Long wait is over: U of S Huskies men's soccer returns to the pitch for Canada West action
“This group has been really good over the last 18 months. We’re looking forward to getting on the field together on Friday.”
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Real games and real competition beckon.
Yes, it’s been a while.
Indeed, it’s been a two-year wait for members of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s soccer team since they last played a meaningful game on the pitch.
“It feels amazing,” said veteran Huskies midfielder and team leader Tobias Hryich-Krueger, whose squad opens up Canada West conference play Friday night (5 p.m.) against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns at Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park.
“The guys really showed perseverance through these obviously difficult times. We had a really long pre-season — probably the longest it’s ever been for me, at least — and, yeah, we’re raring to go. We’ve had some (exhibition) games. We’re looking forward to that (start of the regular season).
“That’s why we play.”
In 2019, the Huskies reached the Canada West Final Four after posting a 7-3-4 record in the regular season.
A lot has changed since then for all teams, not just the Huskies, who have moved on without second-team All-Canadian Jacob Powell, Marcello Gonzalez, Gabriel Buatois and Gabriel Michael.
“It kinds of seems like forever when we talk about guys who graduated but, obviously, Jacob Powell, Marcello Gonzales and Gabby Buatois were all significant players and leaders on the park, but we’ve recruited well over the last two cycles and, like every succession, you always put players in spots to take over from players,” said Huskies head coach Bryce Chapman.
“We’re looking at Tobias — he’s done a great job as one of our captains. KB (Kuhle Bekwayo) has stepped up within our captains group, and Zach Edwards. We’re quite comfortable with the guys who are leading our charge.”
Chapman, who heads into his 17th season with the program, appears eager to “start playing games that count for points and count for standings,” Chapman said.
“This group has been really good over the last 18 months. We’re looking forward to getting on the field together on Friday.”
Saskatchewan will be led by the likes of Hryich-Krueger, Bekwayo, Edwards and fellow returnees Nikolas Baikas and Marcus Baxter.
Baikas led the Dogs with three goals and two assists in 2019, while goal-keeper Baxter posted seven wins and five shutouts as a rookie.
Key additions include University of Winnipeg transfers Aaron Hidalgo-Mazzei (FC Winnipeg Lions) and Kevin Garic, along with former red-shirt Mathew Hnatiw (Woodbridge Strikers), Luke Mackie (Saskatchewan Whitecaps Soccer Academy) and Ahmed Mohammed (Saskatoon Bethlehem).
“The two boys from Winnipeg, Aaron and Kevin, have come in and obviously they bring a wealth of experience,” noted Hryich-Krueger. “They’re a little bit older. You look at Robert (MacKay), who came in from Calgary. He’s done extremely well since he’s come in. It’s very, very exciting.
“We’re lucky to have them, right? They’ve benefitted us.”
The Huskies feature 15 players entering their first year of U Sports eligibility and seven players going into their second season of U Sports after missing out on last season.
Saskatchewan will play in the Canada West’s Central Division along with the Mount Royal University Cougars, University of Alberta Golden Bears, University of Calgary Dinos, MacEwen University Griffins and Lethbridge.
With a COVID-19 modified schedule, the Huskies won’t have any games against the seven British Columbia-based teams.
“That makes things a lot more compact,” said Hryich-Krueger. “It’s going to be extremely competitive, but we still have the same goals. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. We’re there to get the three points at the end of the day and hopefully we get ourselves into a (Canada West) Final Four and further.”
Chapman said it’s difficult to compare this year’s squad to the one which last represented the U of S two years ago.
“Those are hard comparisons on the table,” Chapman said. “I think COVID has presented a lot of different obstacles for athletes and coaches and people in general. The way I look at it, this group has a clean slate. We really like the personalities in the room. We like the quality on the field. Now it’s up to them to perform when it counts.”
Hryich-Krueger said the team is “similar” to two years ago in many ways.
“We’ve obviously brought in some veteran experience and got some really promising rookies who have really shown well over the course of the pre-season,” he said.
“We really mesh well. I’m excited for the season. I think we have a lot of potential.”
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