Leduc Cobra U14 girls pay tribute to late assistant coach

Bobby Roy
leducrep.newsone@sunmedia.ca
With orange ribbons tied to their cleats, the Leduc U14 Cobra girls paid tribute to Stephen Thomson, their assistant coach during the previous indoor season.
Thomson tragically lost his life while he was out boating on Chip Lake, located west of the City of Edmonton, on Saturday, June 22 around 8 p.m. His body was found four days later by search and rescue teams.
The 27-year-old Leduc resident was an assistant coach for the U14 girls during the 2012-2013 indoor season and left a huge impact on the team during his time with the girls, explained DJ Cosyns, head coach of the U14 girls.
?He brought so much positivity to the team and the kids really looked up to him. He was an awesome coach and I really enjoyed coaching with him,? said Cosyns, who had Thompson as her assistant coach for the past indoor soccer season.
On the final regular season game of the season on Thursday, June 27 the Cobras, coaches and parents all tied orange ribbons around their shoes in memory of the soccer fanatic. Although they didn?t earn a win, the players earned the respect of their coaching staff, parents and everyone at the field that day.
?They played with such pride and it showed how much the team, Stephen and coaching staff meant to them. It?s not all about winning and they really showed that,? explained Cosyns.
The weekend before Thompson lost his life in the accident while out boating, the girls and Cosyns had the chance to see him one last time.
?He was playing on the field next to us and before his game he came over and wished all the girls good luck. He gave some of them a hug and gave me a hug. That was the best day.?
Thomson didn?t help coach the outdoor season as he was expecting his first child prior to the start of it, but still helped out where he could. The news of his loss hit the team hard, but the girls wanted to make sure his memory wouldn?t be forgotten.
?He showed the girls so much and always brought so much positivity to the team. He was an awesome person and coach and I really enjoyed coaching with him,? said Cosyns.
The Cobras were made up of nine U14 players and four U12 girls who Cosyns brought up to complete the team early in the season.
?The U12 girls we had were a huge asset. They were able to hold their own at the U14 level,? explained Cosyns, who completed her second year of coaching the team.
The team ended up finished with a 12-2-2 record and in second place, only behind the other Leduc girls? team in their division within the Battle River Soccer Association (BRSA).
?It was a really excellent season and we were undefeated all the way until the second last weekend,? stated Cosyns.
With familiarity and chemistry from the indoor season, the girls were a force to be reckoned with during the season.
?The teamwork and sportsmanship the girls showed all season was great,? said Cosyns.
With the season now complete, the girls experienced some highs and emotional lows but were able to finish on a strong note ? exemplifying the character of the team.
?I?m so proud of what we were able to accomplish with everything that happened this season.?

Source: http://www.leducrep.com/2013/07/08/leduc-cobra-u14-girls-pay-tribute-to-late-assistant-coach

Deval Patrick Dedication 4 labor day college football scores khan academy Espn College Football Eddie Murphy died