FC Edmonton and NSC Minnesota Stars fight for The Flyover Cup

There’s a lot more than just bragging rights riding on tomorrow’s match against the NSC Minnesota Stars.

FC Edmonton and the NSC Minnesota Stars are separated by one point in the league standings (the Stars have a game in hand) and the series is a close one with Edmonton leading with one win and two ties. The winner of this contest will greatly improve their chances of hosting a playoff game. The loser could find themselves in trouble in terms of even making the post season.

But a playoff position isn’t the only reward for a win. The Flyover Cup will be handed to the team that wins the season series. All FC Edmonton need is a draw.

The Flyover Cup was created as a concept between the FC Edmonton Supporters Group (ESG) and the Dark Clouds (NSC Minnesota Stars’ supporters group). When the Dark Clouds raised funds for the victims of the Slave Lake fire, the ESG contacted the Dark Clouds to return the favour. About $150 was raised through the fledgling ESG and donated to the victims of the Minnesota tornado.

Through this contact and shared interest in charity, a friendly cup was created, with the winner receiving a trophy at the end of the competition.

“The name Flyover Cup was picked due to both Edmonton and Minnesota lying in flight paths for trans-continental flights, as well as neither area being a particularly well known tourist attraction. Most people fly over both cities to the West Coast of Canada or the Eastern United States,” said Nathan Terlesky, a founding member of the ESG. “The symbol of the competition has become a loon, as it is the national bird of Canada and the state bird of Minnesota.”

Influential centre-back Paul Hamilton is suspended for the game thanks to an accumulation of five yellow cards but FC Edmonton could see the return of injured Dominic Oppong (knee) and Kyle Yamada (back).