Friday, December 31, 2004

Orange Classic Tournament

London United Scholarship Program participated at the Orange Classic Tournament in Ft.

Lauderdale, Florida between December 27th to December 30th.
Girls who participated were Emily Gillet, Carly Watters, Nikki Gabrielli, Keri Zwikker, Carissa McLellan, Natalie D'Oria, Devon Romak, Katie Orr, Tomara Patchett, Nikki Mason, Lauren Halvorsen, Kirsten White and Daniella D'Oria. They played in the U18 Division.
Results: London United 4 v Yorktown FC, Jaquar, NY 1 London United 3 v Challenge Blitz 87, TX 0 London United 3 v Real Colorado Olympico, CO 0 FINAL London United 2 v Unionville Strikers, CAN 3 (on penalty kicks)
The players put on a good show with lots of interest from university and college coaches. Congratulations to all.

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

MARKUS GAUSS SOCCER BUILDER

TORONTO—Wednesday, December 22

A pioneer in soccer in Southwestern Ontario hits the three-quarter mark on Thursday.Markus (Max) Gauss, who brought the original London professional soccer franchise to the National Soccer League in 1969 to be one of the builders of soccer in that part of the province, and is the only president the London club has ever known, will be 75. The National Soccer League was launched in the lean and turbulent years of the 1920s yet it stood the test of time more than any other professional league in North America. The NSL is the forerunner of the Canadian National Soccer League and today’s Canadian Professional Soccer League. London City is a member of the CPSL and Markus’ son, Harry Paul Gauss, is its general manager.Markus Gauss was born of German parents at Filipovo in the former Yugoslavia on December 23, 1929. The Gauss family, Markus, his wife and two sons emigrated from Germany to Canada in 1958 and made their way from the arrival point in Montreal to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where they lived for six months before heading east and settling in Southwestern Ontario.Markus Gauss immediately saw the ideal amenities of the German-Canadian Club on Cove Road in London as perfect for a professional soccer franchise. Launched as London German Canadians, the team was a top draw at home and away, with most of the away games being at Stanley Park in Toronto’s west end where attendances of 6,000 to 8,000 were commonplace.London German Canadians and the more recent London City, founded on St. Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1973, have given professional soccer and The Cove a place of some prominence in Southwestern Ontario for more than 30 years and today the club is seen as the ideal soccer environment, a point at which talented youth can quickly gain the conditioning and toughness necessary for a chance at the big time.The Canadian Professional Soccer League salutes Markus Gauss this holiday season, for his vision in setting the stage many years ago. It is little wonder he is so often referred to as the godfather of professional soccer in this southwestern region of the province.

Monday, December 13, 2004

Another Munster appears bound for City

Jim Kernaghan, Sports ColumnistThe London Free Press
2004-12-13

Look out, London, another Munster invasion could be coming.
Goal-scoring wizard Paul Munster, in the midst of an unheard-of vault into elite European soccer, hopes to introduce his younger brother Darren to London City fans in the coming season.
"I hope to be back in London to see Harry Gauss and the lads and I expect to have Darren with me," Munster said from his Belfast home, where preparations for a monster Munster party tomorrow are underway.
Paul Munster, for those who don't follow the round-ball game closely, is the kid who lit up the Canadian Professional Soccer League with a scoring genius never before witnessed. He scored 25 goals in 19 games for City and was signed by Slavia Praha of the top Czech Republic league in what has become a story overseas.
Gauss is almost giddy at the prospect of another Munster.
"He's an overlapping fullback with a left foot who can feed crosses from that side," the City manager said. "He's what we needed all last year. It would be incredible."
What's incredible is that history is repeating. Paul Munster was considered finished in competitive soccer three years ago due to a severe knee injury. His 19-year-old brother, with Crusaders of the Irish league, is recuperating from the same injury.
Paul made his comeback with City and regained the form that made him one of Ireland's top prospects. His exploits with City were passed to Slavia by ex-patriate Czechs here and after they looked at him overseas, they gave him a reported $100,000 signing bonus and a contract offer.
Munster has since become an intriguing story as the first player from the UK to play in the Czech Republic.
He says the attention has been dizzying. Along with media interest in Prague, there have been calls from Northern Ireland and England.
"It has been incredible," Munster said. "All the stuff on the Slavia website, television and newspaper interviews . . . it's hard to believe it's all happening. Three years ago, doctors told me I was finished."
Munster is at home in Belfast because in most cold-weather European countries outside England, Ireland and Scotland, play is suspended for two months. He'll return in January to prepare for a resumption of play in February.
When he arrived home Wednesday, flags and balloons adorned his parents' home.
"They've arranged a big party, with friends and family coming from as far away as Dublin," he said. "There'll be about 50, not counting me own friends. I told my dad he might have to put a tent up at the back of the house."
Munster has been in the Slavia first team three games, in action in one. He had a chance to score on what soccer folks call "a sitter" but missed.
"What happened was a pass came along the ground and it bounced up just as it got to me and went off my left calf," he said. "It was a sure score. The rest of the lads made sure I saw it later in slo-mo and that it was nothing to worry about, that I was off-side, anyway."
It did spark some debate on a fan website, with one Slavia fan suggesting he go back to Ireland and another coming to his defence rebutting the critic's understanding of soccer.
Munster also played in a reserve game, scoring a header into the top corner of the net.
"It's been kind of crazy -- all this recognition, playing in front of 20,000 people. After (the injury), this has been a dream."
Along with everything else, Munster even got to play in a fun hockey game with his soccer mates.
"I wouldn't call it playing," he said with a laugh. "Along with a Brazilian on the team, I'd never been on ice skates before."
Once on thin ice as a soccer player, though, he appears to be on solid ground.
And Harry Gauss can't wait to see his kid brother.

Tuesday, December 07, 2004

Paul Munster Winter break

PAUL MUNSTER HEADS HOME FOR WINTER BREAK

Paul Munster, the London City striker, winner of the CPSL’s goalscoring title and Rookie of the Year in 2004, who signed for Slavia Prague of the Czech Republic on November 19 following a six-week trial, is heading home for the traditional two-month winter break taken by that country’s top league. Munster will be returning for training and preparation for the next league match scheduled against SK Sigma Olomouc on Saturday, February 26. The break follows what the club considers to be a highly satisfactory beginning for the Northern Ireland-born goalscorer who commented a few days ago on his stay at Slavia Prague, on the club Web site:“The team played well in the last five games with four wins and one draw, everyone was working hard and the atmosphere was super. I believe that we will be even better in the spring…. Our aim is to qualify for the European Cup…. The beginning was good and may teammates helped me a lot…. I also did well in training and while I still have a lot to learn, I am picking up the language.” Speaking of the game against Blsany, Munster said: “It was a valuable experience for me.”The 22 year old Munster played one reserve game since signing, a game in which he scored the opening goal in a 2-0 win on November 19.

Thursday, December 02, 2004

Eva Havaris honoured

Eva Havaris honoured at Women of Influence luncheon
Dec 2nd, 2004
by OUA


HAMILTON, ON – For the second straight year, Ontario University Athletics (OUA) will be honouring the top female scholar-athlete from each of the 18 member institutions at a luncheon Thursday, December 2 at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto. As part of the Women of Influence Luncheon Series, the OUA will be recognizing an outstanding young woman from each of the Ontario universities who have excelled both in academics and athletics this past year. Congratulating them on their accomplishments will be one of Canada’s most celebrated international athletes, Charmaine Crooks. The five-time Olympian will be the keynote speaker, addressing the anticipated 1,000 people in attendance on “Passion and Peak Performance”. Ms. Crooks, who came to Canada from Jamaica as a six-year old, is a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Currently, Ms. Crooks sits on the Board of Directors of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee. This past March, she was selected as one of the “Top 50 Women of Power” in Canada. CAAWS, Chatelaine, Bank of Montreal, Centaur Products, General Mills, Goodlife Fitness and Wilson Sports are proud sponsors of the second annual OUA Leaders of Tomorrow / Women of Influence Luncheon.
2004 OUA OUTSTANDING FEMALE SCHOLAR ATHLETES
Brock University - Sherri-Leigh Vervaeke – Soccer - Education Carleton University - Dasa Farthing – Basketball - Criminology/Law University of Guelph - Stephanie-Anne MacKenzie – Soccer - Biological Science Lakehead University - Tara Redpath - Nordic Skiing - Environmental Science/Biology Laurentian University - Tierney Hoo – Basketball - Human Kinetics McMaster University - Lulu Bursztyn – Wrestling - Engineering Nipissing University - Anna Marie Violo – Soccer - Sociology University of Ottawa - Marlies Phillion - Ice Hockey - Human Kinetics Queen’s University - Beth Wightman - Cross Country and Track and Field - Physical and Health Education Royal Military College - Jennifer Donofrio – Basketball - Engineering Ryerson University - Lauren Sally – Volleyball - Radio and Television University of Toronto – Philippa Kedgley - Field Hockey - Physical Education and Health Trent University - Sara Pieper – Rugby - Biology University of Waterloo - Jessa Jennings - Field/Indoor Hockey - Economics The University of Western Ontario - Eva Havaris – Soccer – Kinesiology Graduate Studies Wilfrid Laurier University - Julie Mitchell - Ice Hockey - Business University of Windsor - Valerie Hamel - Ice Hockey - Psychology York University – Helena Vander – Tennis - Kinesiology and Health Science