UNews - Randy Bardock

Horns men's soccer program welcomes seven new recruits

trevor.kenney — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 21:10:00 +0000

With less than a month before the opening of training camp, Universigy of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's soccer coach Randy Bardock is excited to announce the signing of seven recruits for the 2016-17 Canada West season.

Lethbridge residents Jaden Veluw and Andrew Primeau are joined by David Palmarin, Quadri Lawal, Jitse Vanden Hadelkamp, Liam McDonald and Justin Robertson in the latest Horns recruiting class.

Veluw, a defender, and midfielder Andrew Primeau join the Horns after being on the Lethbridge Football Club Major League roster this summer. Previously, both played with the Calgary West Soccer Club.

“Jaden is a left-footed centreback that fills a big need for us,” says Bardock. “Jaden is very sound defensively and he will be battling for playing time right out of the gate for us."

Primeau joins his brother Stephen on the Horns roster. Stephen is entering his third year of CIS eligibility.

“Andrew is a very talented wide player that brings some different qualities to the team,” says Bardock. “He is technically strong and has a good change of pace; we are eager to see how Andrew adjusts to the CIS, he has all the physical qualities to succeed here.”

Palmairn comes to the U of L via Regina, Saskatchewan and will bring the program some much needed versatility. The defender is a product of the Queen City Soccer Club.

“David is a gifted all-around player, technically strong, who can play at centreback or anywhere across the midfield,” says Bardock. “His flexibility will help us greatly.”

Quadri Lawal, a fullback, comes to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ via the Southwest United Soccer Club in Calgary.

“Quadri is a gifted player going forward who has exceptional pace on the outside,” says Bardock. “He brings some unique qualities out of the back that we currently do not have in our program.”

Up front, the Horns welcome striker Jitse Vanden Hadelkamp from the Red Deer Renegades.

“Jitse is a tall, physical striker that I am looking forward to working with,” says Bardock. “He brings an edge to his game that is definitely needed, as well, his skill set is different from our other strikers so it will add to our options up front.”

Coming from Atlantic Canada, striker Liam McDonald joins the Horns from the Fredericton Soccer Club.

“Liam is coming off a serious injury last year so I am anxious to see where he will fit in,” says Bardock. “He is a high character player that will add to our depth up front and he has been working hard to get back to 100 per cent health, so I am eager to see him in August and how he matches up.”

The Horns kick-off the Canada West conference schedule on the road August 24 in Winnipeg and will see their first home action September 9 when they host the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Golden Bears.

Horns men's soccer program adds strong recruits

trevor.kenney — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 17:02:16 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s soccer team is pleased to announce four new additions to the 2014 Canada West roster.

After adding three local products earlier this offseason, the ‘Horns are also excited to introduce midfielders Allan Siwella, Franco Crnkovic, Sean Gaiskey and defender Blake Pipke.

Siwella, who was with the program last year but missed the entire season due to injury, joins the ‘Horns with a solid resume, being named a Canadian College All-Canadian while a member of the Medicine Hat Rattlers.

“Allan will bring some tremendous attack skills and leadership to the program,” says head coach Randy Bardock. “He has been playing with the AMSL (Lethbridge FC) team throughout the summer and is really starting to regain his previous form.”

Fellow midfielder, Crnkovic, comes to the ‘Horns from Calgary and the Villains club program.

“Franco brings an outstanding work ethic that stands out as soon as you watch him play,” says Bardock. “He brings a unique skill set that will be important for us as we needed to get better at the outside midfield position.”

Another Calgary product, Pipke, joins the ‘Horns via the Calgary Foothills program. The 6’1” defender will add versatility to the ‘Horns backline next season.

“Blake is a fantastic all-around defender and is a huge addition for us,” says Bardock. “His addition will give us a great deal of flexibility at the back next season.”

Gaiskey, a central midfielder, is a product of the Whitecaps Academy, and comes to the ‘Horns from Prince George, BC.

“Sean was recognized by the coaches for his attitude and work ethic, which has allowed him to grow tremendously as a player,” says Bardock. “Each of these four players come from high quality programs where they have been leaders on and off the field. We are extremely excited to be adding these four players to the program.”

Bardock looks to round out the program's recruiting class in the coming weeks and the ‘Horns will open the Canada West season Sept. 12 in Winnipeg versus the Winnipeg Wesmen.

Horns coaches to Go Shoeless for Right To Play

trevor.kenney — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 21:40:27 +0000

Whether it's a frozen hockey rink, cold outdoor stadium or chilly basketball court — it doesn't matter: All the coaches of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorn Athletics teams will be barefoot this weekend to support Right To Play’s ‘Go Shoeless’ campaign.

The Pronghorn Athletics group is part of a national effort involving 12 universities, seven high schools and two community initiatives. They have committed to going shoeless to raise awareness and funds to benefit Right To Play’s worldwide work, and to highlight the critical importance of access to safe play spaces and equipment for children’s education and development.

At home this weekend, men’s soccer head coach Randy Bardock and his entire coaching staff will coach without shoes on Saturday, Sept. 28 as their team takes on the Mount Royal ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cougars.

“It’s a fantastic initiative and I feel that we, as coaches at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ level, need to do all we can to raise awareness for this program,” says Bardock. “I am proud to be involved in such a worthwhile endeavour.”

Kick-off for both Saturday and Sunday’s game is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Community Sports Stadium.

During the National Female Hockey Challenge being hosted in Lethbridge this weekend, head coach Chandy Kaip will go shoeless as she coaches the Horns during Saturday’s game versus Ryerson Polytechnic ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

On the road this weekend, women’s soccer head coach Ilsa Wong and assistant coach Fred Trinh will go shoeless for Saturday’s game versus the Saskatchewan Huskies in Saskatoon.

While Horns women's basketball has yet to enter its competitive season, women’s head coach Erin McAleenan and assistant coach Claire Meadows will be involved in the initiative on Saturday during their Junior ‘Horns Clinic.

Founded in Canada in 2000, Right To Play is a global organization that uses the transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity. More than 13,500 local volunteer coaches lead Right To Play’s regular weekly sport and play programming, which reach one million children across more than 20 countries.

Visit the Right to Play website for additional information.

Medoruma ready for his international debut

trevor.kenney — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 22:21:02 +0000

Matt Medoruma isn't one to have good fortune handed to him – he understands he's had to work to gain his rewards.

It was a lesson he taught himself early in his university career, and now, after five years with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's soccer team, his reward has arrived.

Medoruma, an accounting major in the Faculty of Management, will represent Canada at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia July 6-17. It will be the first time the 24-year-old midfielder has ever played at a national or international level.

"Honestly, I would never have thought I'd be in this position," says Medoruma. "I'm definitely honoured to be here and excited for the experience."

Senior midfielder Matt Medoruma will be wearing Canadian colours this summer as he represents the country at the 2013 Summer Universiade.

He essentially walked on to the U of L pitch in fall 2007, having talked to head coach Randy Bardock (who will also be on the Canadian squad as an assistant coach) about continuing to play soccer beyond the youth level. A Catholic Central High School graduate, Medoruma earned a spot with the Horns but after a year of Canada West soccer, stepped away from school.

"I don't think I was ready for university," he says bluntly. "I came in and I wasn't focused with my education and my grades weren't as good as I wanted them to be. So, I decided to take some time off and refocus."

Medoruma travelled to Australia, reassessed his major (finance, at the time) and returned in fall 2009 in a better frame of mind.

"I knew that once I took that break, when I came back it was for the right reasons," he says. "I wanted to play soccer and I was excited about school again. I definitely needed that, and once I came back I was refreshed and ready to go to school."

Taking the term student-athlete seriously, Medoruma took the discipline and diligence he uses so well on the field and applied it to his ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

"It is a challenge to balance your academic life with the time it takes to be an athlete and that was one of the reasons I struggled in my first year," he says. "I couldn't really find that balance, so it was a struggle. It took me a while to find out I needed to put a lot of work into my education and that had to come first. Once I figured it out that I needed to put the time in, then I was fine."

He is five courses shy of completing his degree, after which he will decide if he wants to pursue an accounting designation. Of course, now that he's representing Canada on the international stage, opportunities to continue playing soccer may also present themselves.

"It might open some doors, we'll see what happens when I get out there," he says. "Before I went out for this tryout (Universiade selection camp), I figured it was the last real soccer I would try and play. I'll always keep playing but not to this kind of competitive level. Now that I've made this team, it's up in the air. If some opportunities come from this, then I'd definitely look into it."

Medoruma's strength as a midfielder is his ability to create offensive opportunities for his teammates. He distributes the ball well and fits seamlessly with other players, likely one of the reasons he impressed at camp. He credits Bardock and the Horns program for helping bring his game to this level.

"The program has been great for me, it's helped me so much in terms of my development. I wouldn't have this opportunity if not for how it has helped my game over the last five years," he says.

The Canadian team will have very little preparation time before the Universiade event. Their only training sessions will come in Russia, along with a pair of exhibition contests right before the tourney's start.

Medoruma has no worries though, he's just anticipating the first time he'll pull the Canadian jersey over his head.

"It'll be amazing, something I'd never imagine would happen," he says. "To be able to represent the country, I'll be so honoured to put that jersey on."

GET THE FACTS

• Medoruma has played for the Lethbridge Football Club in recent summers

• He had two goals and four assists for the Horns in 2012

• Lethbridge product and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta defender Niko Saler, who Medoruma played with in youth soccer, is also on the Canadian squad

• Medoruma will document his trip on Twitter under the handle @taylorgang_89

• Kazan is known as the Sports Capital of Russia and in addition to hosting the 2013 Summer Universiade, will also host the 2015 World Aquatics Championships and the 2018 FIFA World Cup

This story first appeared in the May 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Medoruma ready for his international debut

trevor.kenney — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:12:15 +0000