Huskies look to defend banner at men's futsal championships
Two school powers have emerged as powerhouses since the inception of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Association (ACAC) Men's and Women's Futsal Championships in 2010-2011.
Keyano College Huskies for the men.
Medicine Hat College Rattlers for the women.
To date, each school has won six futsal banners: Keyano 2012-2016 and 2017-2019 and Medicine Hat 2010-2011 and 2013-2018.
The 10th ACAC Men's and Women's Futsal Championships kickoff March 13 - 15. 2020 in Lloydminster, Alberta and are hosted by the Lakeland College Rustlers.
"We have traditionally played well at the sport because we have had a few Brazilian student-athletes on our teams," said Keyano Huskies men's and women's futsal/soccer coach Macky Singh. "They have grown up with it playing back in Brazil and it has shown in the results."
On the Huskies roster this year, Brazilian players include Clession Anklam, Julio Meirelles and Thiago Oliviera Britto Santos.
"Anklam (6'0", Centreback, 1st year, Foundation LA Course, Pirapo, Brazil) has grown up with the game and knows it well and can score goals as well. He is pretty composed. He is 24 and has a lot of experience playing futsal and outdoor soccer in Brazil.
"Meirelles (5' 8, Goalkeeper, 5th, Business Admin, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro) has been our goalie at Keyano the last two years and prior to that two years at Olds (College). This is his 5th year and in my opinion, he is the most efficient goalie in the ACAC."
The Huskies will also showcase the talents of several local players including Fort McMurray's Paul Musiwarwo. "He is our main defender in the back or he can go upfront. He is technically strong and solid."
Of the sport itself, Singh, said, "It is quite a technical game with the speed of play on the ball. It's a game played on a pretty small surface or area and there are a lot of shots on goal. The more shots on the goal we take the better chance we have at scoring.
"It has a bit of a basketball feel in the feel of play...movement off the ball and trying to find those spaces in the middle to get a shot off."
Past Huskies stars with Brazilian roots included All-Conference stars Pedro Bianchi, Rodrigo Wogel Koebsch, Rodrigo Leite Tavaras and Santiago Raigoza.
Since 2017 All-Conference Stars have not been selected as the sport of futsal as only a championship with no designated regular-season matches, only exhibition.
Last year the Huskies were 5-0 in the ACAC finals held in Lethbridge outscoring their opponents 31-8.