Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Several members of the MacEwan Griffins men's soccer team are riding a winning wave into training camp this week.
On July 26, the Edmonton Scottish United – featuring several current and former Griffins players, and helmed by general manager Adam Loga, MacEwan's bench boss – clinched the inaugural men's League 1 Alberta championship.
After finishing first in the standings with an 8-3-2 record, the Tartans knocked off Calgary Foothills 3-1 in extra time in the final.
"It was a great feeling," said veteran Griffins striker Rakan Yassin. "Obviously, it's the first season for League 1, so it was something different, especially with the team that we had – a lot of different faces and new guys playing together for the first time – but it was good that we got it done."
��LEAGUE1 ALBERTA CHAMPIONS��
— League1 Alberta (@league1alberta) July 27, 2024
Edmonton Scottish United
2 goals from Habib Assem in extra time sealed the deal for the Tartans.
Congratulations to your 2024 inaugural L1AB Champions Scottish
Photos credit: Norman Bo pic.twitter.com/4EnusuEfXg
Yassin was one of five current or former MacEwan players who started for Edmonton Scottish in the final, along with Mikey Ho, Kayden Dugas, Ali Yildiz and Philip Masri. Four other starters were from Canada West rival Alberta, while Golden Bears striker Habib Assem played hero, coming off the bench late to score twice in extra time and lift the Tartans to the title.
In fact, the Scottish roster was a mix of top MacEwan and Alberta players, who joined forces to win the title and qualify for the Canadian championship next April.
"It was something we talked about – me, Paul Hamilton (Scottish head coach and former MacEwan assistant), and Marty (Fenger-Andersen) at U of A. Marty had some players and I had some players. We knew it would work, just because of the character of the guys. But seeing is believing. They came together.
"Sometimes the soccer community here and amongst the province isn't always necessarily the most positive, but we showed two rival teams, two rival schools, even staffs, for that matter, can come together, put a group together and make them one, and be successful."
The experience was also galvanizing for the Griffins, who began preparing for the upcoming Canada West season by opening training camp earlier this week.
"It was great," said Yassin of spending the summer with several MacEwan teammates. "For me, personally, I was gone for two summers (playing in) Jordan, so it was nice to get that sense of playing with some teammates almost year round, especially come the fall time.
"In the summer it was nice to get back on the field with them as I haven't done that in a little bit. It was really good."
Loga noted the team is already gelling well just two sessions into camp. The Griffins have 17 returning players, bringing plenty of continuity to the sessions.
"Having that maturity, experience and camaraderie where we've been together over 12 months, things are moving pretty quick and in a positive way," he said. "We're very much further ahead than where we were this time last year. The staff and I were even chatting after training today, 'man, we are so much further ahead.'
"It's more review than it is building a foundation, which has already kind of been built now as we enter the 2024 season here."
The Griffins have a slate of five exhibition games and/or scrimmages scheduled this month, a schedule which kicks off this Saturday:
• Aug. 10 vs. Lakeland (2 p.m., Edmonton Scottish Dome)
• Aug. 15 vs. King's University (7 a.m., Edmonton Scottish Dome)
• Aug. 17 'Dano Day' – Intra-squad Maroon vs. White match in honour of late assistant coach Daniel Drummond (2 p.m., Edmonton Scottish Dome)
• Aug. 21 vs. Concordia (7 a.m., Edmonton Scottish Dome)
• Aug. 24 at Alberta (Time TBA, Foote Field)
The Griffins open their 2024 season on Aug. 30 at Lethbridge (4:30 p.m., Canada West TV). MacEwan's home opener is set for Sept. 7 vs. Mount Royal University (12 p.m., Edmonton Scottish, Canada West TV).
