SASKATOON, Sask. - This Friday (Aug. 29) the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Huskie Men's Soccer team will officially make their return to the pitch, as they kick off the 2025 regular season at home against the Mount Royal Cougars.

Friday's match marks the beginning of a 14-game Canada West gauntlet featuring 13 soccer programs across western Canada vying for a spot in the 2025 postseason. Just eight teams will earn the right to extend their seasons by at least one match, with winners of the Prairie and Pacific Divisions earning the right to host quarter- and semifinal matchups at home. The conference schedule will then culminate in a championship match, with the highest remaining team from the Prairie Divison owning the right to host in 2025.

The two teams featured in the Canada West Championship will see their season continue to the national stage and the 2025 U SPORTS Championships, set to be hosted by the University of Toronto and Varsity Stadium from November 6-9, 2025.

The 2025 edition of the Huskies will be looking for a bounce back season following a 3-10-1 record in 2024, but that is not their only goal for the new campaign. A strong and motivated returning leadership group has begun putting the team on the path to success early, starting with a productive offseason which has been carried into the training camp and the preseason. This group of veteran student-athletes, combined with an exciting, talented, and dynamic group of freshmen, has put themselves in a strong position and want nothing less than to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2022. While the newest version of the Huskie Men's Soccer team will be a young one, featuring 15 student-athletes in the incoming recruiting class, they join a program grounded in what it means to be a Huskie and with a clear vision for both immediate and long-term success.

"We are very excited about this group," said Huskie Head Coach Bryce Chapman, who is set to enter his 22nd season on the USask sideline. "With the additions to our coaching staff, our incoming recruits, and the established leadership group, is has been a pleasure coming to work every day. This group is highly motivated and wants to get the program back to where it was just a few years ago. With the pieces in place I believe we are setting up this program for success not just this season, but for years to come."

Following Friday's season-opener against the Cougars, the Huskies are back in action on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 31) with Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park featuring a men's and women's doubleheader against the Calgary Dinos. Single-game and season tickets are available now at HuskieTickets.com.

See below for a recap of the 2024 season, rookies to watch for, and featured players on the 2025 edition of the Huskie Men's Soccer team. 
 

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2024 SEASON RECAP
Regular Season: 3-10-1 / 6th in Prairie Division
CW Team Ranks
    Offence: 9 goals for (13th)
    Defence: 28 goals against (T-11th)
2024 Regular Season Leaders
    Points: Ethan Cabral (4)
    Goals: Ethan Cabral (4)
    Assists: Misgana Killoh (1)
    Saves: Jaron Slopinski (31)
 

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2025 RECRUITING CLASS
(No. / Name / Position / Height / Hometown / Previous Team)

#3 Rowen Gresty / CB / 6-0 / Saskatoon, SK / St. Joseph High School
#6 Jackson Kovitch / MF / 6-1 / Tscan Ridge, SK / Ares PCSL/FVSL
#7 Dante Molina / CM / 5-10 / Garson, MB / REX Program - MMSL
#13 Mateo Figueiredo / CDM / 6-0 / Winnpeg, MB / West Kildonan Collegiate
#13 Tao Hein / F / 5-9 / Saskatoon, SK / Holy Cross High School
#14 Emett Rocke / F / 5-10 / Winnipeg, MB / Manitoba Rex, MSA
#15 Izyaan Khan / F / 5-11 / Calgary, AB / Calgary Foothills High Performance
#21 Jhoan Sanchez / MF / 5-7 / Prince Albert, SK / Prince Albert Celtic Soccer Club
#22 Kieran Behan / GK / 6-0 / Winnipeg, MB / Valour
#23 Ifeoluwa Adelakun / CB / 6-1 / Saskatoon, SK / Saskatchewan Excel
#24 Kobe Chilagan / CDM / 5-10 / Saskatoon, SK / Saskatoon Excel
#25 Olt Gashi / LB / 5-11 / Calgary, AB / MUSC U23 - CUSA
#26 Bahaa Dean El Hajj Abdallah / RB / 6-1 / Edmonton, AB / BTB
#32 Emmett Marcoux Stabler / GK / 6-1 / Saskatooon, SK / Holy Cross High School 
#42 Bruno Nunez Perez / GK / 6-0 / Saskatoon, SK / Sahara Scorpions - Saskatoon
 

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2025 FEATURED PLAYERS

FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS
#6 Jackson Kovitch / MF / 6-1 / 1st Year / Tscan Ridge, SK
2024 Stats: N/A

#8 Malcolm Rektor / MF / 6-0 / 5th Year / Calgary, AB
2024 Stats: 14 GP / 14 GS / 1 G / 1 A / 2 PTS / 8 SH / 2 SOG

#16 Alessandro Colado / MF / 5-11 / 3rd Year / Winnipeg, MB
2024 Stats: 8 GP / 5 GS / 4 SH / 3 SOG

The Huskie forward group will feature a collective approach on the attacking front in 2025, with a dynamic group of veteran and incoming midfielders driving the offence. Featured in the Huskie midfield is none other than incoming freshman Jackson Kovitch. A product of Tscan Ridge, Saskatchewan, Kovitch brings the habits and maturity of a player much older after playing in a professional environment prior to joining the Huskies. The 6-foot-1 rookie was recently a member of the Vancouver FC's U19 team where he got the opportunity to train with the club's first team. Prior to being with the Vancouver FC, Kovitch also won a national title in 2024 with the U17 Alliance. 

Joining Kovitch in the midfield is Alessandro Calado, a third-year stay-at-home midfielder who appeared in eight games last season, starting five, and provides a veteran presence while helping to build the spine of the Huskie squad. Alongside Calado is Malcolm Rektor who returns for his final year of eligibility after transferring to USask from the SAIT Trojans prior to the 2024 season. In his debut season as a Huskie, the Calgary product recorded a goal and an assist and proved to be reliable at driving offence from the midfield. An on-ball player who make those around him better, it should come as no surprise he was one of just three student-athletes to start all 14 matches in 2024. 
 

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DEFENCEMEN
#12 Luke Mackie / 6-2 / 5th Year / Saskatoon, SK
2024 Stats: 13 GP / 13 GS / 1 G / 1 PT / 7 SH / 4 SOG

#17 Sergio Molina / 6-2 / 4th Year / Garson, MB
2024 Stats: 7 GP / 5 GS / 3 SH / 2 SOG

Centrebacks Luke Mackie and Sergio Molina will once again be the pillars of the Huskie backline, bringing a veteran presence to a a defensive unit which has come together nicely through camp and the preseason. Together the pair bring over 70 games of U SPORTS experience to the defensive core, leading a group which continues to jell with each practice and commit to the tactical expectations of the team.
 

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GOALKEEPERS
#1 Jaron Slopinski / 6-3 / 4th Year / Regina, SK
2024 Stats: 10 GP / 10 GS / 3-6-1 / 4 SO / 15 GA / 31 SV / .674 SV%

A familiar face returns to the net for the Huskies in 2025 in goalkeeper Jaron Slopinski. The 6-foot-3 netminder is back for his fourth season as the Dogs starter and coming off a season in which he started 10 games, recorded a 3-6-1 record, and earned four clean sheets. Having come into training looking sharp, the veteran leader is sure to provide the Dogs with confidence in their final defender. 
 

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