If you have had the pleasure of watching the magic footballing skills of local Nakuspian, Nate Hawe, then it will come as no surprise to learn that he has been signed by Thompson Rivers University to play for their men’s league soccer team, the Wolfpack.
Hawe has just completed his graduation year at Nakusp Secondary School where he was a key member of the Cougar soccer squad and was awarded the Jim White soccer MVP trophy.
An active player outside of the school league, Hawe was scouted during his play with Thompson Okanagan F.C. (TOFC) in the U18 High Performance League. After the final game of the season, Hawe was approached by Wolfpack coach, former Vancouver Whitecap player, John Antulov, and offered a position on the TRU team.
Hawe, along with a fellow TOFC teammate Finlay McPhie, represent the seventh and eighth player selections Antulov has made since taking over coaching duties.
August will find Hawe matriculating to Thompson Rivers to participate in the pre-season. He will enroll in a Bachelor of Arts program there.
A footballer since the age of four, Hawe has harbored a love for the game and has two uncles that played “almost professionally in Scotland.”
His passion hit its stride at the age of nine when Hawe was exposed to the glory and the grandeur that is World Cup soccer.
“I remember I didn’t really watch a lot of soccer, but when the 2006 world cup was on, I started watching a lot of that and my favorite players like Ronaldinho. I learned a lot from watching him,” he explained.
Hawe began his skills development in the Nakusp minor soccer league where “there were a lot of good times.” Then, when his passion exceeded the opportunities within the village, Hawe began to seek additional chances to play the game outside of Naksup.
“When I was 11” Hawe recalls, “I started driving to Revelstoke to play Rep soccer there for two seasons, then I moved up to Salmon Arm to play four seasons, and then finished with Thompson Okanagan F.C.”
Jason Thompson, head coach of TOFC U-18 speaks highly of Hawe and applauds his success stating, “Your job as a coach is trying to get a player to the next level, and Nathan has done that.”
Thompson identifies Hawe’s “soft feet” and game sense as his greatest assets and “can’t wait to see him in a TRU uniform.”
This season Thompson Rivers University soccer program will be upgrading its league to participate in Canada’s highest level of competitive university soccer, Canadian Interuniversity Sport, Canada West.
In the 2013-14 season the Wolfpack dominated their previous league, the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) and participated in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Soccer Nationals where they earned a silver medal.