National Professional Soccer League
- See also National Professional Soccer League (1967) , the 1967 USA professional soccer league
The National Professional Soccer League was a professional indoor soccer league in the United States and Canada . It was founded in 1984 as the American Indoor Soccer Association , and in 1990 the name was finally changed to the National Professional Soccer League . In the summer of 2001 the league stopped playing due to financial problems, the six remaining teams then founded the Major Indoor Soccer League , which later added three teams from the World Indoor Soccer League .
From 1989 the NPSL had a special point system for goals. Depending on the distance from which a hit was scored, a team was awarded one, two or three points. Powerplay goals were worth one point, as were hits scored in the shootout .
A league called the National Professional Soccer League was founded in 1967, but after just one season it merged with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League .
Teams
- Baltimore Blast (1992-2001, until 1998 Baltimore Spirit )
- Buffalo Blizzard (1992-2001)
- Chicago Shoccers (1984–1987, until 1985 Chicago Vultures )
- Cincinnati Silverbacks (1987-1998, Dayton Dynamo until 1995 )
- Cleveland Crunch (1992-2001)
- Columbus Capitals (1984–1986)
- Columbus Invaders (1984–1997, Canton Invaders until 1996 , merger with the Montreal Impact in 1997 )
- Denver Thunder (1990-1993, Illinois Thunder until 1992 )
- Detroit Rockers (1990-2001)
- Edmonton Drillers (1988-2001, until 1996 Chicago Power )
- Florida ThunderCats (1998/99)
- Fort Wayne Flames (1986/87)
- Harrisburg Heat (1991-2001)
- Hershey Impact (1988-1991)
- Indiana Kick (1989/90)
- Jacksonville Generals (1988)
- Kalamazoo Kangaroos (1984–1986)
- Kansas City Attack (1989-2001, Atlanta Attack until 1991 )
- Louisville Thunder (1984-1987)
- Memphis Rogues (1986–1990, until 1989 Memphis Storm )
- Milwaukee Wave (1984-2001)
- Montreal Impact (1997-2000)
- New York Kick (1990/91)
- Philadelphia KiXX (1996-2001)
- St. Louis Ambush (1991-2000, Tulsa Ambush until 1992 )
- Tampa Bay Rowdies (1986/87)
- Tampa Bay Terror (1995-1997)
- Toledo Pride (1986/87)
- Toronto Shooting Stars (1996/97)
- Toronto ThunderHawks (2000/01)
- Wichita Wings (1992-2001)
Championships
The champions were played in a play-off round after the end of the regular season . From 1984 to 1987, from 1988 to 1994 and from 1998 to 2001, the final series was held in the "Best-of-Five" mode, the champions of the 1987/88 season were determined in a so-called "Challenge Cup". A best-of-seven series was played from 1994 to 1998 .
| season | master | finalist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984/85 | Canton Invaders | Louisville Thunder | 3–1 |
| 1985/86 | Canton Invaders | Louisville Thunder | 3–0 |
| 1986/87 | Louisville Thunder | Canton Invaders | 3–2 |
| 1987/88 | Canton Invaders | Ft. Wayne Flames |
Challenge Cup |
| 1988/89 | Canton Invaders | Chicago Power | 3–2 |
| 1989/90 | Canton Invaders | Dayton Dynamo | 3–1 |
| 1990/91 | Chicago Power | Dayton Dynamo | 3–0 |
| 1991/92 | Detroit Rockers | Canton Invaders | 3–2 |
| 1992/93 | Kansas City Attack | Cleveland Crunch | 3–2 |
| 1993/94 | Cleveland Crunch | St. Louis Ambush | 3–1 |
| 1994/95 | St. Louis Ambush | Harrisburg Heat | 4-0 |
| 1995/96 | Cleveland Crunch | Kansas City Attack | 4-2 |
| 1996/97 | Kansas City Attack | Cleveland Crunch | 4-0 |
| 1997/98 | Milwaukee Wave | St. Louis Ambush | 4–1 |
| 1998/99 | Cleveland Crunch | St. Louis Ambush | 3–2 |
| 1999/00 | Milwaukee Wave | Cleveland Crunch | 3–2 |
| 2000/01 | Milwaukee Wave | Philadelphia KiXX | 3–0 |
Championships by team
| title | team | year |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Canton Invaders | 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990 |
| 3 | Cleveland Crunch | 1994, 1996, 1999 |
| 3 | Milwaukee Wave | 1998, 2000, 2001 |
| 2 | Kansas City Attack | 1993, 1997 |
| 1 | Chicago Power | 1991 |
| 1 | Detroit Rockers | 1992 |
| 1 | St. Louis Ambush | 1995 |