The annual game Saturday between the Vancouver Island Soccer League All-Stars and the Fraser Valley Premier League All-Stars almost reads like a Cowichan FC home fixture.
The VISL Div. 1 leaders (11-1-2) have landed nine players on the league squad, which is set to take on the Fraser Valley鈥檚 best at 4 p.m. in the exhibition hosted by Prospect Lake at Layritz Turf.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a reflection that we鈥檙e the only [VISL] team that has a realistic goal of winning the Province Cup this year,鈥� said veteran Cowichan defender and assistant coach Tyler Hughes.
鈥淲e have picked up players who have the same goal in mind. We have quality and depth. Every one of our players could be starting on any team in the league.鈥�
The Cowichan players selected are goalkeeper Sam Hutchison, defenders Hughes, Kevan Brown and Brad Archibald, midfielders Jordan Degraaf, Josh Cuthbert, Steve Scott and strikers Patrick Nelson and Cooper Barry.
Also named are goalkeeper Elliot Mitrou and striker Jordie Hughes from Bays United, defenders Paddy Greig from Nanaimo and Chris Peereboom of Saanich Fusion, midfielders Leo Falzon and Bryan Taylor of Fusion and strikers Jon Shah from Westcastle United and Cam Stokes from Gorge FC.
鈥淚t will be fun. It gives me the chance to play on the same team with my brother [Jordie Hughes of Bays],鈥� said Tyler Hughes, who will co-coach the VISL All-Stars, along with Cowichan head coach Glen Martin.
After today, the goals for Cowichan FC are less about all-star diversions than club glory as it looks to become the first Island team to win the Province Cup since Gorge FC captured four sa国际传媒 championships between 2001 and 2010. Cowichan FC will get the chance to finish that dream off at 鈥渉ome鈥� on the Island, with the 2016 men鈥檚 Province Cup final scheduled for May 14 at Westhills Stadium in Langford.
Last year, it ended on sudden-death penalty kicks in a heartbreaking 2015 Province Cup semifinal loss to eventual sa国际传媒 champion EDC Burnaby.
鈥淭he Province Cup is a big thing for us this year. I would love to win the provincial title for and with this team,鈥� said Hughes.
It鈥檚 all part of a potentially momentous year for Cowichan FC, which moves onto its new turf pitch Jan. 23 at Sherman Road: 鈥淣o more changing fields,鈥� said Hughes.
The Cowichan contingent also fully expects this journey to carry them to the 2016 Island Jackson Cup final April 3 at Royal Athletic Park, where fans of the defending champions have previously nearly filled the grandstand as Cowichan has made five championship game appearances over the past six years in winning three Jackson Cup titles.
The undercard today at Layritz features the VISL Masters All-Stars taking on the Fraser Valley Masters All-Stars at 2 p.m., the VISL Div. 2 All-Stars playing the VISL Div. 3 All-Stars at noon and the Div. 4鈥檚 against the VISL U-21s at 10 a.m. The VISL is going for an all-star game festival feel with stations serving up food and beverages along with the soccer.
