SOCCER back
By John Kavcic
In the spring of 1962, the first soccer team had its start by training
in local parks. After some exhibition games, they entered the very
competitive Toronto and District League “Fourth” Division
the following year. In the first three years of its existence, all
of the players on the SSC were Slovenian immigrants and we eventually
progressed from “Fourth” to the “Second”
Division. To reach the elite “First” Division in T&D
we needed to recruit additional players which came from other ethnic
backgrounds. This move paid such dividends that in three years,
the club became a member of the “First” Division and
was very successful playing there for a number of years. The team
won several tournaments and league championships. The highlight
for our soccer team was to attain a second place in the distinguished
Ontario Cup competition.
To accommodate all of the players, a “B” team was formed
which successfully competed in a lower division. Our numerous trips
over the years to Slovenia for friendly games and tournaments added
special value and heart-felt memories for its members. In total,
the Senior Soccer Team traveled four times to Slovenia. Our last
participation was in the “Inaugural International Soccer Tournament
for Expatriates” held in 2002.The Junior Soccer Team was also
given the opportunity to compete in Slovenia on one occasion.
Many club players are by now very familiar with the geography of
Slovenia, having played there from north to south, east to west
at the following locations : Ljubljana (4), Skofja Loka (4), Bistrica
(3), Novo Mesto (2), Nova Gorica, Ajdovscina, Izola, Ravne, Ruse,
Store, Ljutomer, Jerenina, Moravce, Jarse, Crnomelj, Vrhnika, Grosuplje,
Kamnik, Menges, Jesenice, Ribnica, Sl. Gradec, Brezice and also
in Klagenfurt (Austria), Trieste (Italy) and Onionta (USA). We achieved
excellent results in all these competitions, including a third place
finish in the very competitive “International Tournament for
Expatriates.”
The current soccer team (2007) consists only of players born in
Canada of Slovenian heritage. For the past few years, this team
has been competing very successfully in Metro Toronto Soccer League
and continues the SSC (soccer) record as the oldest established
amateur soccer team in Toronto and Southern Ontario.
The SSC “Tradition” continues…
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HOCKEY
By John Kavcic
The first SSC hockey team was formed in the early winter of 1961
and after a few practices entered the C.Y.O. League representing
at that time Our Lady Help of Christians (Slovenian Church). We
played in the C.Y.O. League for three years and won the league championship
twice. Part of our early success was due to the capabilities of
a few second-generation players on the team. Three years later,
we entered the highly competitive M.T.H.L. Senior Industrial League
where we played a number of years while training for our future
trips to Slovenia (then Yugoslavia).
In December 1966, the team took its first trip to the former Yugoslavia.
This trip was followed by additional trips in 1968 and 1970. At
all of these tournaments, we played against Yugoslavia’s best
six hockey teams from Jesenice, Ljubljana, Celje, Zagreb and two
teams in Belgrade, the Partizan & Red Star. It must be said
that our accomplishments were praise worthy. Part of the credit
also goes to a few Canadian players that were enlisted to help complete
our team roster for the trip. Our success was such that some of
us were offered to stay and play for the above mentioned clubs.
A few players took this opportunity and remained behind.
In 1978, SSC formed a “Junior- All Star Team” which
enlisted 12 and 13-year-old boys of Slovenian descent who played
in different select leagues throughout Toronto. This team traveled
to Slovenia (Yugoslavia) in December 1979 for a hockey tournament.
The trip was repeated in 1982 with essentially the same players.
On both occasions, the team competed against the best Slovenian
junior teams, as well as teams from neighboring Croatia and finally
the Slovenian National Junior Team. Our young players displayed
courage, discipline, some amazing skills, tenacity and endurance
with vibrant Canadian spirit. Our results were incredible. The memories
that these young players carried home with them from Slovenia are
endeared in their hearts to this day.
Some of these players,
many of whom were sons of the members of SSC, eventually played
with the Slovenian Senior Hockey Team in the local recreational
non-contact leagues. At times there were as many as five Slovenian
hockey teams playing with one predominant team, which was a mixture
of veterans and young players that stayed together for approximately
15 years. This team won a number of championships and participated
at different tournaments throughout Ontario as well as a few in
Chicago, USA. At present time there are still two teams playing
in the league.
The SSC “Tradition” continues…
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