Kodiaks futsal kicks off conference play

Feb. 25, 2022 – The wait is finally over for the Lethbridge College Kodiaks men’s and women’s futsal teams, as they prepare to resume Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) play this weekend. 

Lethbridge College will play the first of two group-stage matchdays this Saturday as they hunt for a berth in the 2022 ACAC Futsal Championships.

The Kodiaks have been placed in the south pool along with the Ambrose University Lions and Medicine Hat College Rattlers. The teams will play each opponent once this Saturday and then again on March 12, with both matchdays hosted at Ambrose University in Calgary. Only the top finisher in the pool will advance to the ACAC championship tournament, meaning every game has critical importance.

Futsal

WOMEN’S

Kodiaks (0-0) vs Medicine Hat College Rattlers (0-0) 

• 2 p.m. Saturday at Ambrose University (Calgary)

Kodiaks (0-0) vs Ambrose University Lions (0-0) 

• 5 p.m. Saturday at Ambrose University (Calgary)

It’s been nearly two years since the Kodiaks last had a taste of official ACAC futsal competition, and Kodiaks head coach Sean Carey is excited to see what his team can do against a pair of strong opponents this weekend. 

“Every season we go into now, we’re expecting to win,” says Carey. “We know we have some tough games against Medicine Hat and Ambrose and we’ll need to be at our best to beat them. We’re fully focused on bringing home a banner every time we step on the field or court. Our goal is to make championships and then make some noise from there.”

The team has been working hard at practice over the past few months. After having their opening futsal weekend delayed, Carey says the players are chomping at the bit to get going.

“It’s just exciting to be back on the court again. It’s been since October since we’ve had a competitive game, and even longer since we’ve competed in futsal,” says Carey. “We’re really excited to get going.”

Players to watch:

Meaghan Welby (fourth year, Nursing, Winnipeg)

Welby will be counted on for veteran leadership and her ability to shoot the ball with power. “She’s going to be one of our main scoring threats,” says Carey. “She comes onto the ball really well and has an absolute rocket of a shot.”

Ashley Sazalski (second year, Nursing, Lethbridge)

After a strong outdoor season, Carey says he’s noticed Sazalski really adapting well to the indoor version of the game. “I’m seeing signs in practice that she is really upping her game and fulfilling her potential,” says Carey. “She’s at her best when she plays up-tempo and is controlling the play. When she’s playing like she can, we are a hard team to beat.”

MEN’S

Kodiaks (0-0) vs Medicine Hat College Rattlers (0-0) 

• 3:15 p.m. Saturday at Ambrose University (Calgary)

Kodiaks (0-0) vs Ambrose University Lions (0-0) 

• 6:15 p.m. Saturday at Ambrose University (Calgary)

Carey also has high expectations for his men’s squad and believes their strong defensive structure and offensive skill will help them become a formidable foe.  

“I think our team has a really good shot at success to not only make championships, but make some noise once we get there,” says Carey. “With the weapons we have, I think this team is going to score a lot of goals. The key will be keeping the ball out of our net and staying strong defensively. If we do that, we should be set up for success.” 

The Kodiaks will rely on a strong mix of veteran skill and youthful energy.

“We have a lot of young guys as well and we’re going to count on them to make the most of their opportunities and really give us some energy when they hit the court,” says Carey. “We’re going in expecting to win every game. The boys had a tough end to their outdoor season, so we’re looking forward to getting out there and returning to competition. We’ve had some great practices and I’ve seen strong defensive play, so we can’t wait to see it come together this weekend.”

Players to watch:

Jaden Veluw (fifth year, Nursing, Lethbridge)

Entering his final season of ACAC competition, Veluw will be counted on to lead the Kodiaks in all aspects of the game.

“He’s at a different level in my mind,” says Carey. “He’s going to be in the top three futsal players in the ACAC. The guy rotates positions so well, has a heck of a shot, he’s great defensively – he’s just the full package. The way we play, he generates tons of opportunities to score and he never gets tired.”

Daniel Okpala (third year, Open Studies, Lethbridge)

With superb ball handling and play making ability, Carey is excited to see the creativity Okpala brings to the roster.

“Dan is just fun to watch. He controls the ball so well. His footwork is unreal, and he has a knack to be able to beat people one-on-one,” says Carey. “He and Jaden have great chemistry and find each other really well out on the court.”  

Kodiaks basketball and volleyball begin playoff preparation

The Kodiaks basketball and volleyball teams have the weekend off and are now preparing for the ACAC postseason next week. Both Kodiaks men’s and women’s volleyball teams will play an opening round game, while Kodiaks men’s and women’s basketball have earned a first-round bye and will host a quarterfinal matchup. Opponents, game dates and final seeding are still to be determined as regular season play concludes across the conference this weekend.

Learn more about the Kodiaks at gokodiaks.ca and follow along all season on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. High-quality photos are available to download from the Kodiaks Flickr account.