Pictured L-R: Navarro Weenie, Kaysen Fineday, Cale Checkosis, Ethan Bonaise, Wade Favel, and Treyton Poitras are five of nine current members of the Battlefords United Football Club that will travel to Nova Scotia this summer for the 2023 North American Indigenous Games. (Submitted photo/Kat Huxley)

By Martin Martinson

Local Soccer Standouts

BUFC well-represented at North American Indigenous Games

Feb 16, 2023 | 2:00 PM

There will be no shortage of Battlefords and area representation on the soccer field this summer at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games.

Battlefords United Football Club (BUFC), the elite-level soccer program in the community, will see nine current and four former players don Saskatchewan’s threads for competition.

Of the nine current players, Mishayla Bear will play for the U16 girls’ team, while Max Gubbe and Van Tootoosis will suit up for the U16 boys.

It’s something Gubbe said he’s looking forward to, having played competitively with the local program in the Battlefords for a number of years.

“I’ve been playing soccer in North Battleford my whole life and I just want to represent North Battleford and represent my club well now with this opportunity,” Gubbe said.

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Ethan Bonaise, Cale Checkosis, Kaysen Fineday, Wade Favel, Navarro Weenie, and Treyton Poitras will play for the men’s U19 team.

Weenie said making Team Sask is something he had set as a personal goal heading into the year, showing hard work pays off.

“It really means a lot to me to be able to go play for Team Sask in Nova Scotia, as I’ve been working really hard to make the team,” Weenie said. “I tried out a couple of years ago and didn’t make it, so it was really one of my goals to make this team and be able to represent this year.”

Other players who have played BUFC in the past include Malakai Frank and Oskiya Tootoosis who will also play for the U16 boys team, while Danzel Harris will play for the U19s, and Tannis Swiftwolfe for the U19 women’s team.

Accompanying the large group from the local program, Kat Huxley and Serinda Baptiste will be on the U19 female coaching staff, while Kelly Villeneuve will coach with the U16 boys.

Huxley said it’s special to see so many from the local program be recognized for their hard work and selected to represent the community and province at the international event.

“It’s amazing to see our athletes train so hard within our program and then have these other opportunities to reach their dreams,” Huxley said. “To be able to try out for these higher-level teams, and be able to make these teams.”

The North American Indigenous Games will be held July 15-23 in Nova Scotia (Halifax, Dartmouth, and Millbrook First Nation). Now in its 10th year, the NAIG will bring together more than 5,000 athletes, coaches, and team staff from over 750 Indigenous Nations.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1