Men's Futsal Huskies claim seventh ACAC futsal championship

For the seventh time in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) history, the Keyano College Huskies Men’s Futsal team is at the top of the podium. 
 
The Huskies claimed their league-leading seventh title on the home court at the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre Sunday evening with a 7-3 win against the SAIT Trojans, dethroning the 2022 champions in their bid for a repeat.  

“When I came here two years, there was a lot of work to do,” said Head Coach Niels Slotboom. “There was not a whole lot of a team after COVID. We took some pretty big steps and this year was a big one right from the beginning, a really successful outdoor season.  
 
“The boys kept going at it and getting better, kept getting closer. This is the crowning moment of it; some rewards for the work that they’ve put in.”  

Hafid Arellano and James Bartha each scored twice with Arellano scoring his pair in the first half and Bartha striking twice in the second half. Cleisson Anklam, Ottys Ondon, and Joshua Fitzpatrick also found the back of the net in the historic win.  

“To be honest, I’m very happy,” said Anklam following the win. “The whole group deserved it. It’s a nice feeling, especially with all the boys around, all the fans that came to support us.  
 
“It’s an amazing feeling.”  

The win was a culmination of a 3-0-1 weekend for the Huskies that started with a 4-4 draw against the Trojans, followed by an offensive surge that saw them outscore their opponents 27-7 through the final three games.  
 
“I don’t think there’s a better way of leaving it all behind,” added Slotboom of his senior group, who got to enjoy one last victory at home to close out their ACAC careers. “They have a little bit of a legacy that’s going to be here forever and a lot of the seniors that were here, they haven’t had that taste yet.  
 
“It’s a great way for them to finish it.” 

While all programs go through change, the time from the program’s last futsal championship in 2019 is remarkable, with an entirely new roster leading the charge to the top this year.  

Anklam, Bartha, and goalkeeper Corbin Cyprien were all named to the First All-Star team for the tournament.  

“We worked pretty hard during the week,” continued Anklam. “We knew how hard it would be for us to get the gold. We knew the quality of all the teams that were coming to play and we did the job.  
 
“We’re the workers; we deserved it more than anyone else.”