logo
  • Explore
    • Local Events
    • Local News
    • Local Organisations
  • News
    • Community
    • Local Government
    • Sports
    • Alberta Politics
    • Opinion
    • Deke
  • Peaks & Valleys
    • Wildlife
    • Hiking and Climbing
    • Biking
    • Fishing
    • Snow Sports
  • Culture
    • Jasper Arts & Culture
    • Local Dining
    • Local Literature
  • Jasper History
  • Support
    • Explore
      • Local Events
      • Local News
      • Local Organisations
    • News
      • Community
      • Local Government
      • Sports
      • Alberta Politics
      • Opinion
      • Deke
    • Peaks & Valleys
      • Wildlife
      • Hiking and Climbing
      • Biking
      • Fishing
      • Snow Sports
    • Culture
      • Jasper Arts & Culture
      • Local Dining
      • Local Literature
    • Jasper History
    • Support
Error with device mobile widget id reference_widget-4
Error with device mobile widget id reference_widget-4
Provincial stage set for Jasper’s U-13 soccer stars
Early in the year, the Jasper U13 boys relied on their individual skills to dominate their league. // Supplied
Sports
By Lucas Habib, sports reporter
Thursday, July 6, 2023
Provincial stage set for Jasper’s U-13 soccer stars

In Jasper, the soccer season is short and intense.

It’s a tiny two-month blip between the seemingly interminable hockey season and the madness of summer vacation. But it’s a season that many of the players look forward to all year—if you’ve ever walked by the schoolyard at lunch hour in the winter, you’ll have seen the dedicated footballers practicing their rainbows and bicycle kicks in their snow boots.

So when the Municipality of Jasper declared the fields ready to go in the final week of April, the U13 boys were ready for kickoff. The U13 tier (11 and 12-year-olds) is the first level that Jasper teams play in league games, something this group had been anticipating for years. Unfortunately for them, the start of the season coincided with disruptive wildfires and road closures; with some of the league’s teams under evacuation orders and with Highway 16 closed to all travel, the long-awaited first games were postponed.

Wildfires closed Highway 16 earlier this spring and put a damper on league play for Jasper’s U-13 boys soccer team. // File photo

When the whistle finally sounded to start the first match, Jasper coaches Paco Artiaga and Max Peregoodoff had the team ready to go—they thoroughly beat up on Whitecourt, posting a clean sheet in a 27-0 victory. That was just the start of an incredible season. The team swept through the league with an undefeated record, clinching top of the table in the Northwest Central Soccer Association. This achievement guaranteed them a berth in the provincial championships, taking place this July 7-9 in Cold Lake.

Ash Habib’s endless hours of practice is paying dividends as he and his U-13 soccer teammates are off to provincials July 7. // Supplied

The sole blemish on the boys’ season came in a tournament in Sherwood Park, where Jasper was ultimately victorious in the B final. Their one-goal loss in the semis was to the eventual champions. Since then, the boys have improved in every aspect of the game. Their passes are crisper, their shots quicker, and their throw-ins … more legal. Their success is all the sweeter because many of these boys played on the same hockey team, a squad which was nearly winless over the winter.

Max Lescard and his teammates cut no corners with their year-round soccer training regime. // Supplied

Manager Dave Argument and Jasper Minor Sports soccer co-chairs Janice Branch and Geoff Danks have put in a lot of work to get the team to this point.  As they stream out onto the field in Cold Lake in their vintage yellow “bee sting” jerseys this weekend, the kids will be pumped to be playing at this level. They might be facing teams who have had the luxury of training on indoor fields all winter, or perhaps their raw skill will rise to the top. Either way, provincials will be an incredible experience.

Arie Hofhuis dribbles around his opponents while Naim Tremblay looks for an opening during league play this season. // Supplied

Check back next week for a report on how it went.


Lucas Habib // info@thejasperlocal.com

Articles You May LIke ›
Most Read ›
Fully funded bridge proposal rebuffed by Jasper’s superintendent
News
Fully funded bridge proposal rebuffed by Jasper’s superintendent
Bob Covey 
Friday, May 5, 2023
Jasper National Park Superintendent Alan Fehr has declined a private offer to rebuild a washed-out bridge at Simon Creek, a structure which would allo...
this is a test
NDP’s Kreiner withdraws from all-candidates forum
Local Government
NDP’s Kreiner withdraws from all-candidates forum
Bob Covey 
Monday, May 15, 2023
West Yellowhead’s NDP candidate Fred Kreiner has elected not to participate in Jasper’s scheduled all-candidates forum. “I’ve decided and the NDP part...
this is a test
Helicopter sustains “incredible” damage after accident on Columbia Icefields
Community
Helicopter sustains “incredible” damage after accident on Columbia Icefields
Bob Covey 
Monday, April 24, 2023
A helicopter transporting Natural Resources Canada glacier surveyors had a hard landing on an icefield in Banff National Park April 14. The accident l...
this is a test
Letter: Keep up the public pressure to make Jasper’s backcountry safe
Opinion
Letter: Keep up the public pressure to make Jasper’s backcountry safe
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Re: Fully funded bridge proposal rebuffed by Jasper's superintendent (May 5, 2023) Dear Editor, This is an excellent article in The Jasper Local. I am...
this is a test
Latest ›
A Glimpse of the trans experience: Art exhibit celebrates gender euphoria
Arts & Culture
A Glimpse of the trans experience: Art exhibit celebrates gender euphoria
Jack Mastrianni 
Thursday, September 7, 2023
A combined still-life/portrait series celebrating queer identity is catching the eyes of Coco’s Café clientele. Local art enthusiasts and coffee addic...
this is a test
Corral Creek wildfire under control, not expected to grow
News
Corral Creek wildfire under control, not expected to grow
Bob Covey 
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
A wildfire which ignited in the east portion of Jasper National Park after a lightning storm is under control. On Friday, September 1, Parks Canada fi...
this is a test
HEADLINERS: Jasper Folk Music Festival artist profiles
Arts & Culture
HEADLINERS: Jasper Folk Music Festival artist profiles
Jack Mastrianni 
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
The 2023 Jasper Folk Music Festival kicks off September 8. The Jasper Local puts the spotlight on four bands which have the two-day festival's top bil...
this is a test
Fruit tree bears trapped, relocated
Community
Fruit tree bears trapped, relocated
Black bears attracted to ornamental trees are an increasing concern
Bob Covey 
Friday, September 1, 2023
A mother black bear and her cub have been captured and removed from the Jasper townsite by wildlife officials. It’s a second-to-last-ditch effort to g...
this is a test

NEXT ARTICLE

Guilty plea for black bear shooter

News, Wildlife

Most Read ›
Fully funded bridge proposal rebuffed by Jasper’s superintendent
News
Fully funded bridge proposal rebuffed by Jasper’s superintendent
Bob Covey 
Friday, May 5, 2023
Jasper National Park Superintendent Alan Fehr has declined a private offer to rebuild a washed-out bridge at Simon Creek, a structure which would allo...
this is a test
NDP’s Kreiner withdraws from all-candidates forum
Local Government
NDP’s Kreiner withdraws from all-candidates forum
Bob Covey 
Monday, May 15, 2023
West Yellowhead’s NDP candidate Fred Kreiner has elected not to participate in Jasper’s scheduled all-candidates forum. “I’ve decided and the NDP part...
this is a test
Helicopter sustains “incredible” damage after accident on Columbia Icefields
Community
Helicopter sustains “incredible” damage after accident on Columbia Icefields
Bob Covey 
Monday, April 24, 2023
A helicopter transporting Natural Resources Canada glacier surveyors had a hard landing on an icefield in Banff National Park April 14. The accident l...
this is a test
Letter: Keep up the public pressure to make Jasper’s backcountry safe
Opinion
Letter: Keep up the public pressure to make Jasper’s backcountry safe
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Re: Fully funded bridge proposal rebuffed by Jasper's superintendent (May 5, 2023) Dear Editor, This is an excellent article in The Jasper Local. I am...
this is a test
Latest ›
A cosmic career: Jasper Rotary Club to host astronaut Marc Garneau
Community
A cosmic career: Jasper Rotary Club to host astronaut Marc Garneau
Bob Covey 
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
The Honourable Marc Garneau is coming to Jasper for the upcoming Dark Sky Festival. Despite Garneau’s career in exploration, the 74-year-old has never...
this is a test
Former Jasperite brewing beer with all of the passion, none of the gluten
Business
Former Jasperite brewing beer with all of the passion, none of the gluten
Naito Beer debuts in Alberta
Bob Covey 
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
No one could accuse Ray Naito of doing things the easy way. To get his gluten-free craft beer concept from a back-of-the-napkin idea, to where it is n...
this is a test
Injured black bear euthanized
Community
Injured black bear euthanized
Bob Covey 
Friday, September 22, 2023
Parks Canada wildlife specialists euthanized a black bear cub after it was seriously injured in what appears to be a railway incident. For the last fo...
this is a test
New Métis government formed; Kaila Mitchell elected Jasper House citizen representative
Alberta Politics
New Métis government formed; Kaila Mitchell elected Jasper House citizen representative
Bob Covey 
Thursday, September 21, 2023
A new Otipemisiwak Metis Government has been formed and Kaila Mitchell is the newly elected representative for the Jasper House Métis District. “This ...
this is a test

© Copyright The Jasper Local

This site complies with Jasper requirements
Contact us
Privacy Policy
Advertise With Us
About The Jasper Local
Accessibility Policy
Support
This site complies with Jasper requirements
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • About The Jasper Local
  • Accessibility Policy

Follow Us

Advertise with us

Measurable, targeted, local. Email example@thejasperlocal.com

ePaper
coogle_play
app_store

© Copyright The Jasper Local