Ottawa Intrepid


Ottawa Pioneers/Intrepid was the name of the Canadian Soccer League entry from the National Capital Region from 1987-1989 Ottawa, Ontario.
The club was a charter member of the Canadian Soccer League in 1987 and was known in its first season of existence as the National Capital Pioneers. Bob Wilson was named the club's President, Tom D'Amico was the Pioneer's first general manager and Bill Thompson was the team's first head coach.
With the CSL adopting the playing rules of FIFA in which games must be played on natural grass, the Pioneers were forced to play their home games in 1987 across the Ottawa river in Aylmer, Quebec. Lansdowne Park, a much larger CFL football stadium in the city of Ottawa, had artificial surface which forced the club to seek a playing surface in Aylmer, QC for the 1987 season.

1987 CSL Season

The Pioneers that season were a scrappy club finishing with a 7-9-4 record and second in the CSL's Eastern Division with 23 points - 3 points ahead of the established Toronto Blizzard. The club was a low-scoring, defensive-minded club that finished 3rd in the 8-team league with just 23 goals against in 20 contests.
Key scorers on the Pioneers that inaugural season included F John Roumelis, M Ed McNally and M Mark Purdy. The midfield was patrolled by M Lyndon Hooper, M Ed McNally, captain M Allan Spink and M Mark Purdy. In the back the team had a gritty set of defenders in D John Limniatis, D Iain Baird, D Tom Panhuyzen and D John Vidovich. Goalkeeper Don Ferguson started 19 of the 20 Pioneer games.
The Pioneers hosted the 3rd place Toronto Blizzard in the 1987 CSL Eastern Semi-Final and lost a 2-1 decision to the visitors at Aylmer Sports Park. The club averaged 1,537 fans a game in 1987.
Other members of the 1987 Pioneers included GK Mark Stokes, D Patrick Diotte, D Sean Holmes, D Jay Johnstone, M Fred Juett, M Michael Lanos, M Marty Lauter, M Peter Mackie F Mike Williams and F Frank Agananostopolous.

1988 CSL Season

With a restructured ownership and a new home in Ottawa, the club was renamed the Ottawa Intrepid for the 1988 CSL season.
Terry Fox Stadium, a quaint little athletic field adjacent the Mooney's Bay in Ottawa's south end, would serve as the home stadium for the Intrepid in 1988. The bleachers capacity was approximately 2,000 with some standing room along the track that encompassed the pitch. The club averaged 1,823 fans per game in 1988.
In 1988 the Intrepid finished the season with an 8-11-9 record, finishing 4th in the CSL Eastern Division, however, the club failed to qualify for the post-season - three points behind the third place North York Rockets.
Rookie F Dallas Moen led the Intrepid in scoring that year with 10 markers. Veteran F Ed McNally added 7 goals, while M Paul O'Brien counted 5 in the 1988 campaign. Members of the 1988 Intrepid included national team M Gerry Gray, rookie M Julian Loy, D Alex Percy, D Tom Panhuyzen and D Iain Baird. GK Don Ferguson had another solid year in goal for Ottawa starting all 26 games for the Intrepid.

1989 CSL Season

The 1989 season saw the Intrepid sign US National F Ted Eck who went on to have a stellar season netting 21 goals in 26 games.
Ottawa featured the acquisition of national team D Paul James as the club's player-coach for the 1989 campaign, however the club struggled with a 7-11-8 mark and finished in 4th place in the east, once again out of the playoff picture.
Key members of the 1989 Intrepid were M Marco Luchetta, M Tom Soehn, M Miroslaw Piekos, M Neil Wilkinson, D John Vidovich, D Lino Tomassetti, M Fred Juett, D John Stewart, D Peter Gilfillan and player-coach D Paul James. The goal keepers were import GK Mauro Pippo and GK Gary Kraft.