The Empire Strykers are an American professional
indoor soccer team based in
Ontario, California
Ontario is a city in southwestern San Bernardino County in the U.S. state of California, east of downtown Los Angeles and west of downtown San Bernardino, the county seat. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire metropolitan area, ...
. Founded in 2013, the team made its debut in the
Professional Arena Soccer League
A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skil ...
at the start of the
2013–14 season. The team plays its home games at the
Toyota Arena
Toyota Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Ontario, California, United States. The arena hosts local sporting events and concerts and is suitable for indoor events, including basketball, ice hockey, ice shows, boxing, graduation ceremonies and con ...
under the leadership of general manager, head coach,
Jimmy Nordberg.
As of May 2014, the league is known as the
Major Arena Soccer League
The Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) is a North American professional indoor soccer league. The MASL features teams playing coast-to-coast in the United States and Mexico.
MASL is the highest level of arena soccer in North America. MASL players ...
.
History
In late May 2013, the owners of the now-dormant
Anaheim Bolts announced that they would instead field a new PASL team at the
Citizens Business Bank Arena
Toyota Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Ontario, California, United States. The arena hosts local sporting events and concerts and is suitable for indoor events, including basketball, ice hockey, ice shows, boxing, graduation ceremonies and con ...
in
Ontario, California
Ontario is a city in southwestern San Bernardino County in the U.S. state of California, east of downtown Los Angeles and west of downtown San Bernardino, the county seat. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire metropolitan area, ...
.
The team held its first open tryouts on June 28–29.
On July 25, team president
Bernie Lilavois announced that "Ontario Fury" was chosen from over 500 fan-submitted entries in a name-the-team contest.
The name, logo, and team colors all reflect the passion of local soccer fans and the "powerful elements" of heat and wind that characterize the
Inland Empire climate.
On September 17, 2022 the team was rebranded “Empire Strykers”.
Ontario Fury II
In 2017, the club started a developmental team known as
Ontario Fury II
The Empire Jets are the name of an American professional indoor soccer team based in Upland, California and an outdoor team based in Apple Valley, California. Like their parent club, the Empire Strykers, they're both run by the general manager. ...
that play in the new
Major Arena Soccer League 2
The Major Arena Soccer League 2 is a North American indoor soccer league that serves as the developmental league of the Major Arena Soccer League.
History
M2 launched in 2017 to "provide an outlet for teams to either reorganize for a re-emergen ...
(or M2, for short).
Year-by-year
* No fans due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
.
The Fury began exhibition play on October 26 with a 16–8 win over
Toros Mexico. They defeated the
Dallas Sidekicks 6–5 in their first regular season game on November 10.
The team then suffered roster changes and struggled on the field.
Playoffs
* Fans only allowed in the Ron Newman Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in which the Fury hosted both games and the mini-game.
Personnel
Active players
''As of May 22, 2020.''
Inactive players
Staff
* Jimmy Nordberg – ''Head coach''
* Troy McKerrell – ''Assistant coach''
References
External links
Empire Strykers official websiteMajor Arena Soccer League official website
Major Arena Soccer League teams
Professional Arena Soccer League teams
2013 establishments in California
Association football clubs established in 2013
Indoor soccer clubs in the United States
Sports in Ontario, California
Sports in San Bernardino County, California
Sports in the Inland Empire
Soccer clubs in California
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