A remarkable group of drop-in soccer enthusiasts represented Haida Gwaii at a tournament held June 7 to 9 as part of Prince Rupert’s annual Seafest weekend.
Called Gwaii United, the Haida Gwaii team included drop-in soccer players from across the islands.
“As far as we’re aware this is the first-ever men’s team from Haida Gwaii to go off-island for a soccer tournament,” said Alan Moore, one of Gwaii United’s stalwarts.
Hosted by the reigning champions, Prince Rupert United, the third annual Elias ‘Dempsey’ Tsakonas Memorial Soccer Tournament drew eight men’s teams from Smithers, Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert and Skeena North.
Moore shared insights into the origin of the “Gwaii United” team name, revealing a rich history that stretches back decades. While “Gwaii United” has long adorned the jerseys of various youth squads from the islands in past competitions, this marked the maiden voyage of a men’s team travelling under that name to test their mettle beyond home turf.
The tournament opener pitted Gwaii United against the hometown champs, Prince Rupert United. It was a tightly contested encounter that ended in a narrow 1-0 victory for Prince Rupert.
Undeterred by the initial setback, Gwaii United swiftly regained their footing, delivering a stellar performance in their next match against the fearsome Dragons team.
Keirnan Wright scored a pair of goals, and Carlos Herrera added a solitary strike to propel Gwaii United to a resounding 3-1 triumph, igniting new hopes.
The final game of the round-robin had the Haida Gwaiians up against Terrace United.
Hugo Smith seized the moment, breaking the deadlock with his first goal of the tournament.
Despite Terrace’s spirited fightback, Alan Moore’s clinical finish gave Gwaii a 2-1 advantage.
Terrace finally tied it up, but the draw was enough to secure Gwaii United’s passage to the semi-final game against the formidable Smithers Gunners.
With the stakes high and rising, Gwaii United was struck by adversity — several injuries depleted the team’s roster, leaving them vulnerable against a relentless Smithers outfit.
Despite their valiant efforts, Gwaii United succumbed to a 5-0 defeat, relinquishing their title aspirations but not their indomitable spirit.
The pursuit of redemption materialized in the bronze medal bout, as Gwaii United sought retribution against Prince Rupert. Despite Joel Richardson’s disallowed goal, Desi Collinson’s 1-1 equalizer injected renewed vigour into the Gwaii United campaign.
But Prince Rupert’s timely response proved decisive and the home team won a slim 2-1 victory to take bronze.
Nevertheless, Gwaii United’s fourth-place finish amidst stiff competition underscores their commendable spirit.
Looking ahead, Alan Moore sounded hopeful about the team’s future endeavours, hinting at potential participation in upcoming tournaments across the region.
“We’ve definitely been having some discussions — there are a few more tournaments this summer, in Terrace, Kitimat, Kispiox, etc. and we haven’t quite ruled out another trip,” Moore said.
“We also definitely have some interest from a few teams who might want to come to Haida Gwaii… Nothing is confirmed yet, but we are hoping to be able to share some plans soon.”
With promising prospects on the horizon, Gwaii United aims to further elevate its presence on the soccer stage.
As for who won the tournament, Kitimat emerged as the surprise champions. They topped the favoured Smithers team with a dramatic 2-1 victory in the second half of extra time, epitomizing the unpredictable nature of the beautiful game.