Thursday, June 12th will see Niagara's best high school soccer players play in the first annual Niagara Region Soccer Showcase, presented by the Niagara College Knights. The event will see 60 high school boys and girls soccer players from across the Niagara Region compete in a pair of all-star games at Youngs SportsPlex in Welland.
"This is a great opportunity for some of the area's best to showcase the caliber of soccer that is played here in the Niagara Region" said Niagara College men's and women's soccer head coach Frank DeChellis. He continued "high school soccer sometimes gets mixed in with end of year school activities and the upcoming club soccer season. This is a great opportunity to give high school soccer its own marquee event."
The Niagara Region Soccer Showcase participants will represent 18 schools ranging from Grimsby to Port Colborne.
"Our kids work hard all winter and spring in preparation for the soccer season that goes by so quickly, and it is nice to have Niagara College put together a showcase such as this" said John Raso head coach of the boys soccer team at Port Colborne High School. He continued "this event gives players an opportunity to extend their season and to play with and against players from other schools. This experience is something that players in the area have never had in the past."
The coaches for the event are members of the Niagara College men's and women's soccer coaching staffs. Men's assistant coaches Luciano Berardocco and Rino Berardi will lead the two men's all-star teams while Niagara College women's soccer assistant coaches Kelly Slappendel and Kristin Campbell will lead the two girls' teams.
DeChellis continued "It's important to us that the Niagara College soccer program takes a leadership role in Niagara's soccer community. Reception to the event from the local schools has been very positive. Everyone is excited to see their sport given an evening of its own."
The event is being run in support of the Welland Hope Centre and the administration of the organization's Jump Start initiative. In order to register for the event, participants are required to donate used sporting equipment. In 2013 The Hope Centre Jump Start initiative benefited 150 families.
Teams for the Niagara Region Soccer Showcase will determined by the all-star coaching staffs after a practice and group get together on June 8th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
The idea for the event was brought forward by Rino Berardi who serves as an assistant coach with the Knights' Men's soccer program.
"Rino put the idea out there in casual conversation and things just kind of snowballed" said DeChellis. "Everyone - the college, high school programs, and the players, have really gotten behind the game."
Kick off for the women's game is set for June 12th at 6:00 pm, while the men will get underway at 8:00 pm.
Interested parties are encouraged to attend the event and admission is free. Spectators are encouraged to bring a piece of used sporting equipment to support The Hope Centre.
