It begins today on the Lower Mainland against Vancouver United and continues Sunday against the Vancouver Thunderbirds.
Because the Highlanders are a summer representative team, with players who don鈥檛 know each other well from winter league play, head coach Dave Dew has made sure hotel rooms are shared among players who know each other the least.
鈥淎 lot of the VISL players don鈥檛 know the UVic players, so I want to take the guys out of their comfort zones,鈥� said Dew.
With hotels and restaurants, Dew said the road can be an important bonding experience for teams.
Vancouver United is coached by Nick Perugini, four-time CIS All-Canadian and 2007 CIS MVP during his standout career at Trinity Western, and who helped lead sa国际传媒 to a best-ever fourth place at the 2007 World University Games in Bangkok. Perugini has his team off to a undefeated start following an Island swing last weekend that resulted in a 1-1 draw against the Highlanders and 3-0 victory over the previously undefeated Mid Island Mariners (2-1).
United is led by former sa国际传媒 U-17 player Gagan Dosanjh, a former Vancouver Whitecaps prospect who has played pro for FC Edmonton and Energie Cottbus in Germany.
鈥淯nited showed a lot of aggressiveness in their Island games,鈥� said Dew, of the task which awaits his club today.
The Sunday fixture is against a Vancouver Thunderbirds club that has won both of its games and features current and alumni UBC Thunderbirds and is coached by UBC head coach Mike Mosher.
鈥淚t鈥檚 basically [Mosher鈥檚] university team with a few of top recruits for next season thrown in,鈥� said Dew.
The Highlanders bench boss said his charges are up for the first road challenges of the season.
鈥淚鈥檝e been really impessed by how balanced the league is,鈥� said Dew.
鈥淣obody is getting pummeled. Everyone is capable of taking points off each other. It鈥檚 going to be a battle to the end.鈥�
As for his own team, there is a general sense of satisfaction as to how it is evolving.
鈥淲e have been attacking well, and I like the way we have become defensively tighter,鈥� said Dew.
The Highlanders aren鈥檛 home again until back-to-back games June 13-14 against Khalsa Sporting Club and the Thunderbirds.
