When opportunity knocked Andrew Seabrook answered.
The 26-year-old had just learned his job with the government was being centralized to Vancouver when UNBC Timberwolves' head coach Alan Alderson came calling. Not wanting to leave his hometown Seabrook saw it as a challenge to return to his alma matter, take a few courses and step back onto the pitch with the T-wolves as they navigated their inaugural CIS season in the Canada West conference.
"I love UNBC and I love playing soccer," said the T-wolves' midfielder. "I enjoy it most when I'm being challenged and pushing myself to play at the highest level I can. The opportunity to play in CIS was something that I wanted to take.
"It just worked out really well where I was able to be a part of this inaugural year," added Seabrook.
It's not the first time the graduate of College Heights secondary has mixed his studies with his passion for soccer at UNBC. Seabrook was halfway through his degree in 2007 when the former B.C. Colleges Athletic Association (now PACWEST) added the T-wolves to the league.
"It was good news when they got into the league," said Seabrook. "It was not something I was expecting when I came to UNBC."
Seabrook played two seasons for the T-wolves in the BCCAA before heading off into the working world, playing soccer in the summers in the North Cariboo Senior Soccer League for the Caribou Brewmasters.
Alderson said he was happy to have a veteran like Seabrook help navigate the T-wolves through what was going to be a trying season - the team brings an 0-10 record into its final home games this weekend versus the Fraser Valley Cascades - as they searched out an identity in a new league.
"He has tireless effort," said Alderson. "He will run from the moment he steps on the field until we finally take him off. He's a really good model for the younger guys because he has such a great attitude and he works endlessly."
Seabrook is one of six players on the T-wolves' roster born prior to 1990 - only Desmond Udeh and Alessandro Deviato have more candles on their birthday cakes.
In addition to his previous BCCAA experience, Seabrook also brought the knowledge of a player who spent several summers in Croatia, trying out for the professional league.
"I was really close a couple of times I just couldn't make it work but it was a great experience," said Seabrook.
He points to the depth of CIS rosters as the biggest difference from the BCCAA.
"There isn't just a couple top players on each team the whole roster is really good," he said.
The T-wolves have four games remaining in their season and despite the fact Seabrook will have two years of eligibility remaining in CIS, he doesn't expect to return.
"No, this will be it," said Seabrook. "I talked to coach about that and just kind of said that this is a one-time opportunity for me to come back and be a part of it. It was fun."
Seabrook will begin a new full-time job in January as a financial advisor but, added he'd like to continue to contribute to the T-wolves, even if it's not on the field.
"It would be nice to stay in touch with the program," said Seabrook. "I'm married and our families our here. We want to stay in Prince George long term."
Fact box:
Fraser Valley Cascades at UNBC Timberwolves
North Cariboo Soccer field
Saturday and Sunday, noon
