Brady Ready to Brave New Look

 

04/05/2012 - Keyano College Huskies announced today the placement as Connor Brady as men’s soccer and futsal coach for the 2012-2013 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference season.

 

Brady, 27, replaces Jonathan Soper who guided the program for seven seasons and is stepping down. Soper was also named as the 2011-2012 ACAC career in high fashion being named the 2012 ACAC Futsal Coach of the Year.

 

“Jonathan was and is a mentor of mine and a quality person and I will definitely keep in contact with him,” said Brady who played for Soper in futsal wearing Huskies colours in 2005-2006.

 

Brady was part of the Huskies inaugural ACAC season in soccer playing for Kevin Lockhart in 2002-2003. He would suit up again in 2005-2006 with Tiffany Booth as the head coach.

 

Brady’s father George Brady was an integral part of the development of youth soccer in the region during the 1990s’ and his father’s passion for the sport is evident when talking to Connor.

 

“I come from a really soccer orientated family,” said Brady, who is married and has a 16-month old son named Liam. “Being a Brady is being passionate about soccer as it is in our blood. We pretty much eat, breath and sleep it. We grew up with exposure to the game through the coaching and the talented players I grew up with and played with.”

 

Of his on time playing with the Huskies, Brady recalled: “It wasn’t as much as a team as it was a family. We won asa team and lost as a team. We were the fittest team in the league maybe not the most talented and we had the biggest hearts and we beat down doors to do it. This is the approach we will take here.

 

“We are also going to go out and try to pick up a few studs. Keyano is a place for athletes to come for a quality education and then a good career. Fort McMurray is a desirable place to live.”

 

Brady, who owns his own safety consulting company, said “team bonding” will be an important factor.

 

“We have been talking to a few of the lads and we are going to have some team bonding so we can start to get everyone on the same page. Everything we do will be professional and focused on soccer. I’m excited and ecstatic.”

 

The Huskies would also like to announce that Huskies women's soccer head coach Ian Diaz has stepped down to pursue other interests.

 

 

Soccer Recognized

Thursday, 27 October 2011 11:32

 

Keyano Soccer Recognized

Wednesday, 26 October 2011 06:17

 

ACAC 2011-2012 ALL CONFERENCE SOCCER

WOMEN'S NORTH ALL STAR AT FORWARD

KEYANO HUSKIES JAMIE HANNIGAN

MEN'S NORTH ALL STAR AT MIDFIELD

KEYANO HUSKIES CRISTHIAN GARCES-LOPEZ

 

Story by Trevor Howlett, Fort McMurray Today

 

Keyano College Huskies Soccer received some good news this week that two of their key players have been named to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference 2011-12 all-conference teams.

 

Women's Huskies captain Jamie Hannigan was named Women's North All Star Forward. Hannigan was responsible for four out of five goals scored by the Huskies this season.

 

"She's a leader, she brings a lot of enthusiasm onto the field and she's just very determined," said women's coach Ian Diaz. "Jamie, like the girl from NAIT and the girl from Concordia, like to drive to the net, they're strong. The three of them on a team would be pretty hard to play against."

 

Also selected to the ACAC all-conference team was Cristhian Garces-Lopez, who was picked for Men's North All Star at Midfield. Men's coach Jonathan Soper said he's a valuable member of his team.

 

"When he's playing he's phenomenal, but he's been ejected twice on me," said Soper.

 

"He's one of the best players in the province, he's the best midfielder in the league by far."

 

Garcez-Lopez score two goals this year in seven appearances, which is good for second on the team behind striker Ryan McNally, and tied for the lead amongst Huskies midfielders.

 

 

Huskies Men's Soccer Wrapup Season

Tuesday, 25 October 2011 08:07

 

Keyano College Huskies men’s soccer team ended the 2011 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference regular season playing away in Edmonton.

 

In their opening match Saturday they played the top collegiate team in Canada, losing to the NAIT Ooks 4-0.

 

"we held the No. 1 team NAIT to one goal in the first half and we had most of the opportunities and play," said a proud Huskies coach Jonathan Soper. "We needed to finish our chance and did not. So against a team of this caliber they capilized on every opportunity in the second half beating us 4-0. Outstanding players during this game was Mirac Alkan as he caused NAIT lots of difficulty playing as a striker and another notables were Mike George and Sam Andrews on the defensive side."

 

On Sunday the Huskies lost 3-1 to Grant MacEwan Griffins ranked No. 8 in Canada.

 

"Grant Mac game was 2-0 at half and they scored a quick goal within five minutes of the game on a free kick that the wind had a big impact on. Santiago Raigoza although ejected from the game played in my opinion the best game of the year. On the defensive side Mike George and Alex Hopper rarely got beat to the ball."

 

 

Huskies Soccer In the News

Monday, 17 October 2011 18:52

 

by Trevor Howlett, Fort McMurray TODAY

 

Neither Huskies soccer teams were able to repeat their performance from their home openers this past weekend, but despite the outcomes both teams are headed onward and upward.

 

The Women's Huskies team didn't get their desire result either day, falling 6-0 and 4-0 to the Concordia University College of Alberta Thunder at Corless field. Despite the outcome, coach Ian Diaz sees many positives in the team, especially compared to last season's squad.

 

"For our team to start to mature and understand the game, as they progress, it's something they need to see for themselves," said Diaz. "Allie Granville played well, Kennedy Brass is also shining and in the back April Weigelt was strong as well."

Diaz said his squad will work on getting ready to play NAIT and Grant McEwan — games which will need good defending.

 

Team captain Jamie Hannigan said the biggest problem she noticed was her team's lack of consistency.

 

"I think we were good at times, but we just need to learn to stay consistent the entire game," said Hannigan.

 

"There were some good things and some bad things. When we did move the ball around it work and we held our shape a bit better than we normally do."

 

The men's Huskies faired a bit better against the Thunder this weekend.

 

The team fell 3-0 on Saturday with coach Jonathan Soper not attending because of a previous suspension. Sunday afternoon was a new day and a new game for the Huskies, who ended up with a 1-1 draw, but really could've won the match. Ryan McNally scored a nice one in the first half, but the real story of the game was the two teams' tempers and lip service.

 

"There was a lot of lack of class on the field today, it kind of hurt," said Soper. "My players are pretty riled up; even stretching, you can see them yelling at each other. So the intensity is there. Let's hope that'll carry over for practice this week."

 

Ten cards were handed out in total between the two teams. As a result Santiago Raigoza will miss the Huskies next game against NAIT due to yellow cards and Christhian Garcez- Lopez, who received a red card, will miss two games. Ashneel Nand from the Thunder was also red-carded.

 

"People say that soccer isn't a contact sport, but there are a lot of little things. It's chippy, tempers flare and today it just boiled a bit over the top," said Huskies co-captain Alex Hopper.

 

"Missing Christhian and Santiago is going to be tough, you can see those guys drive a lot of our play, but we're just going to have to come together and make the best of the situation."

 

The men's huskies team are now 2-4-2 and will prepare to play the 6-0-2 NAIT Ooks on Saturday

 

 

Photo by Erwin Kuhr

 

 

 

Soccer a Little Chirpy

Sunday, 16 October 2011 15:55

 

10/16/2011 - Following a 3-0 loss Saturday to the visiting Concordia University College of Alberta Thunder at Corless Field, the host Keyano College Huskies came out strong Sunday in front of 112 fans by scoring seven minutes into the first half as striker Ryan McNally went high for a cross, booting it in from 15 yards out to beat the Thunder goalie and tie the game 1-1.

 

It was as if a bolt of lightning had hit the field as all 11 Huskies players jumped into the air in celebration.

 

Huskies' Alex Hopper had a chance at the 20 minute mark, connecting on a cross that just went wide.

 

Five yellow cards were handed out by the official in the first half in which was an emotional contest for both sides.

 

With 9:48 left in regulation, Huskies Chrisithian Garces-Lopez was given a second yellow card which led to his ejection and the home team one man short.

 

That was short-lived as 90 seconds later Thunder player Ashneel Nand was also ejected.

 

Huskies’ Santiago Raigoza, (too many yellow cards) will miss part of next weekend’s road games against the NAIT Ooks and Grant McEwan Griffins while Garces-Lopez sits both..

 

“Lots of cards… tough weekend,” said Huskies men’s head coach Jonathan Soper.

 

“There was a lot of lip service both sides and it made for a lot of animosity on the field.

 

“It’s sometimes tough to control the emotions out there,” said Soper. “You have players who are pretty compassionate about the game and just chirp a bit too much when they get excited.”

 

Huskies are now at 2-4-2 with 8 goals for and 15 against.

 

The women's Huskies lost 6-0 and 5-0.

 

"We need to come out with a bang and start things right," said head coach Ian Diaz.

 

"We are still trying to learn the different things the game can throw at you."

 

 

Santiago Scores and then Falls

Sunday, 02 October 2011 15:17

 

10/02/2011 -Despite not hitting the “W” column against the host Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves this weekend in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference regular season play with a 1-1 tie and 3-0 loss, Keyano College Huskies men’s soccer coach Jonathan Soper was upset about on other particular.  “The field was in horrendous condition with potholes,” said Soper. “It was dangerous to play on and like I said very poor conditions with holes everywhere.”

 

Huskies lost one of their feature players, midfielder Santiago Raigoza, twisting an ankle in one of “those pot holes” in Sunday’s 3-0 loss said Soper.

Raigoza had the lone Huskies goal Saturday in the 1-1 tie. 

“We got lucky (Saturday) in that we should have lost the game as we did not come out good at all and we came out flat,” said Soper.

In Sunday’s match the Huskies played one man short for 40 minutes. 

“We didn’t pass enough and forced he ball and got our minds off the game.”

Huskies men are now two wins and four losses with seven goals for and 11 goals against.

They next host Concordia Thunder Oct 15-16.  Once again check out FACEBOOK to right for 100s' of Huskies photos courtesy Erwin Kuhr

 

 

Photo: Keyano College Huskies Santiago Raigoza (No. 9) scored the team's lone goal in a 3-0 loss and 1-1 tie against the host Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference play last weekend