The St. Albert Men’s Soccer League (SAMSL) kicks off its 30th season Sunday with only eight teams in the fold.
Last year’s division one finalists, Summit FC and the Rummies, as well as Gainer FC have disbanded due to internal team issues. FC Hertha, the last-place division two team, has moved up to masters.
Summit called it quits after winning their first playoff crown in their third year in SAMSL. In the final, Summit blanked the first-place Rummies 4-0. The Rummies, winners of an unprecedented 13 playoff cups and 11 provincial medals, were competing in their 17th straight division one final. Several Rummies from last year will play masters with the St. Albert Impact.
SAMSL will operate with a single division, 14-game schedule. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams make provincials: two in tier III and two in tier IV.
The season opener features the following four matches at Riel Park.
1 p.m. SA City vs. Chester City
1 p.m. Strike Force vs. St. Albert United
3 p.m. Decepticons vs. Borrachos (2009 division two pennant winners and playoff champions from Barrhead)
3 p.m. Arsenal vs. Crossfire
The 11th annual Spirit of the North traditional Okinawan Karate event is under way at the Desa School of Karate in St. Albert.
Helping out with instruction is fifth-degree black belt Master Shota Tsukayam and third-degree black belt Sensei Yoichiro Kuniyoshi from Okinawa, Japan.
Tournament competition goes Saturday for black belts and Sunday for coloured belts at Servus Credit Union Place.
More than 350 participants are expected throughout the week.
For more information, visit www.desakarate.com
Defensive lineman Mark Sutherland, linebacker Keaton Hoddinott and defensive back Jean-Luc Bugeaud were named to the 41-man roster.
More than 170 Grade 12 players from Red Deer north attended the recent tryout camp in Edmonton.
Sutherland was the honoured as the Skyhawks’ most valuable player in 2009.
Bugeaud and Hoddinott were the most outstanding offensive and defensive player award winners, respectively, on the Carr conference team.
The annual north versus south Senior Bowl is May 24 at noon at Foote Field.
