EDMONTON

The Amway Canadian championship takes on special meaning to FC Edmonton’s homegrown players.

With another team added this year in the Ottawa Fury, the tournament, which determines the Canadian entry in the CONCACAF Champions League, benefits local talent.

“This is huge, I had the opportunity to play at home last year against the Vancouver Whitecaps in front of my friends and family,” said FC Edmonton defender Michael Nonni, a Vancouver product. “Everyone back home is into it now. It’s getting big. To be honest, I don’t think a lot of people knew about it before a couple of years ago. This is a big game for us, it’s important.”

The winner of the two-game, total-goal series between Edmonton and Ottawa move on to face the defending Canadian champions, Montreal Impact in the next round.

The Whitecaps and Toronto FC will play a two-game, total-goal series in the other semifinal.

The Canadian champion will then play against the best from the rest of the continent, with an opportunity to play against teams from the United States and Mexico.

“If we can beat Ottawa, it would be huge,” Nonni said. “I think it’ll help our club get noticed, get the players noticed, and I think if we get through to Montreal, we have a real good shot.”

FC Edmonton have never advanced beyond the first stage of the tournament.

For defender Eddie Edwards, the game against Ottawa will take on extra significance, getting a chance to play at home for the first time in his career.

“This will be the first time that my family and friends have had a chance to see me play live,” Edwards said. “I’m very excited and it’s a big game. The first game against Ottawa, hopefully we can start a little bit of a Canadian rivalry. But we have to have a good showing.”

derek.vandiest@sunmedia.ca

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