TWolves on the Road

TWolves hit road to Edmonton for first friendlies since 2019

Aug 19, 2021 | 7:08 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – It’s been nearly 22 months since the UNBC Timberwolves’ Men’s Soccer Team last played a game in the Canada West conference of U Sports, however, the tea did have a collective sigh of relief when they entered camp earlier this month as they ready for a trip to Edmonton for some preseason action this weekend.

“It feels weird honestly,” admitted midfielder Alex Nielson. “You take yourself out of drills every once in a while and look back at what we did the last six months was crazy. You see eight of the guys around town, some of the guys back in Victoria, so to be back together is a dream.”

Even for head coach Steve Simonson, this marks the first time since the pandemic hit that he actually feels like a coach.

“I had that long break, yes we were training but I haven’t coached a game in almost two years,” said Simonson. “Just to have the group back is very exciting. The guys are great. The soccer is one thing but just seeing the guys together is the best part of this.”

It’s a unique training camp. Due to the hiatus of Canada West sports last year, each school has two recruitment classes coming into this season as freshmen.

“When you have the start of any preseason, there’s a building phase,” said Simonson. “Just getting people used to each other socially, on the field, all that stuff, and when you’ve been gone for so long it’s even harder, and to have those two different recruitment classes. So we have kids who have been training for over a year waiting for a game to come.”

Coming into camp ahead of a set in stone schedule for the TWolves, fifth-year Nielson says the energy amongst the team is apparent given the restrictions they were forced to follow last year with training.

“You can see in our play and how everyone is carrying themselves,” said Nielson. “Everyone is pumped up and ready to go. Competition is fierce right now with the team, quality is high. It’s awesome.”

The Timberwolves will be travelling to Edmonton this weekend for a pair of friendlies against the University of Alberta and MacEwan University. Each game will be played at 4:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) on Saturday and Sunday.

Simonson says this is truly just a development trip in preparation for their opening weekend of the Canada West schedule against the University of Victoria come September 10th.