 –
Jamie Swanner
James Swanner (born January 13, 1961, in St. Louis, Missouri) is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper (football), goalkeeper and current soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap (sports), cap with the Un ...
Year-by-year
References
*
{{National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001)
Sports in Canton, Ohio
Defunct indoor soccer clubs in the United States
American Indoor Soccer Association teams
National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001) teams
Soccer clubs in Ohio
Defunct soccer clubs in Ohio
Association football clubs established in 1984
1984 establishments in Ohio
Association football clubs disestablished in 1997
1997 disestablishments in Ohio