Edmonton shootout on table for delayed soccer season playoffs
Edmonton Minor Soccer Association postponed over 300 games as record June rainfall floods fields. Community leagues will use playoff shootouts to meet deadlines.
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Record rainfall in June has turned Edmonton's minor sports calendar into a scheduling nightmare, forcing the Edmonton Minor Soccer Association to postpone over 300 games and resort to penalty shootouts to determine playoff positioning.
According to Environment Canada meteorologist Chloe Katsademas, 203 millimetres of rain has fallen in Edmonton this month, marking the second-most rainfall in a June on record. The rainiest June was in 1914 with 216.5 millimetres.
Mario Charpentier, president of the Edmonton Minor Soccer Association, said community league games must be finished by Thursday with no way to make up missed matches. "We've got about 40–50 emails complaining about the games, and we understand, and we agree with the people, but what can we do?" Charpentier said. Club-level teams are hopeful they can still complete their seasons, but playoff positioning will now be determined by shootouts this week. More rain is expected this weekend and could extend into early next week.