Two local U12 soccer teams travelled to Carmen, Manitoba, on September long weekend to participate in a regional showcase.
The soccer tournament was in preparation for the Manitoba Summer games to be held in August 2016. The showcase allowed teams to compete against some high-leveled competition from around the province.
Storm FC is the boys’ team coached by Rob Abbott and Allen Church. The boys faced some excellent competition and finished the showcase with a record of 1-2, although both losses were tight games and could have easily gone the other way.
As the weekend progressed the boys showed tremendous progress and skill as they competed against clubs that play soccer in indoor facilities year round.
The showcase was definitely a learning experience, providing players with areas to focus on to strengthen their skills for next summer.
Flin Flon Lightning is the girls’ team coached by Steve Lytwyn and Kathryn Church. The girls also had a strong showing and finished the tournament with a record of 1--1--1.
Throughout the tournament, scouts from Soccer Manitoba watched the games and selected 32 players to participate in Players of Distinction games.
Storm FC had four players selected to play alongside 28 other boys from across all of Manitoba. Joel Williams, Odin Church, Ethan Patterson and Joel Hucaluk were privileged to wear the Team Manitoba jersey.
Flin Flon Lightning had two players selected to play in the girls’ Players of Distinction game, Alli Lytwyn and Joie Simon. Joie was also honoured by winning the Manitoba skills competition, which was part of the weekend showcase.
Both teams plan to practice throughout the winter and have their sights set on Gold at the Manitoba Summer Games next summer. Players born between 2003 and 2005 are eligible to compete in the soccer portion of the Games.
