Huron Expositor, 2007-12-05, Page 12Page 12 The Huron Expositor • December 5, 2007
Greg Remijn, formerly of Seaforth, named
Ontario college soccer player of the year.
Jennifer Hubbard
A former St. Anne's student is
making a name for himself in the
provincial and national world of
college soccer.
Scoring 11 goals in eight games,
Greg Remijn, formerly of Seaforth,
was recently named the Ontario
Colleges Athletic Association's
(OCAA) soccer player of the year.
"I was quite surprised. I lost the
provincial scoring title on the last
day of the regular season, with a
one goal difference, and didn't real-
ly expect to win anything at all,"
Remijn said.
"It felt great to get rewarded for
all the work I have done over the
last few years."
A third -year striker and captain
of the Fanshawe Falcons, Remijn
led his London-based team to a 6-2-
1 record and its first championship
appearance since 2004.
Fanshawe coach Paul
D'Hollander wasn't surprised by
the OCAA announcement, however,
highlighting Remijn's impressive
1.3 goals per game average.
"It's pretty unique to score in
every game and the fact that Greg
can do so is a credit to him. We
turned to him as a team for leader-
ship and he responded,"
D'Hollander commented.
And with just six returning play-
ers on a 22 -member roster,
Remijn's leadership played a key
role in the Falcons' success this
season, the coach added.
"From a coaching perspective, it's
been a pleasure to have the oppor-
tunity to have Greg
on our team He
exemplifies the
qualities we look
for in an athlete."
Remijn scored
Fanshawe's only
goal in the team's
1-0 victory in the
quarter -final
round match up
against Durham.
At the provin- D'Hollander recelNC UilC V
cial tournament, / national awards The former Eagle also credited
Fanshawe lost 5-0 during a champi- St. Anne's basketball coach Bill
onship banquet in Halifax. Holton as being "one of the better
in the semi-finals to host — and
2006 champion — Algonquin Remijn is the 20 -year-old son of coaches I've ever had."
College. In shard -fought battle in Nico and Wilma. The family lived "I really learned about the men-
the bronze medal game, the in the Netherlands before moving tal side of sorts from him," Remijn
Falcons fell to Seneca 1-0 after a to Seaforth in 2002. added.
"golden goal" in overtime. "I tend to lose my head some -
Despite his
team's final plac-
ing, Remijn was
named a
Canadian
Colleges Athletic
Association
(CCAA) all -
Canadian, an
OCAA all-star
and finished sec-
ond overall in
league scoring.
He was one of
many Ontario
athletes to be
honoured at the
2007 soccer
championship
banquet held in
October.
"Greg is a very
humble person.
He certainly
would put team
goals ahead of
any individual
g o a l s,"
D'Hollander said.
"And, as much
as he is an
accomplished
individual on the
field, his accom-
plishments off
the field, acting
as an ambas- Greg Remijn, recently named Ontario College Athletic Association's
sador for his pro -
ball -handling skills during a game with the Fanshawe Falcons.
gram and the col- graduated from St. Anne's in
lege, are exemplary. He works hard 2 Hee.
and that rubs off on his team- Getting an early start in the
mates."
Nationally, Remijn was recog- sport of soccer, Remijn began play-
nized as the CCAA's ing with his first club team in the
soccer athlete of Netherlands at the age of four.
the month in Locally he has played with
October. He was Mitchell, London United and the
nominated by the St. Columban Shamrocks men's
OCAA for the team.
CCAA men's soc- "I definitely believe my first year
cer player of the of men's with St. Columban really
year. helped me improve my game," he
And while he explained.
did not earn the "Youth soccer is very much differ-
all-Canadian
iffer-
all-Canadian ent than men's. I was only 17 years
title, Remijn did old when I joined and I feel I
f 11 learned to get tougher."
It's pretty unique to
score in every game •
and the fact that Greg
can do so is a credit
to him,'-
Fanshawe College coach Paul
• Fanshawe Atntetic0photo
soccer player of the year, shows his
times. By playing basketball and
having him as a coach I think I def-
initely learned to play smarter."
Remijn's parents have since
moved to Alberta, but he continues
to live in London while attending
college. He plans to complete
Fanshawe's post -graduate business
administration marketing program
this spring.
Next year, he hopes to attend
university to obtain a degree in
business administration.
"Career -wise, I'm not quite sure
where I will end up," he said.
"I still have a lot of school ahead
of me, and there area lot of differ-
ent things I can do..."
With two years of eligibility left,
Remijn said he will be considering
soccer programs when selecting a
university for next fall.
• "Greg's a determined young gen-
tleman and I'm sure he'll be suc-
cessful in whatever he pursues,"
D'Hollander added.