Canton Legends

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Founded2005
Folded2008
ColorsMaroon, Old Gold, White
     
Canton Legends
Canton Legends logo
Logo
General information
Founded2005
Folded2008
HeadquarteredCanton, Ohio
at the Canton Memorial Civic Center
ColorsMaroon, Old Gold, White
     
Personnel
PresidentJoe Hoffman
Team history
  • Canton Legends (2005–2008)
Home fields
League / conference affiliations
American Indoor Football Association (2005–2008)
Championships
League championships: 1
2006
Playoff appearances (1)
2006
Slappy, the Legends' mascot

The Canton Legends were a professional indoor football team based out of Canton, Ohio. They were a charter member of the American Indoor Football Association, which played their first season under the name Atlantic Indoor Football League, and their second season as the American Indoor Football League. They played their home games at Canton Memorial Civic Center. The team name is in reference to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, since Canton is where the building is located.

During their inaugural season, the Legends ended up at a mediocre 3–7, just beating the Raleigh Rebels for 4th Place in the league. Since the league only had six teams, everyone (including the Legends) made the playoffs. They won the opening round against the Rebels, but their season ended when they lost to the Erie Freeze in the semifinals.

Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl winning Head Coach Nick Sirianni played for the Legends in 2005.

On Saturday, May 6, 2006, the Legends won 54–41 against the Huntington Heroes on the road, but not without controversy. The Legends were in violation for having an illegal roster, for they added some players to their rosters illegally. At first the AIFL awarded the win to Huntington; later Canton got the win, but had to pay an $800 fine for its actions.

Despite that little controversy, the Legends eventually managed to win the AIFL's ultimate title for 2006, beating the Rome Renegades 61–40.

The Legends also held an AIFA record for longest winning streak (12 games), beginning on May 6, 2006, against the Huntington Heroes (the same Heroes game mentioned above) at Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse, and ending on March 11, 2007, with a 39–36 loss to the Lakeland Thunderbolts at the Lakeland Center. (The Baltimore Mariners later broke this record in 2010.) The Legends are also the last of the six charter AIFL teams to fold, ceasing operations only four seasons after its debut. (Johnstown and Erie folded in 2007 and the other three teams folded in 2006.)

Season records
SeasonWLTFinishPlayoff results
Canton Legends (AIFL)
20053704th LeagueWon Round 1 (Raleigh)
Lost League Semifinals (Erie)
200610402nd NorthernWon Round 1 (Erie)
Won Northern Division Championship (Reading)
Won American Bowl II (Rome)
Canton Legends (AIFA)
200710402nd NorthernWon Round 1 (Huntington)
Lost NC Championship (Reading)
200831104th EC Northern
Totals31280 (including playoffs)

2006 season schedule

2006 Championship Banner hanging at the Canton Memorial Civic Center
Date Opponent Home/Away Result
February 25 Steubenville Stampede Home Win 66–33
March 3 Erie Freeze Away Lost 53–61
March 18 Reading Express Away Win 52–41
March 22 Johnstown Riverhawks Home Win 62–48
March 26 Syracuse Soldiers Away Win 58–39
April 1 Johnstown Riverhawks Away Lost 36–50
April 8 Miami Valley Silverbacks Away Lost 28–44
April 15 Steubenville Stampede Away Win 62–26
April 23 Reading Express Home Lost 18–56
May 6 Huntington Heroes Away Win 54–41
May 13 Syracuse Soldiers Home Win 88–41
May 20 Erie Freeze Home Win 50–27
May 27 Huntington Heroes Home Win 75–49
June 8 Miami Valley Silverbacks Home Win 50–28
June 17 Erie Freeze (Playoffs) Home Win 54–45
June 22 Reading Express (Playoffs) Away Win 44–24
July 3 Rome Renegades (A.B. II) Away Win 61–40

2007 season schedule

2008 season schedule

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