Osgoode’s DeDekker named USports soccer Academic All-Canadian

St. Francis Xavier University has announced that Osgoode’s Damian DeDekker has been named a 202122 USports Men’s Soccer Academic All-Canadian.

DeDekker, who is in his second year at St. FX studying for his Bachelor of Science Human Kinetics degree, played in 11 of 12 games as a defender for the X-Men during the Atlantic University Sports season. He had to sit one game out after collecting his third yellow card of the season.

The St. Francis Xavier Department of Athletics honored its U SPORTS royals continues from page 22

The Canadians outshot the Royals 16-5 in the first period, but goalie Mavric Welk only gave up an early goal to Kai Nicholson. The Royals had a successful but lengthy penalty kill after Michael Bernier took a minor for slashing combined with a match penalty for grabbing the face mask.

Even though the Royals were outshot 16-8 in the second, they levelled the score at 1-1 when Leo Kluchert scored from Giulio Carulli and Drew Russett.

In the third period, the Royals finally found their legs and had their best period in a few games.

Tyler Cutts broke free for an unassisted goal to put the Royals ahead 2-1. He then set up Dylan Rorwick for his 25th goal of the year, with Tyler Hames also earning an assist. With just over a minute left, Jackson Dallaire scored a shorthanded insurance goal from Ryan Sullivan.

Royals lose battle for first place

It was a battle for first place in the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s martin Division Sunday, Jan. 15 as the Embrun Panthers travelled to Richmond to face the league-leading Royals at the Richmond Memorial Community Centre.

Rather than putting

Academic All-Canadians Tuesday morning at their annual celebratory breakfast.

DeDekker earned Academic All-Canadian honours for being among the studentathletes who have achieved an 80 per cent average or above while consuming a year of eligibility competing for a varsity team.

“Celebrating a long standing tradition of excellence in the classroom is a major highlight for all of us at STFX Athletics,” commented St. Francis Xavier Director of Athletics & Recreation Leo MacPherson. “Being named an Academic some space between the Royals and the rest of the pack, the Panthers got off to a strong start thanks to their power play and then locked it down for a 4-2 win.

The win moved Embrun into a tie with the Royals with 41 points atop the standings. The Casselman Vikings are right on their heels with 40 points. The Royals are 2-2-1 so far in January.

As was the case on the previous Sunday in an overtime loss to the Ottawa West Golden Knights, penalties again cost the Royals.

Just over a minute into the game, high-octane forward Tyler Cutts was called for interference. The Panthers took advantage with their first power play goal of the game, coming from Keyshawn Francis.

Later in the period, Dylan Rorwick of the Royals took a hooking penalty, and then Cutts was given a double minor for spearing. The Royals caught as break about 30 seconds after Rorwick’s penalty ended, as he netted his team-leading 26th goal of the year shorthanded from Jackson Dallaire.

The Panthers, still on the power play with a double minor, went to work. Cameron Grant scored a power play goal to give Embrun a 2-1 lead. The Panthers continued to press offensively,

All-Canadian is a remarkable achievement given the dedication and commitment to their respective sports and requirement to manage multiple priorities as studentathletes.”

DeDekker, a graduate of St. Mark High School in Manotick, played competitive soccer with the West Ottawa Soccer Club before heading to Nova Scotia to play for St. FX.

In the summer, DeDekker played club soccer for the Suburban FC men’s team in Nova Scotia. Suburban FC won the Nova Scotia provincial championship in Au- and added a third goal as Noah McDonell made the score 3-1. It was technically not a power play goal as it came three seconds after Cutts stepped out of the penalty box.

The Panthers took a 4-1 lead early in the second as Juno Gregoire scored 30 seconds into the period. The Royals started to press offensively, and they made the score 4-2 on a goal by Reid Johnston from Robbie Disilvestro and Leo Kluchert.

In the third period, the Panthers went into lockdown mode. Embrun forwards used an aggressive forecheck and the Royals struggled to get the puck out of the their own end. On the few occasions when they did, Panthers defencemen Connor MacDonald and Riley Findlater threw up a brick wall and goalie Aidan Foley was flawless.

The Royals had a big chance to get to within a goal midway through the period when Cutts was awarded a penalty shot. Cutts failed to score, but two minutes later, Royals forward Giulio Carulli had a breakaway for the Royals but was denied by Foley. Moments later, Embrun’s Yanick Blanchard had a breakaway and was hauled down. He was awarded a penalty shot. Richmond goalie Gabe Arrigo made the save to keep the score gust, with DeDekker scoring a goal in a 2-1 win over Halifax Dunbrack SC in the championship game.

DeDekker did not attend the breakfast where he was honoured as an Academic All-Canadian, as he did not want to miss his class.

4-2.

The Royals ended the game with nearly four minutes of a man advantage. Marshall Drevniok of the Panthers was sent off for hooking with 3:54 left to play. The Panthers penalty kill continually cleared the puck and then bottled the Royals up in the neutral zone. The Royals then pulled Arrigo for nearly two full minutes of six on five, but could not score.