2025 Awards
2025 Recognition & Awards Event
Opening Remarks form Coach Phil:
On behalf of Stacey and I at the HSA, we welcome everyone who took time to come out tonight to join us in celebrating these amazing young athletes.
First, I would like to thank Our Sponsors:
Baker Flooring, Rodco Mechanical and Manna European Bakery & Deli
Your sponsorship is helping these young athletes pursuit their dreams. As young kids we all know how exciting it is lace up the boots and get the opportunity to play for your hometown. Part of the excitement is donning the new jersey, with your own unique number that identifies you, knowing you made the team. Your sponsorship help us in make those dreams become a reality.
I would like to thank our Photographers Kim and LeeAnne (Moms to Benson & Peter) for capturing and sharing so many beautiful memories of our kids… some of which I will share with you on the screen here tonight… you may think they are ballet dancers but believe me its much more than that… Its poetry in motion… thank you both so much… you are awesome.
Thank you to Mr. Penney who has been more than accommodating and so generous allowing us to practice at the Holycross Elementary gym throughout the fall and winter. It’s here we are perfecting our game and the skills of these young kids. They compete as teams for team points and Individually for individual points in Fitness drills testing stamina and endurance, various, soccer skills and drills and then 2vs2, 3vs3, 4vs4 small, sided games. All this activity will help us in selecting our competitive teams for the Metro and Compass Leagues this summer. It’s on the outdoor pitch we practice more as a unit. This time is so valuable in prepping our kids for competition.
A big Thank you to Cathy Kelly for her role has manager of the U11 Team… it’s a big job keeping those boys out of trouble.
Success is not possible without our fans, especially our friends, the parents and family members. Thank you for believing in us and showing up for all the games to cheer us on. We have the loudest and most passionate fans of all the teams and of course the best dressed team two years straight, thanks to Coach Stacey.
This is our first-year end awards evening and we hope it won’t be our last. It’s here we get the opportunity to celebrate our team’s success in 2025 and the kids who play on our teams in the worlds most beautiful game…
We started this program on Oct of 2022, indoors at the Holycross Gym and then our first outdoor program on the soccer field in June of 2023. We spent all of 2023 both on the field and in the gym practicing and teaching our kids enrolled in the program, the fundamentals of the game. We continued in the fall and winter of 2024 indoors, honing their skills until late May when we took to the field for our summer program and selected an U10 Tier 2 team that competed in the Metro league on the Avalon. Our boys did well wining all but three games in their first year of competition. We made a name for ourselves competing in several indoor tournaments as well as taking part in the NLSA Jamboree and the famous Paradise Sunsplash tournament where our team was among the favorites to win but some technicalities in a deciding simi-final match would determine the outcome that ultimately put us out of the medal rounds. In just two short years we have grown where we were able to have two teams enter the Metro league in 2025… the U10 and U11 Boys Teams and once again they proved they have what it takes to be competitive on a provincial level in soccer, and our achievements have not gone unnoticed…
Both our teams were successful in the Metro League being among the top 3 teams in Tier 2.
Both teams ended up in 4th place at the Paradise Sunsplash tournament losing in their Bronze medal matches, although once again we had expectations of a much higher achievement.
Our U10 team had a 3 & 1 record at NLSA Jamboree in Marystown and our U11 team posted a 2 & 2 record in their Jamboree in Mount Pearl.
In the Rain City Easter Cup our U11 boys were champions taking home Gold Medal.
Our U9 team placed second good for Silver in the CBS Winterfest Indoor Tournament, our U10 team finished out of the medal round and our U11 team battled their way to Silver in their Winterfest indoor tournament.
Our U9 team also took silver in the invitational Vineland Indoor tournament.
And… this past Christmas at the Rain City VW Cup we saw our U12 team place 3rd in the tournament without Hayden, Luke and Jack, three dominate players on our team that certainly would have made the difference. Our U10 team finished 4th, however, both teams efforts were outstanding losing most of their matches by just one goal margins, often pinning the opposition into their own end for extended periods of times without scoring that final goal that would have made the difference. We are proud of our success in 2025, and we are beyond proud of all our kids. It was a first ever big tournament experience on a large indoor turf for some of our kids, particularly Cohen McDonald, Corbett Hodge, Finley Gushue, Cayden Butler and Logan Courage and some kids handled it better or different than others but each kid is different and this kind of exposure will deepen their love for the game as I’m sure it will be an experience they soon won’t forget.
I like to thank Stacey for pushing me to get involved in this beautiful game, it has added years to my life… I get to enjoy the game all over again on a whole new level now with my grandson Brady and all the kids his age… I get to re-live again, the passion I had for the sport I fell in love with as young boy so many years ago in Fortune on the Burin Peninsula, home to the St. Lawrence Laurentians the most celebrated soccer organization in all of Newfoundland.
I want to thank each and every one of fine young athletes that make coming to practice and games a rewarding experience for us at the HSA. Its both an honor and a privilege to coach them. From hard work come rewards… how you practice is how will you play in real game situations and at the end of the day its not about the wins or championships that matter, its how you play and the love for the sport and above all the friendships you make on this journey.
Stacey and I absolutely love the players we coach; some are blessed with raw talent, fun to watch and they are all stars in our mind.
We look forward to getting back to work and creating CHAMPIONS!!!
Group 3:
Certificates of Participation
Our Budding Stars:
Landon Crowley
Nolan Clarke
Berkley Hutchings
Owen Lewis
Jude Puddester
Leo Farr
Luke Kennedy
Cayden Butler
Our Rising Stars:
Maverick Bartlett
Beckham Bartlett
Easton Hosegood
Stephen Dalton
Nathan Burke
Thatcher Fitzpatrick
Ben Rusted
Group 2:
Certificates of Participation
Our Rising Stars
Corbett Hodge
Jack Kroeker
Lewis Power
Thomas Sullivan
Finley Gushue
Cade McDonald
2025 U10 Boys Metro Team Awards
Cohen McDonald #34 (F)
He’s a gifted forward, very skilled ball carrier that can dribble his way through opponents willingly and can score amazing goals. His potential is enormous. He comes to practice ready to compete. His confidence is growing at every practice and game. He’s going to be the one to watch this summer. Please join me in honoring #34, Cohen McDonald with the 2025 U10 Most Improved Player Award. Congratulations Cohen!!!
Ryder Simmonds #24 (F)
He’s a forward with a great shot and is improving with every practice and game. Steady up front with good ball control and when in the clear can surely hit the mark. He’s always consistent and can make plays that can elude the opposition to get that shot off. Most Goalkeepers don’t realize it until the ball is in the back of the net. Please join me in honoring #16, Ryder Simmonds with the 2025 U10 Love of the Game Award. Congratulations Ryder!!!
Maddox Cole #11 (F)
This player is a steady presence up front, and his skill is defined in all the practice he puts in at home. It doesn’t go unnoticed by the coaches. There’s a unique quality about him… he can win one on one battles and create enough space to get that elusive shot off with accuracy and that’s not an easy feat for most players. He is going to be a goal scoring machine for sure. Please join me in honoring #11, Maddox Cole with the 2025 U10 Most Passionate Player Award. Congratulations Maddox!!!
Colin Walsh #6 (F)
He plays forward and his nifty footwork is unreal and gets us shaking our head at times wondering how he did that. His moves and skill come natural for him. He has perfected his shot and knows how to lean into it to get more power and not everyone his age has developed that technique. His instinct for the ball is amazing. Please join me in honoring #6, Colin Walsh with the 2025 U10 Ball Wizard Award. Congratulations Colin!!!
Chloe Masters #18 (F)
This player continues to impress us and make us proud. Her passion for the sport is undeniable as she stays behind after every outdoor practice sometimes in the dark with their parents’ car lights on continuing to shoot balls at the goal. She’s fast, highly skilled and possesses the 3 D’s - drive, determination and dedication of and elite player. Our very own Chloe is the only girl on an all boys team, in fact she's the only girl enrolled in our Academy. She has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she belongs on our boys’ team. She never disappoints and given the opportunity can score. She doesn’t shy away from one-on-one challenges, digging hard. Little Chloe plays her best in every game. You must be Brave to be the only girl on a all-boys team, so its fitting that she deserves this award. Please join me in honoring #18, Chloe Masters with the 2025 U10 Bravest Player Award. Congratulations Chloe!!!
John Hutchings #26 (D)
He’s a steady, stay at home defender and probably one of the most improved players on the team. He stalls knowingly, waiting with anticipation for the opposing player to make their move. Then he makes his move to intercept the ball or cut off the player, pressuring them out of bounds. Both him and his game are evolving. Please join me in honoring #26, John Hutchings with the 2025 U10 Best Player Attitude Award. Congratulations John!!!
Cohen Lewis #15 (F)
He’s shy, but don’t let that fool you. He’s a skilled forward and his knowledge of the game is improving everyday. On the pitch he works hard for every ball, battling for possession and he’s an unselfish player sitting up his teammates for great opportunities to score. He’s a gentleman on and off the field and is quick to praise and encourage his teammates and after every practice comes and thanks his coaches. Please join me in honoring #15, Cohen Lewis with the 2025 U10 Best Playmaker Award. Congratulations Cohen!!!
Will Wade #97 (G\D)
He’s rugged, fearless and dependable whether playing goal or defender. He’s going to succeed with sheer determination battling with all his means. This rugged fearlessness is what makes him so good and hard to defend against. In goal we have witnessed flying mid air saves that leaves you breathless. He’s one of our most improved players and his kick is becoming his most lethal weapon. Please join me in honoring #97, Will Wade with the 2025 U10 Fearless Player Award. Congratulations Will!!!
