U10 Coaldale Thunder continue impressive season with gold medal win

Sunny South News Photo Submitted. MEDALISTS: The U10 Coaldale Thunder continue their impressive first season, after winning the gold medal in the Family Day Classic tournament Feb. 14-17 in Calgary. In addition, Coaldale’s U17 Thunder came home with a silver medal and the U15 Thunder finished in third place at the same tournament that weekend. 

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

The U10 Coaldale Thunder FC is helping put the town on the map after another impressive win, clinching the gold medal with a 4-2 victory over the Calgary SWU (South West United) team in the Family Day Classic, Feb. 14-17 in Calgary.  

In addition, Coaldale’s U17 Thunder won silver and the U15 Thunder finished in third place in the same tournament that weekend. 

“It was a tough competition. Only the first (place) team in each pool got to (play) for the medals and we actually lost a game on our second day and we thought we were out and didn’t have a chance,” said U10 Thunder head coach Samantha McDonald. “Then on the Monday morning we ended up playing the top placed team in our group and we beat them … which pushed us on to the medal round. So we were very pleasantly surprised because we didn’t think we made it.” 

The Coaldale Thunder played a total of four games in the three-day tournament, one game each day, noted McDonald, adding the gold medal win was a full team effort with a never give up mentality. 

“These boys have such a good attitude. Even though they lost the one game, they came back and (said) we’re going to go out and we’re going to do our best,” she said. “They really work well as a team, they never turn on each other, they’re always supportive of each other and they’re just very driven.” 

They never complained and never let anything affect them and just moved on, she noted, focusing on taking their game to the next level, which helped secure their gold medal.  

“They’re already looking forward to the outdoor season together,” said McDonald.       

Tryouts for the outdoor season begin in March with regular play starting in mid-April. 

For more information or to register to tryout for the team visit http://www.coaldalethunder.ca.