Sports in brief: Valour Football Club continues to build roster

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This article was published 25/02/2019 (2726 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Valour Football Club continues to build roster

International talent won’t be lacking when Winnipeg’s new professional men’s soccer team takes to the pitch this spring.

Valour Football Club has signed Belgian goalkeeper Mathias Janssens and Croatian midfielder Josip Golubar to multi-year contracts.

Janssens, 20, comes to Valour from RAAL La Louvière of the Belgian Football League’s Third Division.
The keeper spent the previous two seasons (2016-2018) playing with Waasland Beveren’s reserve team in the Belgium Pro League.

Golubar, 33, will come to Valour from NK Varaždin (Croatian Second Football League) where he’s played since 2017.

“Josip has played over 200 matches in the top division in Croatia and over 400 professional games,” Gale said. “He is a key signing for us, bringing his wealth of experience to a new team and a new league and we are delighted he has chosen to join Valour Football club.”

The first game of the Canadian Premiere League will happen April 27 in Hamilton, Ont., when Forge FC plays York9 FC. Valour FC will play its first home game Sat., May 4, against the visiting FC Edmonton.

Bison hockey players make Canada West all-star teams

The University of Manitoba was well represented on the Canada West conference U Sports women’s hockey all-star teams, with three members of the Bisons making the cut.

Both Erica Rieder and Lauryn Keen were named first-team all-stars, and Alexandra Anderson was named a second-team all-star.

Rieder, 22, finished the regular season as the leading scorer in Canada West among defencemen (four goals and 13 assists). The team captain also marked a team-high +27 in plus-minus, fourth overall and first among defencemen.

The all-star recognition is her third consecutive selection in her fifth year with the Herd.

“Erica has asserted herself as one of the top defencemen in our conference year after year and I am happy that she has been recognized as such,” Bisons head coach Sean Fisher said in a statement.

Keen, 22, was also one of the conference’s top scorers in her fifth year with the Bisons.

The forward was previously selected to the first team in 2016-2017 and earned an all-rookie selection in 2015.

She finished the season with 13 goals and 13 assists, both team-highs for Manitoba and fourth in Canada West. Her five power play goals tied the conference lead, while her +16 plus-minus tied for seventh in the conference.

“Lauryn had an outstanding year on both sides of the puck,” Fisher said. “She was a threat to score almost every shift and played a terrific 200-foot game. I’m really looking forward to what she brings come playoff time.”

Anderson, 22, also had an outstanding season in her fifth year as a defenceman with Manitoba. She had five goals and 10 assists — tied for third in the conference for defencemen scoring. Her +21 plus-minus rating was second among defencemen and fifth overall in Canada West.

Red River Rising announces executive

Valour Football Club’s unofficial supporters group has elected its board of directors ahead of the team’s inaugural season.

Red River Rising held its annual general meeting in early February and elected the following people to executive positions:
• President: Nicky Cottee;
• Vice-president: Christopher Raposo;
• Treasurer: Adam Johnston; and
• Secretary: Kyle Gilson.

Red River Rising was founded in January 2017 with the objective of growing soccer support in Winnipeg and creating an atmosphere that inspires the team and the community. 

For more information about the supporters group, visit redriverrising.ca