SAIT Trojans midfielder Nico Gonzalez hopes 3rd time a charm with men's soccer team
No matter what happens in this weekend's conference final in Edmonton against NAIT, the SAIT Trojans men's soccer team will be in the national championship next month.
As host, they get an automatic berth to the event, running from Nov. 10-13.
Midfielder Nico Gonzalez loves playing for SAIT and he's been a member of the team on three separate occasions.
Gonzalez was first with the Trojans in 2005-06 and came back for a second time in 2009-10.
He then decided to return once again this season after getting laid off during the pandemic.
"I decided to come back to school," Gonzalez told CTV.
"I knew (head coach) Connor (Brady) from playing soccer and he suggested maybe I come back to SAIT and give it another go at the collegiate level. So I decided to do that."
Gonzalez is enrolled in geomatics engineering technology. He's now 35 years old but isn't showing any signs of slowing up on the soccer pitch.
In six games this season he has three goals and four assists and says he feels great.
"I don't feel my age like I keep in shape and I've been playing soccer for a long, long time," he said.
"I feel good and being around the young guys keeps me young so it's good."
The Trojans have had a great season so far. They were 5-0-1 in the regular season and feel they have a really good chance of winning nationals.
Gonzalez is only six months younger than his head coach.
Brady says all of that experience has really helped the Trojans this season and says Gonzalez has been a pleasure to coach.
"He simply wants what is best for the team," Brady said.
"He doesn't have much of a selfish mentality and you know he obviously leads by example you know with how to maintain your body and take care of yourself and add some longevity to your career.
"Obviously he's been playing at the level he's playing at now and he's doing it quite well."
Being the elder statesman on the team, Gonzalez tends to get the odd jab from his teammates but he says it's all in good fun.
"You get every so often the odd little comment here and there but other than that everyone is super respectful," Gonzalez said.
"They're all very attentive to me and if they have questions regarding anything they come and ask me. I've been through a lot of my experiences through this world of soccer so actually it's a good mix."
Brady says the entire team looks up to Gonzalez
"To be honest I think they have a tremendous amount of respect for Nico and that comes into play but you know it's a close group so there's banter always and yeah the number of years comes up every now and then for sure," he said.
Gonzalez is also a member of the national futsal team, which he says helps keep him in shape.
He says this will definitely be his last time playing with the Trojans so he'd love to go out a winner.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.