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“Do we actually need six more hockey rinks when more kids play soccer than hockey?” Miller asked about the recently proposed $85 million Rexall renovation. “I treat hockey with the greatest respect, but I just see a fit here in Canada for a full sized indoor soccer facility.”

Despite the disappointment, Miller is excited to see the team practice outside of the Commonwealth Recreation Centre turf.

“These guys are working on a 65-by-65-metre area and when you’re asking guys to sprint on an overlap there’s no space to train the team behind defenders like you would with a full-sized space,” Miller said. “When you get into Saskatchewan it’s a 110-yard run. The recovery type runs that you have to make is just an entirely different world, fitness-wise.”

Upon FC Edmonton’s arrival on Thursday, the team will undergo a two-hour training session, followed by a 90-minute inter-squad game on Friday.

There are some added benefits for the team in heading out of town. The trip will provide the players a chance to stretch not only their legs, but for some, their vocal chords.

“The new guys will have to sing a wee song and the new staff members will, too, so that will provide a bit of a laugh on the way there,” Miller said.

The practice is basically a rite of passage for many professional sports teams and is used to help integrate new members into the locker room.

“It’s always fun because there’s aways rookies,” midfielder Cristian Raudales said. ‘It’s something you have to do to bring them into the group. Some guys are kind of shy when they first come in so they don’t feel comfortable. When you put them up to sing they’ll feel more uncomfortable, but it kind of lets everyone know they’ll do this for the team.”