June 9, 2015 – The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s best men’s soccer teams are in for a treat in 2016.
Keyano College of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference has been awarded the 2016 CCAA Men’s Soccer National Championship. The bid was approved today in Fredericton, NB, during the Association’s annual general meeting. The tournament will be held in Fort McMurray, AB, Nov. 9-12, 2016.
“Keyano College is honoured to serve as host as we bring the best in the nation to the North and we know the competing athletes will feel welcome and appreciated here,” said Wade Kolmel, Director of Sport & Student Wellness at the institution.
“Our college and our community have invested quite significantly into the sport of soccer and together we will be able to propel the sport even further as new soccer players in Fort McMurray get to witness firsthand the caliber of CCAA soccer on our home turf,” he said.
The tournament will be contested at the soon to be opened Shell Place at MacDonald Island Park. This $127 million project will boast an MLB standard baseball stadium, major outdoor field and events venue known as SMS Equipment Stadium, four softball diamonds, community pavilion, turf field house, badminton centre, a full concession and the Total Interpretive Walking Trail.
“I am very happy to see the CCAA’s top men’s soccer teams have the opportunity to play at Fort McMurray’s beautiful new all-purpose facility in November, 2016,” said Men’s Soccer Convenor David Kent.
The Huskies will be hosting the 2015 ACAC Men’s Soccer National Championship at Shell Place as well. In addition, Keyano will host the 2016 CCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship.
“We look forward to showcasing our beautiful community as well as the amazing infrastructure that our municipality has invested in,” said Kolmel. “Facilities such as Shell place are meant to bring our community together and hosting this championship will do just that.”
Under coach Connor Brady, who played for the Huskies men’s team when the program debuted in the ACAC back in September 2002, the Huskies have grown and developed into national contenders.
In 2014, the Huskies finished the regular season undefeated; they captured a silver medal at the ACAC Championships, earning a wildcard position at Nationals where they placed 5th.
“The Huskies are a very competitive soccer program that will represent the ACAC and their institution well and compete for the 2016 CCAA national championship title on home turf,” said Kent.
The 2015 CCAA Men’s Soccer National Championship will be hosted by Champlain College Saint-Lambert in Saint-Lambert, QC, Nov. 11-14.
The CCAA is a national sport organization enriching the academic experiences of student-athletes through intercollegiate sport.
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