After seven months of outdoor soccer inactivity, the guys of the North Cariboo Senior Soccer League will lace up their cleats this weekend to break the ice on the new season.
All 16 men's teams will be in action on the turf at North Cariboo Field Saturday and Sunday, starting at noon both days. Each game will consist of two 25-minute halves and for many players, this is their chance to audition.
Open division teams are restricted at the start of the season to a maximum of 11 protected players (up from seven for each team last year). The icebreaker tournament will showcase the free-agent talent that will be available in the league's player draft on Wednesday.
"The open teams will be looking to draft six or 10 guys next week," said league president Matt Thomson. "If you're a young guy and want to show your skill, the Icebreaker is where you come out, sign up for the draft list and pay, show off, and maybe get drafted the following Wednesday. If you don't get drafted, we'll give you your money back."
The league won't refund fees if a drafted player refuses to report to the team that drafted him.
The registration cost is $185 per player and the registration process is entirely online at ncssl.com. Each team is also required to pay a $700 league fee.
Two years ago, in a bid to create a more balanced league, the NCSSL scrapped its system of seeding teams based on skill level and brought in roster restrictions and protected lists. Teams are now formed based on the age of players rather than individual ability.
"Last season, the last-place team in the open division [Silent Cabinets] won the playoffs -- there was more parity," said Thomson. "When the games are closer, people have more fun. We're not World Cup. It's about having a run and having a good time. Winning is important, but if you're getting slaughtered, nobody wants to come out. The restrictions on the size of the team at the beginning of the season seem to have helped."
The open division is for players 18-29. There's also an over-30 division and an over-45 division. The four-team John Kason Global Securities recreation division is for new players to the game or for those who don't want to be on the competitive side. Rec players are assigned at random to teams. As long as those players meet the age requirements, they are allowed to play for competitive division teams on a call-up basis.
All three competitive divisions are eligible for the annual league draft to replenish their 22-player rosters. The off-season was not kind to the open division, which has dropped from nine teams in 2012 to six, due to dropped sponsorships or managerial changes. Gone are Global Securities, Revolution, and Cariboo Brewmasters, which was unable to find a team manager.
"There will be fewer spaces for players," said Thomson. "Whether that corresponds to an increase in the rec league from four teams to six teams, we'll see."
The six open division teams include Mann Dental, Westwood Sports Pub, Mr. Jake's Steakhouse, Grewal Group, and the two Prince George Youth Soccer Association teams -- the Under-18 A Kodiaks and Under-18 B Kodiaks.
The over-30 division consists of Assante Wealth Management , Eden Spas, Team Powerhouse, Queensway Auto World, and The Wanderers (made up of RCMP staff). The over-45 division includes the Kickers, Gunners, Caledonians, Northern Thunderbird Air and Subway.
Teams will play either 18 or 20 games this season. The six 30-plus division teams will play each other three times and will cross over to face each of the five open division teams once this season. The first league games start Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.
