Late season snowfall has delayed outdoor activities for most summer sports enthusiasts in the Valley and for the Canmore Collegiate High School senior boy’s soccer program, not being able to get outside has put the team selection process on the fast track.
“I’ve said to the boys who have come in they’ve joined a winning squad,” head coach Gavin Peacock said after the first outdoor training session, Monday (April 25). “And we want to do it again, we’d love to go a step further and win the league and zones.”
In their first year in the high school league, CCHS made the playoffs, and last year they lost in the league playoff final, before winning the zone championship tournament. “But, we’ve got a strong team to play in our first game and we haven’t had a lot time to get our team ready.” Peacock said.
In the competitive seven-team Foothills Soccer League, pre-season preparation is very important. With only six regular season games, playoff hopefuls can’t afford to drop many points in the race for the four post season spots.
Peacock and his coaching staff have high expectations, but are also aware of the nature of high school sports. Players come up through the system, and then graduate and need to be replaced.
“Well, it’s always dependant on the crop of boys that we have,” Peacock said. “We’ve got a core who have come through from last year but we have lost a strong goalkeeper in Eric Hurd.”
The squad also lost some of its offensive muscle up front and the coaching staff are looking for one of the new players joining the team to step up and score goals. Many of the returning starters are midfielders and defenders.
“We’ll be looking to see if people can come through in those vital positions and be as strong again,” Peacock said.
Peacock also said a number of the younger returning players have matured and will fill starting spots, while a few newcomers have impressed during indoor training. If those players can adapt quickly to the outdoor game, CCHS will be title contenders again this year.
The CCHS senior boys season opener is in Okotoks on Wednesday (May 4) against arch rivals Foothills Composite High School.
Their first home game takes place Monday, May 9, at 4:30 p.m. at Millennium Park.
