Kenora Miner and News-July 15th/04 Tournament is the jewel of local soccer season

                                                                                                                   By Peter James

It's the showcase event for men's soccer in Kenora and with an ultra competitive league this year all eight local soccer teams will be gunning for glory this weekend.
"The tournament is what everyone looks forward to every year," said Hap's Men's Soccer League president Peter Manicone.
The tournament, which begins with action Friday night, features all the local teams plus eight visiting teams. The Dryden Drillers are the only other Northwestern Ontario team, with the rest of the field coming from Manitoba and beyond.
Manicone said the tournament is so popular among our western neighbours that he had to turn away about a dozen teams this winter.
"Our tournament has become a huge success," he said.
This year the league has separated their tournament with the one hosted by the Casey's Women's Soccer League.
Manicone said it allows for all the games to be played at the soccer complex.
In the past the organizers have opened the tournament up to Manitoba teams in first division and lower, but due to changes in the way the Manitoba Major Soccer League operates, this year they've decided to limit it to second division and below.
Winnipeg's Juve (3-5) is the only second division team coming. They'll be joined by the Spitfire F.C. (7-1-1), the top team in the third division. Both Stonewall United and the Cork &Dock Lions are also coming from the Manitoba League.
The field is filled out with two entries from the Brandon league, Minnedosa and Remington's Hotspur. The final team is The Smoke, a group of former Dryden players who are re-uniting from across the country to play in the tournament.
The competition may be stiff from visiting teams, but don't be surprised if a local team takes home the trophy again.
"We're a (recreational) league, but we still have some pretty good calibre teams," Manicone said.
The Solid Construction Stingers have been the premier team in recent years and are the defending tournament champions, but they'll be in a dog fight if they want to repeat.
The Casey's Spurs have jumped out in front of the pack in the standings with a 5-1 start to the year, but they're trailed closely by the Sure Thing Centuries (4-0-2) and the Plaza Fury (4-2-2).
Manicone said the face of men's soccer is changing with the introduction of younger teams.
"Traditionally the stronger teams would scout the high school teams and bring in the top players," he said.
Now this year, teams like the Rite-Way Playaz (1-7) are breaking the mould and creating their own team of recent grads.
"The talent of these players now is amazing," Manicone said.
The first team to do that are the Wiley Point Royals (3-3-2), last year's league finalists. Manicone said that team has really come together over the years and is now a force in the league.
"The popularity of the sport has gotten bigger and better," he said.
Fans who want to catch the action can stop by the field beginning at 5:15 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday.
The playoffs begin at 8 a.m. Sunday, with the championship final slated for 4 p.m. All the games are at the Brinkman Road soccer complex.