How a west Edmonton high school project became a citywide league

By Tyler Loutan

EDMONTON — What started as a trial between two west Edmonton high schools has become a citywide indoor soccer league that showcases some of the best competition in Edmonton’s public high schools.

“I did it for kids to have fun,” said former Jasper Place high school soccer coach Rey Hegerat, one of the founding members of high school indoor soccer in Edmonton.

Rey Hegerat, along with Bill Nyskiw, former principal of Archbishop MacDonald Catholic School, began the league in 2001 as a trial. The two coaches were looking for a way to give students the opportunity to play soccer in the winter.

“It started as a ‘fun’ league because it was a public school playing a private school,” Hegerat said. “But we made sure we did things right and made a 32-page book of rules and conduct.”

The response to the league was overwhelmingly positive. Over the next two years, the league acquired 13 teams and three separate leagues of senior boys, junior boys and senior girls. However, the league grew too large, too fast, for only two men to maintain.

“It was hard to run three leagues, get referees and volunteers, as well as coach my own team,” Hegerat said. “Coaching indoor and outdoor took up most of my year and it just became too much work.”

Hegerat turned the league over to the Edmonton Public School Board in 2003, where Scott Sinclair took over the league. The league became for Edmonton Public high schools only, the three leagues became one, and indoor soccer became a co-ed sport.

“The students were very receptive to the change,” Hegerat said. “The boys and girls all knew each other from soccer leagues outside of school, and this was their chance to play with and against each other.”

Sergio Teixeira, current indoor soccer coach of Jasper Place High School, attests to the level of competition the boys and girls have brought to the league.

“You get to see the absolute best players in this league because you’re getting the top guys and the top girls,” Teixeira said. “The league is phenomenal, it’s some of the best soccer in the city.”

While some issues remain in terms of getting referees on time for 4:30 games, or schools having room to staff an indoor soccer coach, the indoor soccer league has gained strength every year with stronger and more level competition from each school.

“I never thought the league was going to be as big as it is,” Hegerat said. “I’m proud of how the league turned out, but seeing the respect and camaraderie from all the players and the competition they bring is what I’m most proud of.”

The Edmonton Public Schools indoor soccer league kicks off its 10th season on Nov. 2.