Seven TOFC players commit to University programs

Seven TOFC players commit to University programs

For the first time since the Thompson Okanagan Football Club (TOFC) became one of the founding members of the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League (BCSPL), seven players from the 2014 U17/18 TOFC boys’ team will join the growing number of BCSPL graduating players committed to university soccer programs for the 2014 fall season. These commitments include schools in the NCAA and CIS. The EA SPORTS BCSPL was designed to create a new high performance level of competition and support player development at the Provincial, Professional and National team level and to provide a recognized pathway for players to be identified for BC Soccer Provincial Team Programs, Canadian Universities, US Colleges and Universities.

Players who will be moving on to play varsity soccer include boys from throughout the Thompson Okanagan region. Goal Keeper Victor Gouchee of Vernon has signed with Simon Fraser University and will be competing in the NCAA.  Centre back Finlay McPhie also of Vernon, fullback Michael Bennett of Coldstream and midfielder Nathan Hawe from Nakusp have all signed to play for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack. Centre back Joseph Overton of Kelowna is heading off  to the University of Calgary Dinos. Midfielder Bennett McDonald of Kelowna will be joining the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat Men’s soccer team along with his team mate forward/midfielder Tyler Shalansky (Kelowna) who was also a recipient of the 2014 EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League scholarship. All seven players were coached by TOFC Head Coach Jason Thompson.

Members of the 2014 U17/18 TOFC Boys team- Back row left to right: Walker Shanks, Joseph Overton, Matthew Fielding, Nathan Hawe, Lucas Ross, Carson Murray, Victor Gouchee, Finlay McPhie, Maxwell Morgan, Zach Sousa, Spencer Young. Front Row left to right: Bennett McDonald, Ayo Fashanu, Tyler Shalansky, Michael Bennett and Nathan Gatenby.