Over a half-dozen up-and-coming soccer players from Cochrane will be showcasing their talents at the 2023 Alberta Summer Games, a multi-sport, Olympics-fashioned event that will be held in Okotoks from July 20 to 23.
The boys' and girls' soccer tournaments will present some of the top U14 players (born in either 2009 or 2010) from across the province.
Cochrane's contingent includes six players on the Zone 2 (Big Country) boys' team, and one player on the Zone 2 girls' team. Zone 2 is a wide-spanning geographical area that extends as far west as Banff, as far north as Olds, as far east as Brooks, and as far south as Okotoks, but does not include Calgary.
Scott Ansell, the director of football for Cochrane Wolves FC, is the coordinator for Zone 2. He said the Cochrane players have all earned the opportunity to represent their hometown on a provincial stage.
“It’s probably more of a longer-term process for them in terms of, these are players who have passion for the game and have definitely dedicated more time than probably their peers into their own personal training,” he said.
At the summer games tryouts a few months ago, Ansell said the Cochrane-based players (who play in Calgary's Tier 2 U14 division for their Cochrane Wolves teams) were going toe to toe with players from both the Alberta Youth Soccer League (AYSL) – the top level for the province – as well as Calgary's Tier 1 U14 league.
“They’ve demonstrated excellence in technical areas, tactical areas, and they performed very well on those days,” he said. “But it’s a continuation of their development in general that they can compete with players at these higher levels because of the development they’ve had on their own individual basis.”
On the boys' side, the local players include Edward Ackerman, Felix Beaulieu, Cor Sinke, Enzo Fernandez, Nixon Gerrie, and Beth-el Agbogwu.
Ansell said it's normal for Cochrane to be represented on the Zone 2 soccer teams at the Alberta Games, but that this year, the presence of local players on the team is all the more impressive since the calibre of players trying out was higher than previous Summer Games tournaments.
“There’s probably always been a few Cochrane players, but this is probably the most in terms of, this is the highest level play the team’s ever had,” he argued. “There’s never been this number of quality players playing in these teams. Four years ago, the level of the group was completely different. There were a lot of Tier 2 and 3 players, whereas now it’s basically Tier 1 with a few Tier 2 players. On the girls’ side, the whole team is Tier 1 or higher.”
Speaking of the girls' team, the head coach of the Zone 2 squad is Karen Tereposky. That team's lone Cochrane player is Charlie Lord, although the roster also includes Rocky View County-based players like Emma Baker of Bearspaw; Gabriela Navaz, Esme Sinke, Allie Pazarka of Springbank; and Aleena Rafih and Sophie Daley.
Tereposky reckons the calibre of Zone 2 is akin to a top-level AYSL team, adding that all but three of the Zone 2 players feature in the AYSL for most of the soccer season.
“It’s a high level for that age group,” she said. “It’s kind of like the selects out of AYSL. There are quite a few players on ASYL teams who tried out and didn’t make these teams.”
Tereposky and Ansell both agreed that since the Summer Games are taking place so close to home this year (the 2018 games, in contrast, were held in Grande Prairie) it's worth the 45-minute trip south to Okotoks to catch some of the impressive athletics that will be on display.
“It should be some really good soccer for people to come out and see,” Tereposky said. “It’s kind of like the rising stars of soccer in Calgary because that 2009 age group, the next step for them is to start being looked at by regional centres and national development centres, and that kind of thing.”
“It’s great to have Cochrane-based athletes in soccer and other sports,” Ansell added. “The town is growing and improving its level all around, and it’s exciting to see more exposure for kids here. I’m excited to see where the [Cochrane Minor Soccer] program will be four years from now.”
For more on the 2023 Alberta Summer Games, visit albertasummergames.ca or 2023asg.com once the event is underway for scores, schedules, rosters, and other information.
