Joey Payeur
It may not be the same as taking over for Scotty Bowman or Al Arbour.
For starters, those coaches only won four championships in a row.
Chris Sinclair is trying to keep things in perspective as he heads into today’s NorWOSSA soccer regular-season opener here against the Kenora Broncos and Dryden Eagles as the new head coach of the Muskie boys’ team.
That would be the same black-and-gold outfit—despite its annual roster turnover—that chalked up a remarkable five-straight NorWOSSA titles under the watch of Shane Beckett.
With Beckett letting go of the reins to spend more time with family and focus on work commitments, the onus to preserve Fort High’s incredible run now falls to Sinclair.
“There’s a lot of pressure for how [Beckett’s] run it and what he’s done,” he admitted.
“I want to continue the legacy and the streak,” Sinclair stressed.
“I’m definitely excited for the challenge and the opportunity in general to coach.”
The Muskies converted their NorWOSSA greatness into its best-ever performance ever at the OFSAA championship in North Bay last year, going 2-2 to place fourth in Pool ‘A.’
It marked the first time Fort High won multiple games at the provincial showdown.
Some 14 players from that team, and one other veteran who suited up two years ago, will forge the centrepiece of a Muskie team that has the look of a squad that again could reach unprecedented heights.
Take the St. John’s-Ravenscourt Eagles pre-season tournament in Winnipeg over the weekend, where Fort High finished third after going 3-1 overall and beating the Vincent Massey Vikings (Brandon) by a 1-0 score on a goal by Max Williams.
“I talked to [Beckett] after the tournament and he said that’s the best they’ve done at that tournament in the past 10-15 years,” enthused Sinclair.
“I’m very pleased with how we played and proud of the guys,” he added.
“We got to see a lot of the young guys in different situation, which will help us later on.”
Williams and veteran Joey Angus scored in the Muskies’ tourney-opening 2-1 win over the St. Paul’s Crusaders.
Angus then delivered the game-winner during the penalty-kick shootout to carry the Muskies to a 2-1 triumph against the University of Winnipeg’s high school team.
Cam Lidkea had the goal in regulation for Fort High, which then felt the other side of the shootout blade in a 1-0 semi-final loss to the Miles Macdonell Buckeyes.
The spectre of Beckett still hangs over the team, which is all right with Sinclair.
“I did get to sit down with Shane after I got the job, and we went over what he did and what I wanted for the program,” Sinclair noted.
“We found we have pretty similar philosophies.”
Sinclair also will keep alive the vestiges of his predecessor by having Beckett’s longtime assistant coach, Olaf Ruppenstein, on the sideline with him this year when the latter is able to make it to games.
“He was with Shane for a number of years and I think it provides consistency for the kids with him being there,” Sinclair reasoned.
“We’ve got a large number of returning kids on the team, so why bring in something completely new to kids who have been with the program the past two-four years?”
Sinclair will be looking to establish his own reputation, having never coached soccer before, although he has many years of experience playing in the Borderland Soccer League.
“I like a more pressure style, especially with the group of kids we have,” he remarked.
“That should be something they are able to do.
“I was an offensive player when I first got to the Fort because the teams I was on had so many offensive players,” added Sinclair.
“But I understand defence is huge and I’m more of a defensive guy now.”
This year’s Muskie squad has no shortage of strengths, starting with its talented middle contingent of Williams, Lidkea, and Ian Jodoin.
“They’re all very skilled, and they have great determination and passion for the game,” Sinclair lauded.
Up front, Angus, Kevin Metke, and Adam Stromberg bring a ton of speed and excellent ball control abilities.
“They’re fun to watch, even as a coach,” said Sinclair.
“I’ve played against them in the outdoor league and it’s phenomenal what they’re capable of when they’re working together.”
On the back line, Liam Metke leads the defence at the centre back spot, although he suffered an ankle injury during last weekend’s tournament that made his availability for today’s season-opener questionable.
Lending him a hand will be Chase McGuire.
“He’s our stopper, our rover, and he can generate offence from the back end,” noted Sinclair, who has high expectations for his team.
“We have three main goals—win the league, advance to OFSAA, and make it out of the round-robin at OFSAA,” he added, referring about a possible trip to Kingsville for the ‘AA’ provincials June 2-4.
“All those goals are more than accomplishable, and hopefully the boys can stick to the goals and buy in and get to where we want to achieve,” Sinclair said.
