Ontario Fury 2 Set to Return for 2021-2022 Season

The two teams that played for the Major Arena Soccer League championship this spring will get to renew that rivalry in Major Arena Soccer League 2 for the 2021-22 season.

The Ontario Fury 2 have announced they will be returning to the league, after fielding developmental teams in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns which posted a combined record of 11-13.

However, those teams yielded such stars at Claysson De Lima, who was just named Most Valuable Goaltender for the 2021 MASL season and backstopped the Fury to their first-ever championship round appearance.

"We know first hand the significance of having our own developmental team, allowing players to be introduced to the indoor game," said Ontario Fury Head Coach Jimmy Nordberg. "Having an M2 franchise is an integral piece of our foundation for the entire Fury organization that will ultimately allow us to take that final championship step."

The Fury 2 will be lead by newcomer Anthony Perez. "It is an honor to be able to lead the Fury 2. I know what the expectations of the organization are, and we are fully ready to meet those in making it the best and most meaningful experience possible for our players and fans."

“It’s such a big step forward when successful teams like the Sockers and Fury and Baltimore Blast sign on to support the new pyramid structure in indoor soccer,” noted M2 Commissioner Chris Economides. “These quality organizations and their commitment to the growth of the sport are the foundation of everything we want to do going forward at all levels.”

The Fury 2 announcement comes on the heels of the San Diego Sockers – who defeated the Fury in the MASL finals in April – will also rejoin the M2 league in 2021-22. Other major market teams like the Chicago Mustangs and Cleveland Crunch joined in time for the abbreviated 2021 season, and more announcements will be forthcoming over the summer months about additional large and mid-sized markets who will be on board next year.

“With the returning nucleus of strong teams that understandably sat out 2021 due to the Covid 19 pandemic, and the new group of teams coming on board, 2021-22 is already shaping up to be a spectacular year for M2,” Deputy Commissioner Andrew Ross added. “It all points to a highly competitive, highly entertaining intense regular season that fans in all cities should really enjoy.”

M2 will be hosting its "Championship Weekend” for the 2021 season on July 17 and 18 at Hartman Arena, with the host Wings, Amarillo Bombers, Cleveland Crunch and Chicago Mustangs having qualified for the single elimination tournament. The final seedings for the post-season is still to be determined, with the Bombers hosting the Wings and Colorado Inferno July 9 and 11 respectively to close out the league’s regular season.