Eugene Melnyk, owner of the NHL's Ottawa Senators, has declared his interest in soon joining MLS ranks with a team set up in their own stadium in suburban Kanata.

With the league set to add four teams inside of four years, the businessman announced his bid well ahead of the October 15th submission deadline.

"Soccer is a sport with a global reach and presence," Melnyk told reporters. "It is a sport steeped in culture and tradition, with a unique ability to connect fans from around the world."

"We want to bring the world's game to Ottawa and there is no better way to do that than to become part of Major League Soccer."

Ottawa joins Montreal and Vancouver as Canadian hopefuls, with Atlanta, a second New York franchise, Portland and St. Louis as prime candidates.

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