Fraser Valley –– After a dominant first season on the TWU Spartans men’s soccer team, Jake Ruby (North Vancouver, B.C.) has been named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team.
The first-year defender made an immediate impact with TWU, starting all 16 regular season games and one playoff game.
As an outside back, Ruby scored three goals and added two assists on the year, placing him fifth in team scoring for the Spartans.
The distinction comes after Ruby was named as a Canada West Second Team All-Star alongside teammates Cody Fransen (Lynden, Wash.) and Caleb Johnson (Strathmore, Alta.), and conference All-Rookie honours along with first-year teammate Joey Seo (Victoria).
Ruby and the Spartans concluded the regular season with a 9-6-1 record, before falling 1-0 to Calgary in the Canada West quarter-finals last month (Oct. 26).
University of the Fraser Valley soccer players Bryana Buttar and Jehmrode Kahlon have been honoured as U SPORTS national all-rookie team selections.
Kahlon and Buttar – both part of the 2019 graduating class at Abbotsford Senior Secondary – made tremendous impacts with their hometown university during the fall season.
Buttar was the Canada West rookie of the year and earned conference all-rookie honours after helping the Cascades women’s soccer team to a CW playoff berth and a first-round playoff victory. The versatile midfielder finished third on the Cascades in goals (three) and points (five), while making an impact all over the pitch with her athleticism and competitive edge.
Buttar is the second Cascades women’s soccer player in three years to earn U SPORTS all-rookie honours, joining Harneet Dadrao (2017). She was also a finalist for the U SPORTS rookie of the year award, which went to Cape Breton’s Alliyah Rowe.
“It’s another great honour for Bryana, who showed her quality and her character throughout this season,” UFV head coach Rob Giesbrecht said. “We’re ecstatic as we look ahead to the role she’ll take on for us in the future as our team continues to build.”
Kahlon becomes the first Cascades men’s soccer player to be recognized as a U SPORTS all-rookie teamer. The midfielder showed his quality with the ball at his feet, finishing second on the team in points with four (two goals, two assists) and third in shots (17) in 13 games.
“It’s great to have one of our players recognized nationally,” Cascades head coach Tom Lowndes said. “It’s a big achievement and we’re very proud of Jehmrode. He had a very good rookie season, but I think there’s even more to come from him and I’m excited to see how he continues to progress in the spring and into next season.”
U SPORTS Men’s ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Pos. Name School Hometown Program
M Isaiah Johnston Cape Brton Milton, Ont. Community Studies
F Jacob Grant Memorial St. John’s, N.L. Business
F James Spence Saint Mary’s H. Plains, N.S. Arts
M Alessandro Bertacchini UQTR Laval, Que. Industrial Engin.
M Souleymane Camara Montreal Montreal, Que. Preparatory Year
F Simon Spénard-Lapierre Concordia Laval, Que. Finance
F Fadi Salback Ontario Tech Bowmanville, Ont. Software Engin.
D Moses Kafeero Guelph Ottawa, Ont. Mechanical Engin.
D Kyler Smalling Toronto Mississauga, Ont. Life Science
M Dane Domic Mount Royal Calgary, Alta Open Studies
D Jake Ruby Trinity Western North Vancouver, B.C. General
F Jehmrode Kahlon Fraser Valley Abbotsford, B.C. Science
