Matt Fegan has travelled all over the world and the next stop for the former University of King’s College soccer star is the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
The former Blue Devil is the first athlete to ever be inducted into the CCAA Hall of Fame.
“Over the course of his career, he provided countless memorable moments and was the most decorated student-athlete in King’s soccer history,” said Neil Hooper, Athletic Director at UKC. “The university is thrilled that Matt will receive this prestigious award and we are very proud of his accomplishments.”
Fegan, who was named the CCAA Men’s Soccer Player of the Year in 2004, was a CCAA All-Canadian in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and also earned an Academic All-Canadian award.
He led UKC to two undefeated seasons in the ACAA and back-to-back appearances at National Championships in 2003 and 2004.
“Playing at King’s introduced me to some life-long friends, some of whom stood for me at my wedding, years later,” said Fegan. “We had the honour of twice qualifying for Nationals in Coquitlam, BC, and London, ON, and it was a fantastic opportunity to compete against strong teams across Canada and see other parts of this great country.”
Fegan was born in Japan and his dad’s career took him to Dubai, Bahrain, England, Malta and finally Canada in 2001. The one constant throughout his life was football.When Fegan arrived at UKC in 2001, his extensive background in the sport was evident.
“He turned the heads of many teammates and fans very early after his arrival,” said Hooper. “He was a game changer; his tremendous skills with the ball and his ability to score from anywhere made him a threat every time he had it.”
One of Fegan’s greatest memories is the 2003 ACAA playoff run – one that almost ended in the semi-finals, when a UKC midfielder was sent off inside 10 minutes. “We played down a man for the majority of the game but still managed to win that day – and the final the next day,” said Fegan. “It was testament to a group of guys with a never-say-die attitude.”
A highlight for Hooper was a spectacular free-kick goal at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College Field in Truro, NS. “He hit one of the most brilliant strikes for a goal from about 40 yards away that hit the top corner,” said Hooper. “They say the roar could be heard in Halifax!”
