It was a given that the re-emergence of the Sudbury Cyclones would open the door to some extra playing time at an upper level of soccer for both local athletes and some out of town talent.
Apparently, the opportunities extend beyond just those who are donning the jerseys and cleats on the pitch for the new League1 Ontario entry.
With the Sudbury Cyclones Academy now forming the umbrella structure that encompasses the former GSSC U21 Impact teams (both men’s and women’s), a pair of newish coaches are cutting their teeth as the pathway to the big team includes an affiliated program just one step below.
His playing career at Laurentian cut short following a knee injury, Vaughan native Dylan Bruzzese is combining elements of both his extensive knowledge of the sport that he loves with his current pursuit of a Masters in Sport Psychology from L.U., tackling the lead role of guidance along the sidelines with the Cyclones U21 men’s team.
Meanwhile, the women’s team which hopefully opens the door for a League1 entry for the Cyclones on both sides of the gender equation in short order will be led by Irishman Ross Moynihan, only a few years removed from his arrival in Canada (a future edition of Pascal on the Pitch will be focusing on the Cyclones U21 women’s team).
For Bruzzese, the transition to coaching is a natural one, albeit one that is not without hiccups along the way. “Just watching the game, analyzing how the team plays, that’s the biggest challenge for me,” noted the 25 year old former forward who was a product of the highly successful Woodbridge Strikers youth program.
“I like the challenge of coming to a team where I only know a few of the guys.”
Truth be told, the 2024 edition of the Cyclones U21 men’s team which will compete in OSL U21 Provincial Central division play this summer brings together talent from the 2023 GSSC U21 and U18 Impact squads as well as some newcomers to the Laurentian Voyageurs’ roster (2023) and a small influx of young men who are currently attending Collège Boréal.
“We have different groups,” noted Bruzzese. “It’s interesting trying to figure out ways to get them to connect and be successful on the field. It’s all part of my Sport Psychology course, trying to figure out how to get a team to get together.”
Thankfully, the soccer community in Sudbury is small enough to pretty much ensure that paths are crossed for many who participate at the more elite levels of play. Eighteen year-old Nicholas McGee has been a lifelong GSSC member, back in town after completing the first year of his Kinesiology studies at the University of Toronto.
“We have a few Toronto guys who played at Laurentian, but a lot of our U18 team played at L.U. so there’s good chemistry there,” suggested the graduate of St Charles College who will provide coach Bruzzese with some much appreciated versatility, his soccer background including time spent on the wing, at right back as well as in the central attacking midfield position.
“I’m pretty versatile,” said McGee. “I’m more of an attacking player but anywhere up top works. The attacking aspects are all pretty similar but on the wing, you definitely have some defensive responsibilities to get back – but you also have a little more free rein to go forward.”
The story of his soccer usage is hardly unique.
A native of Mississauga who will be turning 19 next week, Daniel Alexa started at centerback, switched to right back and currently finds himself in more of a central defending midfielder position, more often than not. “It’s more looking forward, in a way, and a little bit less defensive,” stated the young man who first played rep soccer as a member of the Erin Mills Soccer Club.
“I’m looking to be more offensive and would say that I use my vision, my passing more (in this role). Long passes, short passes, anything breaking the line – that’s my forte.”
More than satisfied with his rookie season at Laurentian – Alexa was thrilled to share the video of his highlight-reel strike from 30 yards out against Trent University from early September – the Business Administration major earned a start in nine OUA games last fall, sitting out a small handful of others due to injury.
“I am really trying to work on my personal development in soccer and maintaining a good body going into second year,” said Alexa, his sights set on trying to crack the all-star team in 2024. “I’m working on becoming faster on the ball and understanding the game at a higher level that what I was used to.”
Both Alexa and McGee should fit nicely into the scheme of play that Bruzzese has devised, one shaped, not surprisingly, by some positive results in his youth. “Growing up, I had the most success playing a 4-2-3-1 – that’s the formation I am trying to implement here,” he said. “It was influenced by one of my coaches; I’ve always had a fondness for that formation.”
“I think we can run it here because we have fast players and strong strikers,” added Bruzzese. “Defensively, I like to counter around half. We let the opposing team play with the ball as much as they want in their half of the field, but as soon as they enter our side, we full press and counter as quick as possible.”
“If that’s not there, I like to control and look for an opportunity to play that diagonal ball across the field and make something happen.”
This summer of Cyclones soccer is largely, after all, based on new opportunities – for players and coaches alike.
The Sudbury U21 Cyclones men’s team is set to open play on June 1st at 3:00 p.m. at Laurentian University, welcoming Union FC to town, taking to the road the following weekend for matches with both Vaughan SC and Alliance FC from London.
Rounding out the 2024 roster are Donaldson Ajilore, Matthew Bodnar, Braydon Ethier-Perras, Jacob Gill, Carter Grenier, Jack Jordan, Mattaios Maffei, Miradi Makola, Pablo Medina, Maliq Olanrewaju, Bryan Perez, Joaquin Polanco, Ousama Qarqouz, Blake Rosener, Mabea Louis Charles Mederic Toma, Tyler Thibodeau, Chris Ngoyet, Nathan Cranston, Junior Ouffame and Divin Shimirwa.
