CBU soccer all-stars invited to attend USL Draft Combine
December 18, 2012
Cape Breton University soccer players Shayne Hollis and Jason Massie are among four CIS players selected to attend the United Soccer League draft combine in Bradenton, Florida, January 25-27, 2013.
The Canadian Interuniversity Sport men’s soccer coaches association entered into an agreement in 2011 with the USL to provide four spots at the combine, which provides an opportunity for elite men’s soccer players to showcase their talents for both domestic and international scouts and professional coaches
.
Four CIS players are selected from a pool of almost 1,000 by a national selection committee of CIS coaches to attend the combine. For the 2012 season, CBU’s Hollis and Andrew Rigby were chosen along with Adrian Penna and Branko Majstotovic of York University.
Rigby, a two-time AUS Most Valuable Player, opted out of attending the combine and was replaced by teammate Massie, and AUS First Team All-Star and CIS Second Team All-Canadian this past season.
Both Hollis and Massie are in their fifth year of eligibility with the Capers and were instrumental in helping CBU capture the 2012 AUS Men’s Soccer Championship in Charlottetown, PEI and eventually leading the team to a national silver medal in Laval, Quebec.
“Both Shayne and Jason are players who work hard on their game every day,” said CBU Head Coach Robbie Chiasson. “It is very rewarding for our guys to have this opportunity to play at the next level after they have completed their playing days at CBU.”
“This is a tribute to the time, effort and hard work these student-athletes put into their sport,” said CBU Director of Athletics John Ryan. “We have seen their success at the AUS and CIS level and we wish them the best as they look to make this step up to the next level.
“To have three of the top five players identified in the CIS be from CBU shows the quality of teams our coaches are assembling here,” he added.
Massie, a native Liverpool, England, has also achieved Academic All-Canadian Status while completing his Master of Business Administration in Community Economic Development at CBU. A product of the Liverpool Academy as a youth player, he plays with the Portland Phoenix of the Premier Development League in the offseason.
Hollis, who hails from Bailey’s Bay, Bermuda is in the Bachelor of Arts Community Studies program at CBU. A three-time AUS All-Star, Hollis plays internationally with the Bermuda men’s national team and fine tuned his tremendous technical skill as a youth in Brazil with Internacionale.
“I think it speaks volumes to have CIS players invited to the USL combine,” said Chiasson. “We have a competitive league with quality players and this may encourage more players to stay and play in Canada knowing the possibility of playing professionally exists here while getting an education.”
Four players attended the combine last year and players went on from that combine to trials with various USL, PDL and North American Soccer League teams in North America.
The Canadian Interuniversity Sport men’s soccer coaches association entered into an agreement in 2011 with the USL to provide four spots at the combine, which provides an opportunity for elite men’s soccer players to showcase their talents for both domestic and international scouts and professional coaches
.
Four CIS players are selected from a pool of almost 1,000 by a national selection committee of CIS coaches to attend the combine. For the 2012 season, CBU’s Hollis and Andrew Rigby were chosen along with Adrian Penna and Branko Majstotovic of York University.
Rigby, a two-time AUS Most Valuable Player, opted out of attending the combine and was replaced by teammate Massie, and AUS First Team All-Star and CIS Second Team All-Canadian this past season.
Both Hollis and Massie are in their fifth year of eligibility with the Capers and were instrumental in helping CBU capture the 2012 AUS Men’s Soccer Championship in Charlottetown, PEI and eventually leading the team to a national silver medal in Laval, Quebec.
“Both Shayne and Jason are players who work hard on their game every day,” said CBU Head Coach Robbie Chiasson. “It is very rewarding for our guys to have this opportunity to play at the next level after they have completed their playing days at CBU.”
“This is a tribute to the time, effort and hard work these student-athletes put into their sport,” said CBU Director of Athletics John Ryan. “We have seen their success at the AUS and CIS level and we wish them the best as they look to make this step up to the next level.
“To have three of the top five players identified in the CIS be from CBU shows the quality of teams our coaches are assembling here,” he added.
Massie, a native Liverpool, England, has also achieved Academic All-Canadian Status while completing his Master of Business Administration in Community Economic Development at CBU. A product of the Liverpool Academy as a youth player, he plays with the Portland Phoenix of the Premier Development League in the offseason.
Hollis, who hails from Bailey’s Bay, Bermuda is in the Bachelor of Arts Community Studies program at CBU. A three-time AUS All-Star, Hollis plays internationally with the Bermuda men’s national team and fine tuned his tremendous technical skill as a youth in Brazil with Internacionale.
“I think it speaks volumes to have CIS players invited to the USL combine,” said Chiasson. “We have a competitive league with quality players and this may encourage more players to stay and play in Canada knowing the possibility of playing professionally exists here while getting an education.”
Four players attended the combine last year and players went on from that combine to trials with various USL, PDL and North American Soccer League teams in North America.