Soccer stars prepare for nationals

Eight of Prince Albert's strongest soccer players are heading to the all-star nationals early next week.

The tournaments begin Tuesday, and Celtic under-16 keeper Matthew Hayduk will be protecting the net for Team Saskatchewan while they vie for first in Richmond, BC.

Hayduk is excited to go and is most looking forward to "playing against the best players in the country."

He said the team, training this week in Saskatoon, is confident it can reach a medal game, although the players know it will be tough.

The under-16 team's first game is against Alberta, a fairly strong team.

Team Saskatchewan is counting on familiarity - just two members haven't played together previously.

"We have a stronger team than we usually do, so it should be a good game," Hayduk said.

He's just one of three Celtic boys heading out west with the under-16 team. The other two are Nathan Baldhead and David Day.

Shai Bravo is solely representing Prince Albert on the under-14 boys' team.

The forward and midfield player has been playing soccer for as long as he could walk and said it is "kinda weird" to play on the same team as his usual competitors, but they are all playing together fairly well.

The team heads to Richmond on Monday, one day later than the older group.

Bravo was on the all-star team last year, too, but that team didn't go far, so he's hoping to do better this year.

He said the teams Saskatchewan is most worried about are Ontario and their first opponent - British Columbia.

"I think we might have a shot at the medal rounds," he said. "It depends how we come out to play.

"Kinda gets your nerves running, your adrenaline pumping, but if we play good we'll be fine."

The girls are heading out east to Laval, Que, at the same time.

Prince Albert's Meagan Manson, Kacey McFee and Erica Parenteau are training in Regina for the under-16 team and head to nationals Sunday. Their first game is against Alberta.

Parenteau said Team Saskatchewan should be competitive, because it's a strong group of players. She said the provincial team played against the University of Regina Cougars for practice and beat them 3-0.

The team's initial goal is to beat Alberta. After that, Saskatchewan might worry at little more about Ontario or Quebec - both considered the teams to beat.

"We are pretty confident with our team," she said.

Julie Weinberger is the sole Prince Albert Celtic representative for the under-14 team that's also heading to Laval.

The national tournaments wrap up July 26.