Photo by Morris Prokop
BLOWING IT BY — A hard shot eludes goalkeeper Jan Alt of the North of 60 team during a game against the Men’s Yukon Selects team. The match, which took place at F.H. Collins turf field last Thursday, was the first game featured in the Yukon/NWT soccer weekend.
Photo by Morris Prokop
BIG COLLISION — Harrison Kwok of the Men’s Yukon Selects and Haley Birell of North of 60 collide during the first game of the soccer weekend last Thursday at F.H. Collins turf.
Photo by Morris Prokop
CLOSE CALL — Cameron Bringsli of the U15 WUFC Boys Reds tries to beat Ladies Yukon Selects goalkeeper Cass Mellott during a game last Friday night at F.H. Collins turf. The Reds prevailed 3-2 in a tightly-contested match.
Photo by Morris Prokop
POWERING IT IN — Cameron Bringsli of the U15 WUFC Boys Reds team drills a corner kick in toward the goal during the Reds match against the Ladies Yukon Selects last Friday night.
A soccer tourney took place over the weekend, with almost all of the games played on the beautiful new F.H. Collins Secondary School turf field.
A soccer tourney took place over the weekend, with almost all of the games played on the beautiful new F.H. Collins Secondary School turf field.
A variety of teams, including three from the Northwest Territories, took part in the soccer weekend.
The N.W.T. sent 34 players from their U13, U15, and U17 Galaxy boys teams. One hundred players from the Yukon played for 11 youth and adult teams.
The event started with a game between the Men’s Yukon Selects vs. North of 60 last Thursday night, and ended with a U17/Men’s Division game Sunday evening.
According to the technical director of the Yukon Soccer Association, Jake Hanson, the soccer weekend went well; everyone seemed to enjoy it.
The weather was fantastic until Sunday afternoon (when a bit of a downpour occurred), and there weren’t even any mosquitos to deal with at the new turf.
“The Yellowknife players and coaches were amazed by our facility; we are very fortunate,” Hanson said.
Regarding the field turf, Hanson related, “In Canada Soccer’s ‘Wellness to World Cup’ printed many years ago, appropriate soccer facilities were in their top five factors for becoming a more successful soccer nation.”
As for the Yukon soccer program, Hanson said, “With five youth players from MLS (Major League Soccer) and CPL (Canadian Premier League) pro academies in just the last three years, plus we are expecting double what we’ve ever had at one time (as many as 12) set to make college or university soccer teams this fall.
“Plus record numbers of youth in high-performance leagues in B.C. or Alberta. I think it’s safe to say that statement was accurate.
“We are where we are in developing soccer talent in our community in large part due to having the field house at Canada Games Centre, the home of indoor soccer, in our community from October to April until we can get back outside.”
Hanson added, “We are now just about to celebrate one year of opening of the F.H. Collins outdoor turf. With facilities like this, we are excited to see the continued positive impact in our community.”
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