Two youth rep soccer teams from Powell River are heading to provincials this summer to face the best of the best after taking top spot on Vancouver Island.
The two girls’ teams with Powell River Youth Soccer Association (PRYSA), Powell River Fury (under-18) and Powell River Predators (under-13), both won the North Island division last month and then went on to beat the winners of the South Island division. Both teams will represent Vancouver Island in the provincials.
“We’re very thrilled to get here,” said Predator’s coach Cam Miller. “It’s a big process and a real honour.
“You never know that you’re going to be here again so you’ve got to really dig in and take advantage of it when you there,” he said.
The provincial tournament will run from Thursday, July 3, to Sunday, July 6, at Townsend Park and Exhibition Grand Stand in Chilliwack.
“It’s great to have a goal and make the provincials,” said Barrie McDonald, Fury’s coach. He added that his team had been focusing on it for the past six years and hadn’t made it, but have had a lot of fun along the way.
The Girls’ Provincial B Cup, for rep teams from cities around BC, is an eight-team round-robin-style tournament leading to single elimination knockout matches.
“From now on it’s heavy training and fundraising,” said McDonald.
Community teams don’t get breaks on ferry fares, added Miller.
Both Miller and McDonald said how grateful the soccer association is for the support they receive from School District 47 to use buses and from local businesses which help the team raise money to play in out-of-town tournaments.
“We want to see kids playing because they love the game and not stopped because of financial reasons if we can help it,” said Miller. “The association and the town, through programs like Jumpstart at Canadian Tire, have been essential in keeping everyone playing soccer.”
PRYSA is hosting a number of fundraisers over the next month as it works to raise approximately $20,000 to carry the two teams to the tournament.
The association has been approaching local businesses for support either for items that can be included in raffle draws or for money to go toward the association’s financial goal, said Miller.
It is planning a number of weekend hot dog sales and car washes in addition to its Drive a Ford and pasta night.
Ford Canada is bringing various vehicles in for test drives at First Credit Union parking lot on Saturday, June 14, and will donate $20 per car test driven up to a maximum of 300 people, explained Miller.
“Between our two teams we’ll share the $6,000 that could be made there,” he added.
The association will also be hosting a pasta night on Friday, June 20 at Carlson Community Club, where the girls and parents will be serving pasta to say thank you for the support, said McDonald.
For more information about how to help the teams readers can contact McDonald at [email protected] or Miller at [email protected].
