Despite having the second half of their double header with the University of Fraser Valley Cascades (UFV) pushed back to Monday, the UNBC Timberwolves men’s soccer team took time to honour seven graduating players on Saturday night from the North Cariboo Senior Soccer League clubhouse.
Tofa Fakunle, Liam Stewart, Cheona Edzerza, Brett Bobier, Ty Venhola, Dan Goodey and Darrin Kamsteeg all received various gifts from the school’s athletic department, recognizing their efforts from the past five years.
Venhola leads the Canada West conference this season in games played, games started and saves.
He says it’s been a great ride.
“It has been joyful and I’m very happy with the being a Timberwolf and the school’s programs and success and I’m just happy that to be able with all the guys I was able to play with. I am just proud to be a Timberwolf.”
Venhola plans to play one more season in the Premier Development League with the Victoria Highlanders and has aspirations of playing professional soccer somewhere in the future.
As for Bobier, he couldn’t say enough good things about his tenure.
“It went by really quick even though I got an extra year because I took last year off but it’s going to be the guys that you really miss and is the biggest thing and being around this time means everything. It’s going to be interesting moving on from this.”
He adds the program has grown immensely in short amount of time.
“Being here the first year we entered the U-Sports, we started from scratch and won a single game that year and every game was a struggle as we lost by six or seven goals. To see that and where we are as a program now is something I will be proud of for sure.”
The T-Wolves will play their final game against Fraser Valley in Abbostford at 2PM.
In women’s action, UNBC battled to a 0-0 draw against the University of Winnipeg.
The T-Wolves remain a point up on Thompson Rivers for the final playoff spot.
Both teams play each other next week in Kamloops.