The UNBC soccer team unveiled their latest recruit and it's a name already well known on the Prince George pitch.
Demian Dron is a product of the Duchess Park Secondary School and PG Youth Soccer Association programs and now he gets to pull on the Timberwolves jersey of his hometown university team.
"A few years back, I came to a UNBC game and saw the community support," said Dron.
"I thought it was a great playing environment and started to think maybe I could play on this team. I started understanding U SPORTS when I was about 14 or 15 years old.
"I have been training to improve my conditioning and strength, because I really want to be a part of this program."
The players and coaches already look up to their new rookie.
"He happens to be six-foot-five and extremely athletic" according to team sources.
Timberwolves coach Steve Simonson has had his eye on the 17-year-old for a number of years and suggests his newest athlete "has the potential to make a major impact on the UNBC program" over his five years of eligibility.
"Demian is a quality young player," Simonson said.
"He is extremely versatile, in terms of positions he can play, due to his size and technical ability. I think the future is very bright for Demian within our program, and I look forward to seeing him grow and develop into a significant player for us."
The TWolves saw fifth-year centrebacks Gordon Hall and Conrad Rowlands graduate this past season, so adding Dron to a stable of hungry young defenders is a great benefit to the program moving forward, said Simonson.
Dron said Hall, a three-time Canada West all-star and fellow PGYSA product, was an ideal player to model his own game around.
"I am hoping to earn that starting position," Dron said. "I have to step it up. I have been watching Gordon play and I really like the way he plays. I am hoping to base my style of play on his, and see where that takes me."
It helps that Dron's local presence has given him a chance to already engage in some training with the UNBC squad at the Northern Sports Centre, plus the playing he's doing in the local adult league.
His youth soccer coach happens to be Timberwolves assistant coach Rob Lewis, so there is a lot of familiarity to go around.
"It's really great. I like the intensity," said Dron, describing the experience of training with the university players he will call mates next year.
"They are really rough and really fast. So many quick plays and you have to be on your game and you can't ever be sleeping out there.
"It's a big jump, because a lot of the guys are big and strong as you can probably see. You just have to stay on top of your game."
Dron is slated to graduate from Duchess Park in June and will pursue a business degree at UNBC while playing for the TWolves.
He will make his official entry to the soccer program this summer for training camp.
