Football Champions

Coach's Corner:
The tradition continues

GORD DUNPHY
The Southern Gazette

Each year, as one would expect, questions start surrounding the hometown Challenge Cup soccer team. Who’s coaching the team this year? Are all the boys coming back? Who are the new additions? Over the years St. Lawrence has seen bleak moments but when one puts it all together it is amazing how the Laurentians keep compiling a competitive team year after year, despite very trying circumstances. One must realize having a competitive team just doesn’t happen. It’s because the people of the town of St. Lawrence want it to happen.

Both the St. Lawrence Town Council and the St. Lawrence Soccer Association see that soccer continues. There are always various people (volunteers, for the most part) who are determined to keep the soccer tradition alive.
Some of them basically have dedicated their life to the sport. The fact players, who reside outside the community, keep playing for their hometown amazes all sports minded people all over Newfoundland and Labrador.
Maybe the fact it’s instilled into the heads of youngsters of St. Lawrence that it’s an honour and a privilege to don the Laurentians Blue helps St. Lawrence’s cause. And of course St. Lawrence has always recruited some of the best talented soccer players available. Again this year it is very evident. I also feel it’s great to see so many young potential soccer stars back into the Laurentians’ fold in 2010. Not only is it good for St. Lawrence soccer, but also it is good for NLSA soccer. Actually, it augurs well for the entire sport. Below, you will see a number of the young guys the Laurentians are starting to mould, who very well may be their future stars.
I have contacted and received responses from a number of these young players, who range from 15 -18 years of age. Hopefully these few questions and answers may give you a better insight into what the Laurentians are hoping to build their future.

Name: Sean Edwards
Age: 18
Position: Left Midfield
Former teams: NLSA Teams – Under 13, Under 16, Canada Games Under-18 team
Favourite player: Harry Kelly
Future goal in soccer: Win a National Gold Medal.
Coach’s Corner Comments: When Sean is on top of his game, he has the abilities to be the best Under -20 in the province. But like any athlete, to be the best you must do it on a consistent basis.

Name: Jonathan Grant
Age: 18
Position: Center Midfield
Former teams: 2009 Canada Games Team, St. John’s Under 18s
Favourite player: John Douglas
Future goal in soccer: To win a national championship
Coach’s Corner Comments: Jonathan is very strong on the ball, has average skill but it is his old fashioned work ethic that gives him the edge on players his age.

Name : Boyd Roul
Age :18
Position: Left Wing Midfield
Former teams: Lawn and St. Lawrence Intermediates, Canada Games NLSA Team
Favourite St. Lawrence player: Adam Loder or Rudy Norman
Future goal in soccer: To win the Challenge Cup and be named to the Challenge Cup All Stars
Coach’s Corner Comments: Generally, when I think of Lawn players I think of players that play with guts and determination, and really Boyd is no different. He is the type of player who gives his all.

Name: Steven Slaney
Age: 17
Position: Striker/Midfielder
Former teams: Minor soccer in Marystown and Burin, BPSA ‘A’ teams, St. Lawrence Intermediate, NLSA Under-15 and Under-16 teams
Favourite St. Lawrence player: Rudy Norman
Future goal in soccer: To play soccer at the highest level for as long as I can.
Coach’s Corner Comments: I can’t really say I know a lot about the talents of this young player, but I do know he is very coach-able and committed to the game. As long as a young player has those attributes he has a future in soccer.

Name: Stefan Slaney
Age: 16
Position: Striker/Midfield
Former teams: St. Lawrence minor teams, Canada Games, NLSA Under-13, NLSA Under-14, NLSA Under-16, St. Lawrence Intermediate
Favourite St. Lawrence player: Richard Kelly
Future goal in soccer: To win a Men’s National Title with the St. Lawrence Laurentians
Coach’s Corner Comments: One thing I realized after seeing Stefan play the last number of years is this young man has talent. He is super skilled and is great with both feet. I have no doubt when the day arrives Stefan plays to his full potential, he will be a Challenge Cup All-Star.

Name: Patrick Slaney
Age: 16
Position: Goalkeeper
Former teams: NLSA Under -16, BPSA Under-16, St. Lawrence Intermediate
Favourite St. Lawrence player: Well obviously I look up to John Douglas, being his back up. I expect to pick up and learn a lot from him. He has been a big help for me so far. Besides him, my favourite player would be Johnny Grant. Nobody works harder than Johnny on the field, and any keeper would want a player like that in front of him.
Future goal in soccer: To help St. Lawrence win a National Championship
Coach’s Corner Comments: As long as I can remember the strength of St. Lawrence teams have always started with having great goalkeepers. From what I have seen of Patrick thus far, he has the all the tools to be the Laurentians’ future keeper.

Name: Jordi Slaney
Age: 15
Position: Center Midfield
Former teams: St. Lawrence minor soccer, BPSA & NLSA Teams for five years
Favourite St. Lawrence player: Clinton Edwards
Future goal in soccer: To be the best I can be and eventually contribute to the Laurentians
Coach’s Corner Comments: Personally, I think this young kid is the best minor soccer player in the province. When a kid puts on a Challenge cup uniform in St. Lawrence you can bet he is a future senior star.

Dunphy’s Details: Both Jimmy Cluett and Clarence Senior told me, they feel the 2010 Challenge Cup Championship is up for grabs this season more than ever.
However, Clarence feels Holy Cross’s depth could be the difference in them winning. While Jimmy Cluett feels home field advantage will give the Laurentians the nod on Labour Day