NASL FC Edmonton

Ledgerwood Selected to Canadian Men's Roster for World Cup Qualifiers

Published on March 19, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


FC Edmonton's Nik Ledgerwood
FC Edmonton's Nik Ledgerwood
(FC Edmonton)

Canada Soccer has announced a 23-player Men's National Team squad for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Qualifiers in Vancouver and Mexico, with FC Edmonton's Nik Ledgerwood among those selected. Head coach Benito Floro will have this group of players for both the official matches on Friday 25 March at BC Place and Tuesday 29 March at Estadio Azteca.

The Canadian team will be in camp starting 21 March in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Friday night home match has already surpassed 46,000 tickets sold, with #CanadaRED support continuing to swell in the week before the home match. This will mark the largest attendance for a FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers match ever hosted in Canada.

Ledgerwood has played nearly his entire professional career overseas, competing for a variety of German clubs over the course of 13 years. That will change in 2016, when the Lethbridge native returns to his home province of Alberta to ply his trade with the Eddies. The midfielder has already made an impression through preseason with the Eddies, registering the team's opening goal of their 2016 Scotland trip and starting in the team's three matches thus far.

"Nik has been fantastic for us both on the park and off the park," FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller said. He is a fabulous addition to the group and it's just exactly what I thought Nik would bring to the club; leadership, class, quality, just a total level of professionalism and he's raised the bar for a number of players in that area of the park. He's a winner and he's come here to set a standard for the younger players. If he can do what he's being doing for us with the national team, Canada will be in a good place."

For the upcoming series against Mexico, both matches will be broadcast live on TSN2, with the Friday match broadcast at 22.00 ET / 19.00 PT and the Tuesday match broadcast at 22.30 ET / 19.30 PT.

"Such a big crowd is very important for Canadian soccer," said Floro. "We had great support for our last match (in November) and it was a very nice experience for everyone, so we must continue that with the upcoming match against Mexico. Everyone wants Canada to play well and hopefully we can get a result for our supporters."

ROAD TO THE 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA

The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ is the biggest single-sport event in the world. From 209 member associations from around the world, 32 finalists will qualify for the 32-day event that is played in 11 cities from 14 June to 15 July 2018.

Canada are amongst the 12 CONCACAF nations in the hunt for a spot at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. The remaining nations have been split into three groups for the continent's 2015-2016 semi-final stage. The top-two nations in each group will advance to the final round in 2017, from which three nations qualify for Russia 2018 and the fourth team advances to an intercontinental playoff.

In CONCACAF Round 4, Canada will play six matches, with both a home and away encounter against Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico. Matches will be played over three international windows, with Canada gaining a valuable four points after the first two matches with a victory over Honduras (1:0) at home on 15 November 2015 and a draw in El Salvador (0:0) on 17 November 2015.

Following the home and away matches with Mexico on 25 and 29 March, 2016, Canada then faces Honduras away and El Salvador at home again in September 2016.

CANADA

Detailed roster via CanadaSoccer.com

1- GK- Simon Thomas | NOR / FK Bodø/Glimt

2- FB- Nik Ledgerwood | CAN / FC Edmonton

3- CB- Manjrekar James | HUN / Diósgyöri VTK

4- CB- Dejan Jakovi? | JPN / Shimizu S-Pulse

5- CB / M- David Edgar | ENG / Sheffield United

6- M- Julian de Guzman | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC

7- W- Iain Hume | ESP / SD Ponferradina

8- M- Will Johnson | CAN / Toronto FC

9- F- Marcus Haber | ENG / Crewe Alexandra

10- W- David Junior Hoilett | ENG / Queens Park Rangers

11- W- Tosaint Ricketts | Unattached

12- CB- Doneil Henry | ENG / West Ham United

13- M- Atiba Hutchinson | TUR / Be?ikta? JK

14- M- Samuel Piette | ESP / Deportivo La Coruña

15- CB / M- Adam Straith | NOR / Fredrikstad FK

16- M- Scott Arfield | ENG / Burnley FC

17- FB- Marcel De Jong | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC

18- GK- Milan Borjan | BUL / PFK Ludogorets Razgrad

19- CB- Steven Vitória | POR / Benfica

20- FB / CB- Karl W. Ouimette | USA / New York Red Bulls

21- F- Cyle Larin | USA / Orlando City SC

22- GK- Kenny Stamatopoulos | SWE / AIK Fotbol

23- W- Tesho Akindele | USA / FC Dallas

Ledgerwood and the Eddies open up their 2016 North American Soccer League campaign at Clarke Field, April 10 versus Minnesota United FC. To purchase your 2016 Season Tickets, please call 780.700.2600 or click HERE. For more information on FC Edmonton, please visit www.fcedmonton.com.

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FC Edmonton's Nik Ledgerwood
FC Edmonton's Nik Ledgerwood
   



North American Soccer League Stories from March 19, 2016


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