Viva Las Vegas

I look forward to scribing the proceeding blog as it is my opportunity to be able to announce our Tier 2/3 coaches for the coming Outdoor Season. It is a duty which I feel fortunate to undertake as I am most proud of this group of fine men, whose contributions to the club are as abundant as their popularity amongst players and peers.

But I digress - I am short on material to continue to point out the many obvious flaws of our very own Shaun Lowther as he is away in Las Vegas; absence, I am told, makes the heart grow fonder - yuck. Shaun claims the trip is all business as he is there with the 1994 Saints for the Las Vegas Showcase; however, my researchers tell me the tournament starts Saturday whilst our Shaun has left Wednesday morning - hmmmmmmmm.

Update - Shaun left his Celine Dion Vegas Show ticket on his desk - should I send it? No friends don't do that to friends.

Here we go the Tier 2/3 crew -

Hey Ladies:

U18 Solar - yes, I know, it is TBA and I would love to AIT (announce it today) but I can't. This guy is good - really good, so good he is worth the wait and I know he knows that I know he will do it. Anyhow this group of ladies will be a combined team of 1993 and 1994 born players whom aspire to finish their youth soccer careers on yet another successful high note. This will be without a doubt one of the strongest 2/3 entries in the city as the club has no shortage of talented athletes to build this team whom will excel under their mystery coach.

U18 Force - Bob Marescaux. Coach Marescaux and his assistant Dick Nyenhuis have done an admirable job with this group of ladies with consecutive Tier 2 berths after strong seeding rounds and continue to push the envelope with this competitive group of young ladies whose continuous strong defensive play looks to add a little flair to their attack. Rumour has it Coach Marescaux may bring both his son and daughter on board to get their feet wet in the coaching world and I have little doubt that both have plenty to offer and are also upstanding people.

U16 Angels 95 - Dennis Steele. This one is simple, Dennis seems to have founded a cult - ironically populated by Angels - consisting of followers who are proud to call him coach. Dennis is loyal, committed, driven and an incredibly nice guy; whilst possessing a strong love and passion for the game he devotes those same traits to his players. This has spilled throughout his squad whom all attend, work hard and strive to improve with every outing. The top of the Tier 2 league table, where the team currently stands, is no accident and it leaves little doubt that this team will be a Provincial force in a few weeks time and again in the summer. We are lucky to have Coach Steele as is this team. Simply put - Thanks Dennis.


U16 Saints 96 - Justin Cordick and Colin Loewen. Despite what all would agree upon was a disappointing seeding round which found the team in tier 3 after exhibiting potential to win tier 2, the team has rebounded and is cruising through the play-off round. I have had this group several times at Academy and have been impressed with an abundance of individual talent more times than not. Coach Cordick and Loewen have done a great job and now the individual talent is knocking the ball around like the tidy team they can be. Justin Cordick is an accomplished player, a great coach and club guy whilst Colin Loewen is as committed as anyone we have in this club and climbing the coaching ranks fast. I look forward to what these two can do this coming season and venture to guess it will end with a medal.

U14 Cardinals 97 - John Finney the legend, the man, the leader of the flock. Okay Cardinals might be the worst team name in the club but who cares when you have John Finney involved. This guy is a rock star and one of many very favorites - sorry needs to be stated. Since I have been with the club January 2009 I have yet to receive a complaint about John which is rare in the thankless world of volunteer coaching. The team is succeeding under Coach Finney's direction and will make a big step from 3/4 to tier 2/3 this coming season and I have a sneaking suspicion they wont miss a beat and will be just fine.

U14 Saints 98 - Kevin Hogg; another legend. Kevin is about to start another journey after bringing our U18 Heat through the ranks with much tribulation. With past work unrivaled I am most excited to see what Coach Hogg can do with this young team bristling with ambition and plenty of Vigor. The Saints are truly a treat to work with as past coaches have done well to install the right culture on the team and this next chapter should be exciting for all involved.

U12 Saints 00 - Ray Smith & James Forrest. One negative - Smith is a Liverpool supporter. Moving along and trying to to consider the travesty that Is Liverpool I am proud to imply that both Ray and James have done a great job with the young Saints. The team is athletic, dynamic and bright - a treat to train and I am sure a treat to coach as well. This group continues to improve and has established the right culture within the team which in the end is the best tribute one can pay to the quality that is this coaching tandem. I very much look forward to the coming season to see what the team does to top the success of last seasons outdoor campaign.

U10 Nova - Stefan Dei Cont - Love this guy, love this team. The wee Nova are making strides; lots of them and will do battle at U10 B up from C this coming outdoor season. Coach Stefan is a firecracker and has the little ones currently undefeated in the playoff round with a majority first year team. Dei Cont has done lots of good work, assembles a good coaching staff and has developed a solid team first mentality with the Nova and I will not be surprised if we see this team in the A bracket as they age to the second year of U10 next fall. Keep it up Nova!

Boys in the hood -

U16 Storm 95 - Mike Babineau. A true club guy Mike has done a great job not only coaching but putting together a team capable of competing in Tier 2 whilst in an age group short on numbers. Mike left no rock uncovered in his pursuit of players for a team which in the end has exceeded all expectations turning many heads every step of the way. I sincerely hope his good work is rewarded with a provincial berth as they remain in the hunt, but none the less we are proud of a job well done regardless. I will suggest the strong showing this current indoor season should bring some players Mike's way this coming Outdoor where he can do what he does best and coach a team without worry of numbers.

U16 Roughnecks 96 - Ben Day & Trent Tucker. I lied when I said the Cardinals could be the worst name in soccer; it's not - Roughnecks most certainly tops the 'worst name' list. Another list the Roughnecks might top is the worst dressed coaches list - no Ben I am not referring to Trent but yes I am referencing your cargo shorts in minus 30 degree winter weather.

Roughneck Facts -

1. Ben is nothing like his father Stockwell, whom appears to be a well spoken, articulate, intelligent and caring man. Ben is by contrast bombastic, abrasive and really really funny.

2. Karen Day deserves an award. The salt of the earth.

3. Trent Tucker is a good guy and good coach.

4. Both Ben and Trent have done a great job in taking the Roughnecks from Tier 3/4 to Tier 2/3 and have competed every step of the way. I had the pleasure of working with the Roughnecks this past week on two occasions and I loved it. They are athletic, hard working and keen to improve - Brilliant.

U14 Rovers - Duanne Wilson & Dennis Steele. Two quality club guys, two quality coaches, two quality people with whom I have the utmost respect for. Duanne in particular recognised a need for the club to put together a stable 2/3 team for the club and has commenced a project worth of much praise. He has put together a hard working team keen to improve, brought Dennis Steele on board to help coach and has organized not just a team trip but a club trip to Phoenix this spring to get some pre-season training underway. Phenomenal! A class act and a class group of young men.

U12 Spurs 99 - Dave Perry. We get lots of feedback about Dave and all of it is great. Just today I had a parent in the office after a season away for the game and the first question asked is can we be on Dave's team. Dave has done a great job with this group whom were in much need of stability in the form of quality coaching and Dave has provided this and more. We are lucky to have him and continue to look forward to the progress he makes with this group of lads.

U12 Rebels 00 - Sheni Janmohamed & Tony Anderson - abcdefghijklmonopqrstuvwxyz - just in case I missed a letter in Janmohamed or Anderson as it is a tongue twister. I quite like working with this group and continue to see improvement as they are a good team bristling with a very bright future. Coach Sheni and Coach Tony are both committed, talented and have immense ability which is evident when you see how the team responds to their coaching styles. The team will continue to improve technically in this environment and will without doubt climb the ladder that is our Tier system as they are going in the right direction.

U10 Celtic 02 - Scott Thomas. This team is a treat and Scott deserves much credit as he has managed to keep a team made up of 2-3 different age groups, wide variety of ability and interest together in what times was a trying season. BUT they have gotten better and better, and with a smaller roster due to the additional teams entered in Outdoor 2011 this group led by the talented, positive and charismatic Scott Thomas will bust out and have heads turning this season. Scott was the man behind a U8 team that competed in U10 C last summer and his wee soldiers will look to battle in U10B this year despite being the first year of the age group as they are athletic, talented and ambitious. Don't turn your heads because you'll miss a piece of magic if you do.

U10 Strikers - Sean Petryna & Jamieson Sawka. Another Batman and Robin duo wildly popular with both players and parents alike. Graduated of the nsdsc/celtic soccer program they are two young men whom have given much back to the club by offering their services with the Strikers. They have moved from U10 C to B and continue to compete, improve and have fun. I can't be more impressed by both Sean and Jamieson for their contributions or quality of service. The youngsters whom play for these two upstanding men are fortunate and will reap plenty of rewards.

There you have it - our Tier 2/3 program. I will update you on the 3/4 program shortly.

Regards, Troye Flannery.