With training camp less than a month away, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s soccer team has added a couple of top prospects. Head coach John Antulov and the WolfPack are pleased to announce that Cole Rosenlund of Port Coquitlam, BC and Cailum Etches of Romily, Stockport England have become the latest additions to the roster.
Rosenlund has recently graduated from Riverside Secondary School. He played youth soccer with Surrey United and is currently playing in the Fraser Valley Soccer League Umbro Premier men’s division with the Burnaby Firefighters.
The 5’11” Rosenlund is a centre midfielder. “ I chose TRU because it is a great school and I have heard many great things about it from WolfPack goalie Jackson Gardner (2nd year, Chilliwack, BC who was a youth soccer teammate). Being able to play university soccer has always been a dream of mine and getting to play for the WolfPack is a great opportunity that I am very excited for. It has a great coaching staff and the players are all at a high level, so it will improve my game.”
Rosenlund will be taking courses aimed at achieving a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Thompson Rivers. Soccer is in his blood. His late father Bobby Rosenlund played for the Canadian national team and the NASL New York Cosmos. His brother Tyler played for Canadian U-17 to U-23 squads and professionally in both Finland and Sweden before joining Toronto FC (where he has the distinction of being the first Canadian player to score at BMO field). Tyler also played NCAA Division 1 soccer and won a national championship with the UCSB Gauchos.
“My greatest strengths as a player is my physical play. Also, getting on the ball and keeping it so I say my passing and control of the ball, “he adds. Rosenlund was considering Alberta, UVIC and UBCO before deciding to come to school at Thompson Rivers. “Kamloops is a very nice city. The landscape is really nice and it’s cool how everything is nearby. TRU/Hillside Stadium is very impressive. I have heard they get lots of fans out to the games so that’s going to be super exciting playing in front of a big crowd.
Etches is six feet tall and also is a centre back. He attended Werneth School in England before signing with Oldham Athletic where he played two seasons. He was looking at Cape Breton, MacEwan and some U.S. schools along with Thompson Rivers.
“I have seen U SPORTS competition and was happy to see the competitiveness. I can’t wait to get started,” he said. “ I’ve spoken to Jan Pirrates (3rd year, midfield/defender, Barcelona Spain), Joshua Banton (3rd year, defender, London,England and Mitch Popadynetz (now alum, Nelson, BC) and they gave me great insight about the program. They spoke very highly about the school and the program.”
Etches believes his strengths are heading, tackling, passing, communication and reading of the game. He will be taking communications focusing on new media studies.”
Antulov has this to say about his two latest signings:
Calllum Etches
We are very happy to have Callum join our program. This is a great signing for us and gives us a massive presence on our backline. I was very happy when Deano Morley (Head Coach CBU) contacted me to let me know about this player. Losing Finlay left a big hole at CB and I felt it was a top priority to fill that hole with an excellent player that had high level experience. We have found that in Callum. He is what I would describe as an ‘old school’ center back. Very strong in the air, in the tackle, puts his body on the line, very vocal and a leader. With that he is very good with both feet and can lead our attack with a wide array of passing and accuracy. He will be excellent for our team culture and a leader in our program. He is a big addition for us and we are happy to have him!
Cole Rosenlund
We are very happy to have Cole join our program. I originally tried to recruit Cole to TRU last year but was unable to make it work. He took a year off and just recently decided to attend TRU this season. Cole comes from a storied soccer family in BC. I played against his dad, uncles (still have the scars on my body) coached his cousin at SFU. He has the Rosenlund DNA in his system and plays that style. He is a very physical and strong presence in the middle of the park but mixes that with the ability to play. He will have the diversity to play in different positions but his strength will be in the middle of the park. He will add a real component to the continued positive culture in our program and has the potential to be a leader on and off the park. He is a great addition for us and we are happy to have him at TRU!
Other confirmed recruits for men’s soccer are: Denzel Marican (5’9”, forward, Kamloops, BC- South Kamloops Secondary/TOFC), Ryan Matowe, 5’8” forward, Edmonton, AB-Grant MacEwan University/Edmonton Drillers AMSL), Adam Calne (5’10:, fullback, Kamloops, BC/St. Ann’s Academy/TJOFC), Jordano Pinto (5’11”, midfield, Vancouver, BC/Killarney Secondary/Rino’s Fury, VMSL), Ollivier Jumeau (6’0” keeper, Lancashire, UK-Carnforth High School/Morecambe, FC), Darupad “Dodi” Sharma (5’7”, wing/attacking midfield, Toronto, ON-David and Mary Thomson CI-West Virginia Wesleyan College (NCAA Div II), Ethan Furlong (6’0”, centre-back, Prince George BC/West Kelowna, BC-Mount Boucherie Secondary/TOFC), and Steffen Masaites (5’7”, fullback, Port Moody, BC-Burnaby Mountain Secondary/Douglas College (PACWEST)-Norvan F.C).
Training camp begins August 1st at Hillside Stadium.