Gino DiFlorio
Encyclopedia
Gino DiFlorio is a former professional soccer player. Canadian, he was a scoring star of indoor soccer
in North America during the 1990s.
Moved into Canada with his immediate family after the first few years of his life. Growing up and playing recreational soccer, he could not put the soccer ball away, he was hooked. Sometime in his teen years, Gino was recognized by a coach of one of the Canadian Provincial Teams. He was later put on the roster. Not long after that, he was training with the Canadian Youth Team, in which he started every game, but did not make the final roster. He stoped for a year and threw out all of his gear, and moved back to Italy. About a year later, he came back to Canada and was put back on the provincial teams, as the coaches recognized that they could not let talent like that go un-noticed. After coming out of highschool, Jay Fox put him on the road to his professional career.
DiFlorio began his career in the original Major Indoor Soccer League
, joining the Cleveland Force
in 1984 or 1985, a club he remained with until 1987. He then played in 1987-8 for the Dayton Dynamo
of the American Indoor Soccer Association and in 1988-9 for the Dallas Sidekicks
of MISL.
DiFlorio played 1990-1 for the Canton Invaders
of the National Professional Soccer League and finished the season the league's leading scorer. He then played 1991-2 for the Cleveland Crunch
of the MISL. He returned to the Invaders for the 1992-3 season and finished the season the league's 3rd leading scorer for the second time. With the Invaders again for 1993-4, he finished the league's 5th leading scorer. DiFlorio then played a summer season of outdoor soccer, 1994, for the Toronto Rockets
in the American Professional Soccer League
. He then from 1994 to 1997 played for NPSL side Buffalo Blizzard
, for the Cincinnati Silverbacks
from 1997 to 1998 and then from 1998 to 2002, the Harrisburg Heat
. (The Heat played until 2001 in the NPSL and then belonged to the current Major Indoor Soccer League.) DiFlorio began the 2002-2003 season with he Heat, but finished his career with the Baltimore Blast
, for whom he played the end of the season. He was the (AISA-)NPSL's 3rd all-time leading scorer with 1,452 points and second all-time goal scorer with 559.
DiFlorio had one cap for the Canadian national soccer team
, which came in 1988 on July 15 in a friendly against Poland
played in Toronto
. Canada lost 1-2.
Indoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall...
in North America during the 1990s.
Moved into Canada with his immediate family after the first few years of his life. Growing up and playing recreational soccer, he could not put the soccer ball away, he was hooked. Sometime in his teen years, Gino was recognized by a coach of one of the Canadian Provincial Teams. He was later put on the roster. Not long after that, he was training with the Canadian Youth Team, in which he started every game, but did not make the final roster. He stoped for a year and threw out all of his gear, and moved back to Italy. About a year later, he came back to Canada and was put back on the provincial teams, as the coaches recognized that they could not let talent like that go un-noticed. After coming out of highschool, Jay Fox put him on the road to his professional career.
DiFlorio began his career in the original Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
, joining the Cleveland Force
Cleveland Force (1978 – 1988)
The original Cleveland Force was one of the six charter franchises in the original Major Indoor Soccer League . The team played from 1978 to 1988 at the Richfield Coliseum, the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and occasionally drew crowds in excess of 20,000 in the mid-80's.Akron businessman Eric J...
in 1984 or 1985, a club he remained with until 1987. He then played in 1987-8 for the Dayton Dynamo
Dayton Dynamo
The Dayton Dynamo was a professional indoor soccer team from Dayton, Ohio. The team played in the American Indoor Soccer Association ....
of the American Indoor Soccer Association and in 1988-9 for the Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
of MISL.
DiFlorio played 1990-1 for the Canton Invaders
Canton Invaders
The Canton Invaders was an indoor soccer club based in Canton, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Columbus Invaders.- Canton Invaders :...
of the National Professional Soccer League and finished the season the league's leading scorer. He then played 1991-2 for the Cleveland Crunch
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
of the MISL. He returned to the Invaders for the 1992-3 season and finished the season the league's 3rd leading scorer for the second time. With the Invaders again for 1993-4, he finished the league's 5th leading scorer. DiFlorio then played a summer season of outdoor soccer, 1994, for the Toronto Rockets
Toronto Rockets
The Toronto Rockets were an American Professional Soccer League soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario. They played one season, 1994.The Toronto Rockets were a continuation of the North York Rockets, a Canadian Soccer League / Canadian National Soccer League franchise and the Toronto Blizzard, a...
in the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
. He then from 1994 to 1997 played for NPSL side Buffalo Blizzard
Buffalo Blizzard
The Buffalo Blizzard was an indoor soccer team based in Buffalo, New York. The team was a member of the now defunct NPSL from 1992 to 2001. From 1992-1996, the team played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, and they moved to HSBC Arena in 1996 where they played until 2001.The team was originally...
, for the Cincinnati Silverbacks
Cincinnati Silverbacks
The Cincinnati Silverbacks was an indoor soccer club based in Cincinnati, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League. They performed under the leadership of All-Star goalkeeper, Carlos Pena. Other star players included Gino DiFlorio , Franklin McIntosh, and Dennis Brose...
from 1997 to 1998 and then from 1998 to 2002, the Harrisburg Heat
Harrisburg Heat
The Harrisburg Heat was a professional indoor soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team was part of the National Professional Soccer League, which later became the Major Indoor Soccer League, and has been defunct since 2003. The Harrisburg Heat was first formed during the 1991-92...
. (The Heat played until 2001 in the NPSL and then belonged to the current Major Indoor Soccer League.) DiFlorio began the 2002-2003 season with he Heat, but finished his career with the Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast (current)
Baltimore Blast is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Founded in 1992, the team plays in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
, for whom he played the end of the season. He was the (AISA-)NPSL's 3rd all-time leading scorer with 1,452 points and second all-time goal scorer with 559.
DiFlorio had one cap for the Canadian national soccer team
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
, which came in 1988 on July 15 in a friendly against Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
played in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Canada lost 1-2.