Wilson tournament a hit with the kids

The Terry Wilson Memorial Cup soccer tournament is expanding its horizons deep into Cariboo country.

The fifth annual Catholic elementary school tournament, set for Friday, May 29 at Rotary Field, will for the first time include a team from Williams Lake.

Sacred Heart elementary is among three new teams added to the 20-team tournament. The mixed-gender event, for players in Grades 6 and 7, also includes first-time entrants Westside Academy of Prince George and Saint Joseph's of Smithers.

"It's really becoming a regional tournament and they're delighted to be in it," said tournament organizer Terry Murphy. "Terry coached in Prince George but he also coached in the region and now the tournament has gone regional."

Other schools represented at this year's tournament entered include St. Ann's (Quesnel), Veritas (Terrace), Saint Anthony's (Kitimat), Annunciation (Prince Rupert), Notre Dame (Dawson Creek), Saint Mary's (Prince George), and Immaculate Conception (Prince George). Most of the schools will enter two teams.

The tournament grew from 12 teams the first three years to 20 teams this and last year.

"These teams from the outside the city are so into it," said Murphy. "They're coming into Prince George and it's the big city, everything is big here and they get pumped up for it.

"That's magic. Terry would be smiling, it's grown so much. The Terry Wilson tournament gives these schools a reason to get together and that's his legacy."

Murphy said the smaller cities are sending teams for extended trips to Prince George and through Tourism Prince George liaison Leanne Schinkel he's arranged for free passes to get the 175 players into the Prince George Aquatic Centre and The Exploration Place museum.

The kids will sleep over in school gymnasiums at St. Mary's, Immaculate Conception and Sacred Heart schools. A Christian-themed retreat activity is planned for St. Mary's on Thursday night before the tournament begins.

The penalty shot competition which was canceled last year due to time constraints is back for this year's tournament. Each team will elect two shooters for the event.

The Annunciation Knights of Prince Rupert won last year's tournament with a 2-1 win over St. Ann's Academy Crusaders of Kamloops. Previous winners were Veritas (Terrace) in 2013, St. Mary's (Prince George) in 2012, and St. Ann's (Quesnel) in 2011.

Murphy started the tournament in 2011 as a tribute to Wilson, a fellow native of Northern Ireland who immigrated with him to Prince George in 1986 to teach at Prince George College. Wilson played in the North Cariboo Senior Soccer League and developed a reputation as a dedicated youth soccer coach whose passion for the game encouraged kids of all abilities to play. He moved to Lethbridge to become a school principal and died a few years later in 2010 at age 47.

Wilson's sons Aedan and Finbar plan to be in Prince George for the tournament next Friday.

"Last year they got a load of soccer balls from SportChek in Lethbridge for a draw and that was huge hit with the kids, and Finbar is doing that again this year," said Murphy.