Keyano Faculty Selected as Futsal Head Coach for the 2023 Arctic Winter Games

Posted On Monday October 24, 2022

Congratulations to Blaine Legaree, Keyano’s Biology Instructor, who has been named as Junior Boys Futsal Head Coach for the 2023 Arctic Winter Games (AWG). To be hosted in our beautiful Wood Buffalo - the Games, originally planned for March 6-12, 2022 - will run from January 29 to February 4, 2023, and will see an estimated 2100 participants, athletes from northern Alberta, Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Alaska, Greenland, and Europe – to name a few regions. 

For the uninitiated, Futsal is a modified form of soccer played with five players on each team. In comparison to soccer, it is played on a smaller, typically indoor field. 

Blaine, who has been with the College for 14 years is busy with tryouts both locally and in Grande Prairie with a final tryout in early November with athletes from both cities. Overall, there will be four teams, Junior (2007 and 2008 born) and Juvenile Boys (2009 and 2010 born), and also Junior and Juvenile Girls. He has been involved with the local soccer scene for 15 years now; and 13 years with Futsal.  

A C-licensed soccer coach (licensed to coach and train), Blaine applied to Alberta Soccer for the AWG coaching position and was thrilled with the announcement.  

“The AWG have a reputation for being an amazing event with tough competition and interesting cultural events. I was selected in 2020 too. The whole thing will no doubt be an experience of a lifetime. Also, as an international event, it will be a highlight of my coaching career.” he enthused. 

“Futsal is fast-paced and dynamic. It is my favourite type of soccer. In 2013 and 2014 Alberta Soccer hosted futsal provincials. In 2013, my U12 boys team won bronze in the Tier 2 division. In 2014, we won gold.” 

Local soccer parents, Rasha Hassan and Jan Napierala were delighted to hear about Blaine’s appointment.  

“This is a very well-deserved honour,” said Rasha, whose son has been coached by Blaine for three years and plays in the U17/19 Fury – competitive soccer group.  

“Blaine is a big part of the Fort McMurray soccer community. I’ve known him for five years, and know he is capable of achieving great things with the AWG team. He has been a teacher, mentor, and leader for soccer players for years. He is very tactical and aware, and is excellent at motivating, inspiring and improving the athletes. We appreciate everything he has done for youth soccer. He has always believed in his teams, motivated, and encouraged them through the years,” she noted. 

Jan agrees. He has known Blaine for six years. His son played soccer for three seasons with Fury.  

“He’s a great coach; and very professional. The athletes really respect him. He is an excellent choice for the AWG. Fort McMurray is really fortunate to have a dedicated coach like Blaine. He always puts the players first and looks out for everybody’s well-being. He ensures to develop the athletes’ full potential.” 

Jonathan Lambert, Director, Athletics & Recreation, Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre, Keyano College is proud of Blaine. 

“On behalf of the Keyano College Athletics and Recreation department, I would like to personally congratulate Keyano’s own Blaine Legaree on being appointed Futsal head coach for the 2023 Arctic Winter Games. This event will be great for our region as it will bring over 2000 people into our community from parts of Canada, the US., Greenland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Not only will this event be great for the people involved to compete in and to watch, but it will also, from a Sport Tourism perspective, inject additional revenues into various businesses of Wood Buffalo. The staff of the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre are very excited to be part of one of the major hosting venues during these Games as we welcome athletes, coaches, and fans in the sports of Volleyball and Futsal.” 

“With the success that our Huskies Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams are currently having, they will both be seeing success when these same teams turn to Futsal for the winter semester. These Huskies Futsal student athletes will be part of the volunteer body within the region during these Games and they will want to watch all of the Futsal action occurring during this week! I have no doubt that Blaine will do a fantastic job as the Futsal head coach and hope that his team experiences great success during these Games. I am sure our Keyano Huskies Soccer/Futsal coach, Niels Slotboom, will be watching Blaine’s team striving for success as well as all of the other Futsal teams competing to look for future Keyano Huskies student athletes.” 

Congratulations Blaine! 

For more information about Keyano programs, view our A-Z Programs page. 

To volunteer for the Games, visit the Alberta Winter Games website.