Canton Invaders

The Canton Invaders was an indoor soccer

Indoor soccer

Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall...

club based in Canton, Ohio

Canton, Ohio

Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...

that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.

After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Columbus Invaders.

The Canton Invaders was a professional indoor soccer team from Canton, Ohio. One of the charter members of the American Indoor Soccer Association (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, Canton Invaders, Columbus Capitals, Kalamazoo Kangaroos, Louisville Thunder, and Milwaukee Wave). 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 Milwaukee Wave is the only team to maintain its membership and original location throughout the entire seventeen years of the league’s existence.)

The following three seasons saw the Canton Invaders again capture the league championship crown but their attendance dwindled as success was expected and their victories became anticlimactic. 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

Cleveland Crunch

The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...

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.

Players

Denzil Antonio Frank Arlasky (1992-93) Mike Barbarick

Mike Barbarick

Mike Barbarick is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, American Soccer League, United Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association....

(1984-85) 28 Apps 0 Goals Clark Brisson

Clark Brisson

Clark Brisson is a retired U.S. soccer defender who is currently the Director of Coaching for the Bridge Futbal Alliance in South Carolina...

Marcelo Carrera

Marcelo Carrera is a retired Argentine footballer who played both indoor and outdoor soccer in the United States for the nearly a dozen teams.-Player:...

(1988-90) (1993) Chris Damico (1994-95) 32 Apps 0 Goals Vic Davidson

Vic Davidson

Victor "Vic" Davidson is a retired Scottish professional footballer. He played in midfield.Glasgow-born Davidson grew up in Calton and Bridgeton. He attended school at Sacred Heart R.C. In 1967, he signed as a schoolboy player with Celtic and was given his first-team debut in 1970...

(1984-85)

Gino DiFlorio

Gino DiFlorio is a former professional soccer player. Canadian, he was a scoring star of indoor soccer in North America during the 1990s.Moved into Canada with his immediate family after the first few years of his life. Growing up and playing recreational soccer, he could not put the soccer ball...

(1990-94) 113 Apps 229 Goals Troy Edwards

Troy Edwards (soccer)

Troy Edwards is a retired U.S. soccer defender who played professionally in several U.S. leagues including one season in Major League Soccer...

(1992-93) 37 Apps 11 Goals Steve Frick (1984-91) 87 Apps 140 Goals Mike Gosselin

Mike Gosselin

Mike “Goose” Gosselin is a former U.S. soccer defender who earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1992. He played professionally in the National Professional Soccer League and USISL.-Youth:...

(1993) 23 Apps 4 Goals P.J. Johns (1993-94) Ali Kazamaini (1992-93) 29 Apps 10 Goals Art Kramer (1984-88) 96 Apps 88 Goals

John Lignos

John Lignos was a U.S. soccer player who spent four seasons in the North American Soccer League, one in the American Soccer League and one in the United Soccer League. He also earned one cap with the U.S. national team and was selected for the 1980 U.S...

(1987-88) Ken Lolla

Ken Lolla

Ken Lolla is the head men’s soccer coach at the University of Louisville. He is also a writer and professional speaker. Lolla played collegiate soccer at Duke University and professionally at various US professional soccer teams. He has earned several accolades as both a player and...

(1984-88) Chris Love

Chris Love

Chris Love is an American soccer forward who currently serves as an assistant coach at UMass Boston. He spent five years playing both indoor and outdoor soccer in the National Professional Soccer League and USISL.-Player:...

(1995-96) 17 Apps 4 GoalsMark Lugris 1993-95 48 App 12 goals Dick McCormick

Dick McCormick

Dick McCormick is a former U.S. soccer midfielder and current youth soccer coach. McCormick had an extenisive professional career in six indoor and outdoor leagues over his fourteen year professional career. He has served as an assistant coach with the Seattle Sounders and head coach of the...

(1992-94) 57 Apps 25 Goals

Janusz Mihallik (1987-88) Steve Moyers

Steve Moyers

Steve Moyers is a retired soccer forward from the United States, who was a member of the American squad that competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California...

(1985-86) Bill Naumovski (1984-89) 77 Apps 0 Goals Rudy Pikuzinski

Rudy Pikuzinski

Rudy Pikuzinski is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent nearly his entire 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.-Youth:Pikuzinski, and his brother Randy, grew up in Buffalo, New York...

(1984-91) 103 Apps 226 Goals Oscar Pisano

Oscar Pisano

Oscar Pisano 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 Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer...

(1984-86) Walter Schlothauer

Walter Schlothauer

Walter Schlothauer is a retired U.S. soccer player and coach. He played in several outdoor and indoor leagues. In 1980, he was the American Soccer League Rookie of the Year with the Cleveland Cobras....

(1986-87) Lesh Shkreli

Lesh Shkreli

Lesh Shkreli was a Yugoslavian-American soccer forward who played in Yugoslavia, Greece and the United States. He led the American Indoor Soccer Association in scoring in 1984-1985, earning MVP honors.-Player:...

(1987-88) Jamie Swanner

Jamie Swanner

James "Jamie" Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer.-High school and college:Swanner attended...

(1985-92) Don Tobin

Don Tobin

Don Tobin is a retired English football midfielder. Since 1995 he has been Director of Coaching at the Dunedin Stirling Soccer Club in the US. He is also assistant coach of the University of Tampa's soccer team, the Tampa Spartans....

(1984-87) Tim Tyma

Tim Tyma

Tim Tyma is a retired American soccer forward, coach and referee. Tyma played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and USISL.-Youth:...

(1985-87) Kia Zolgharnain

Kia Zolgharnain

Kia Zolgharnain was an Iranian-U.S. soccer forward who led the American Indoor Soccer Association in scoring during the 1986-1987 season. He currently coaches youth soccer in Cleveland...

(1984-94) Nick Bogdan (1985-88/1989-91) Randy Pikuzinski

Randy Pikuzinski

Randy Pikuzinski is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and United Soccer League....

(1987-91) Rainer Uhlir (1989-90)

Coaches

Klaas De Boer

Klaas de Boer

Klaas de Boer 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 Year...

(1984-85) Trevor Dawkins

Trevor Dawkins

Trevor Dawkins is a retired English professional football defender. He spent seven seasons in the Football League, five in South Africa, and seven in the United States, most in indoor leagues. Following his retirement in 1985, he coached for fourteen years in the U.S. indoor leagues...

(1985-88)

Steve M. Paxos (1988)
Daniel Gonzalez (1989)

Yearly Awards

AISA Season MVP

1985-1986 - Don Tobin
Don Tobin
Don Tobin is a retired English football midfielder. Since 1995 he has been Director of Coaching at the Dunedin Stirling Soccer Club in the US. He is also assistant coach of the University of Tampa's soccer team, the Tampa Spartans....
1986-1987 - Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent nearly his entire 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.-Youth:Pikuzinski, and his brother Randy, grew up in Buffalo, New York...
1987-1988 - Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent nearly his entire 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.-Youth:Pikuzinski, and his brother Randy, grew up in Buffalo, New York...
1988-1989 - Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent nearly his entire 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.-Youth:Pikuzinski, and his brother Randy, grew up in Buffalo, New York...
1989-1990 - Jamie Swanner
Jamie Swanner
James "Jamie" Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer.-High school and college:Swanner attended...

NPSL Season MVP

1991-1992 - Jamie Swanner
Jamie Swanner
James "Jamie" Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer.-High school and college:Swanner attended...

AISA Coach of the Year

1984-1985 - Klass De Boer
1985-1986 - Trevor Dawkins
Trevor Dawkins
Trevor Dawkins is a retired English professional football defender. He spent seven seasons in the Football League, five in South Africa, and seven in the United States, most in indoor leagues. Following his retirement in 1985, he coached for fourteen years in the U.S. indoor leagues...

AISA Defender of the Year

1984-1985 - Oscar Pisano
Oscar Pisano
Oscar Pisano 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 Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer...
1985-1986 - Oscar Pisano
Oscar Pisano
Oscar Pisano 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 Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer...
1986-1987 - Tim Tyma
Tim Tyma
Tim Tyma is a retired American soccer forward, coach and referee. Tyma played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and USISL.-Youth:...

NPSL Defender of the Year

1990-91 - Denzil Antonio

AISA Rookie of the Year

1986-1986 - Jamie Swanner
Jamie Swanner
James "Jamie" Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer.-High school and college:Swanner attended...

AISA Leading Goal Scorer

1986-1987 - Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent nearly his entire 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.-Youth:Pikuzinski, and his brother Randy, grew up in Buffalo, New York...

(51 Goals)
1987-1988 - Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent nearly his entire 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.-Youth:Pikuzinski, and his brother Randy, grew up in Buffalo, New York...

(24 Goals)

AISA Leading Points Scorer

1986-1987 - Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent nearly his entire 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.-Youth:Pikuzinski, and his brother Randy, grew up in Buffalo, New York...

(81 Points)
1987-1988 - Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent nearly his entire 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.-Youth:Pikuzinski, and his brother Randy, grew up in Buffalo, New York...

(42 Points)

AISA Goalkeeper of the Year

1986-1987 - Jamie Swanner
Jamie Swanner
James "Jamie" Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer.-High school and college:Swanner attended...
1988-1989 - Jamie Swanner
Jamie Swanner
James "Jamie" Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer.-High school and college:Swanner attended...
1989-1990 - Jamie Swanner
Jamie Swanner
James "Jamie" Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer.-High school and college:Swanner attended...

NPSL Goalkeeper of the Year

1990-1991 - Jamie Swanner
Jamie Swanner
James "Jamie" Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer.-High school and college:Swanner attended...
1991-1992 - Jamie Swanner
Jamie Swanner
James "Jamie" Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer.-High school and college:Swanner attended...

AISA All-Star Team

1984-1985 - Kia Zolgharnain
Kia Zolgharnain
Kia Zolgharnain was an Iranian-U.S. soccer forward who led the American Indoor Soccer Association in scoring during the 1986-1987 season. He currently coaches youth soccer in Cleveland...

, Oscar Pisano
Oscar Pisano
Oscar Pisano 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 Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer...
1985-1986 - Oscar Pisano
Oscar Pisano
Oscar Pisano 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 Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer...

, Kia Zolgharnain
Kia Zolgharnain
Kia Zolgharnain was an Iranian-U.S. soccer forward who led the American Indoor Soccer Association in scoring during the 1986-1987 season. He currently coaches youth soccer in Cleveland...

, Tim Tyma
Tim Tyma
Tim Tyma is a retired American soccer forward, coach and referee. Tyma played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and USISL.-Youth:...

, Don Tobin
Don Tobin
Don Tobin is a retired English football midfielder. Since 1995 he has been Director of Coaching at the Dunedin Stirling Soccer Club in the US. He is also assistant coach of the University of Tampa's soccer team, the Tampa Spartans....
1986-1987 - Jamie Swanner
Jamie Swanner
James "Jamie" Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer.-High school and college:Swanner attended...

, Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent nearly his entire 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.-Youth:Pikuzinski, and his brother Randy, grew up in Buffalo, New York...

, Tim Tyma
Tim Tyma
Tim Tyma is a retired American soccer forward, coach and referee. Tyma played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and USISL.-Youth:...
1987-1988 - Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent nearly his entire 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.-Youth:Pikuzinski, and his brother Randy, grew up in Buffalo, New York...
1988-1989 - Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent nearly his entire 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.-Youth:Pikuzinski, and his brother Randy, grew up in Buffalo, New York...

, Jamie Swanner
Jamie Swanner
James "Jamie" Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer.-High school and college:Swanner attended...
1989-1990 - Jamie Swanner
Jamie Swanner
James "Jamie" Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer.-High school and college:Swanner attended...

, Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski
Rudy Pikuzinski is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent nearly his entire 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.-Youth:Pikuzinski, and his brother Randy, grew up in Buffalo, New York...

NPSL All-Star Team

1990-1991 - Jamie Swanner
Jamie Swanner
James "Jamie" Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer.-High school and college:Swanner attended...

, Denzil Antonio, Gino DiFlorio
Gino DiFlorio
Gino DiFlorio is a former professional soccer player. Canadian, he was a scoring star of indoor soccer in North America during the 1990s.Moved into Canada with his immediate family after the first few years of his life. Growing up and playing recreational soccer, he could not put the soccer ball...
1991-1992 - Jamie Swanner
Jamie Swanner
James "Jamie" Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer.-High school and college:Swanner attended...

Year-by-year

Year	Division	League	Reg. Season	Playoffs	Avg. Attendance
1984/85	N/A	AISA	1st	Champions	2,326
1985/86	N/A	AISA	1st	Champions	2,917
1986/87	N/A	AISA	1st, Northern	Final	3,294
1987/88	N/A	AISA	2nd	1st in Challenge Cup	TBA
1988/89	N/A	AISA	1st	Champions	TBA
1989/90	N/A	AISA	1st, American	Champions	TBA
1990/91	N/A	NPSL	1st, American	Semifinals	2,459
1991/92	N/A	NPSL	1st, American	Final	2,128
1992/93	N/A	NPSL	7th, American	Did not qualify	2,072
1993/94	N/A	NPSL	5th, American	Did not qualify	2,399
1994/95	N/A	NPSL	6th, American	Did not qualify	1,781
1995/96	N/A	NPSL	7th, American	Did not qualify	1,626
1996/97	N/A	NPSL	3rd, American Central	Did not qualify	1,588

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