Team NWT adds 10 soccer stars to roster
Players from Fort Liard, Fort Simpson named to territorial teams for North American Indigenous Games
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, February 16, 2017
ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD
Seven soccer players from Fort Liard and three from Fort Simpson will be joining players from across the Northwest Territories at the North American Indigenous Games this year.
Three female soccer players from Fort Liard were accepted onto the U16 team for the North American Indigenous Games. Briann Nelson, left, sits with coach Sarah Hammond, Mikala McLeod and Leona Berreault. Berreault made the team while Nelson and McLeod were chosen as alternates. - photo courtesy of Sophie Kirby
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During a selection camp for the U16 male soccer team from Feb. 3 to 5, Fort Liard's Chase Berreaut, Jolan Kotchea and Angus Capot-Blanc were selected for the team, while Jordan Nelson was named as an alternate.
The U16 female team had its final selection from Feb. 10 to 12. Fort Liard's Briann Nelson and Leona Berreault were both named to the team, while Mikala McLeod was named an alternate. From Fort Simpson, Shaznay Waugh and Akesha Hardisty-Norwegian were named on the final roster, while Emily Hardisty-Marcellais was named an alternate.
Capot-Blanc said making the team was the realization of a lifelong dream for him.
"When I was young, I used to see people wearing Team NWT jerseys. I always thought, 'I want to be part of that when I'm older,'" he said.
"I was very proud of myself for making the team."
Fierce competition
The selection camp was no easy time, he said. Competition was fierce and he and his fellow Fort Liard athletes played their very best in order to make the team.
Capot-Blanc tried out for goalkeeper, which he said was a very different experience from athletes who pursued positions as forward or defence.
"We worked on one-on-one drills, such as shooting drills," he said.
"The goalkeeper drills were difficult."
Now that he's been selected, Capot-Blanc said he will be training in Fort Liard over the next few months until the games begin, focusing mainly on his fitness and goalkeeping skills. During the selection camp, players were advised by coaches to pay special attention to their fitness levels, since the games will be played on a large outdoor field.
Sophie Kirby, the recreation co-ordinator for Fort Liard, said this year marks the first time the hamlet has seen a large delegation of youth selected for the games.
It's also only the second time the hamlet has had representation at the North American Indigenous Games. James Duntra, who chaperoned young players to the Paul Stipdonk Memorial Soccer Tournament in Fort Simpson last weekend, attended the games in 2014.
"This is the first time a lot of kids have all made it at the same time, and I think it's because the soccer program in Fort Liard has really grown over the past few years," Kirby said, crediting soccer coach Sarah Hammond with developing the team's skillset.
"We have a really good soccer coach right now, and their capacity as soccer players has really grown."
The 2017 North American Indigenous Games runs in Toronto from July 16 to 23.
