Members of the Howe Sound Men's Soccer League (HSMSL) are organizing an all-star team of local players and challenging the Quest University Kermodes to a "friendly" match to be played on Quest's turf field.The all-star team's creation was spurred by remarks made by Quest's head coach Adam Day after pulling his team out of the HSMSL after week two. Day was quoted in The Chief saying the level of competition is "not that significant for us that it's worth the money."HSMSL players like United FC's Richard Collins feels the comment insulted the local soccer community and he is gathering some of Squamish's top players in an attempt to set the record straight, he said."It chokes me that they say there's no quality soccer in Squamish," said Collins. "I'll put a team together that will bash them 10-nothing."Day said he is more than happy to accept the challenge, but wants to make it clear that he didn't mean to offend the soccer community with his explanation for leaving the league. "I think the guys in the league have jumped on the bandwagon and took it as disrespectful comments against them and the league and the whole setup. It wasn't intended for that [] It was purely a compliment to my players that they're too good for this level," he said after beating Canex 5-1 in a friendly game on home turf Saturday (Oct. 4)."We've played three out of five sides and won convincingly on each occasion. It's not arrogance on our part, it's not ignorance toward the league neither. It's a fact where we stand and I'll be very much excited to get the all-star game up at Quest."Day added that he doesn't want to create an "us or them" attitude because, at the end of the day, everyone is representing Squamish. He said he also sees local youth soccer as an important foundation for the future of Quest's soccer program."We want a program that not just Quest can enjoy but the football community in Squamish - and there is a good one here," he said.Meanwhile in Saturday's rainy game versus Canex, Kermode Dustin Wallington scored three goals and Davis Wallington potted two goals to lead Quest to a 5-1 victory. Mark Hoffman scored for Canex, which was missing key players who were in Vancouver with the Vancouver Metro Soccer League's Squamish FC.Day said Canex is the best HSMSL team they've faced so far."It came down to the fitness level," he said. "We grind them down very quickly and on top of the fitness we have the quality as well."The only HSMSL teams that haven't played Quest are Ellis and Lil'Wat. Day hopes to arrange a game with Ellis soon. He projects the Kermodes will play another 10 to 12 more games in the next six weeks, which is more than enough required for their British Columbia Colleges' Athletic Association (BCCAA) demonstration season.
