Over the years, Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's soccer coach John Antulov has made every effort to sign the region's top local players.    Antulov has added another to the fold for the upcoming Canada West season.

Antulov and the WolfPack are pleased to welcome Ethan Furlong to the fold.  Furlong will join the team for their training camp in August.  The six foot tall center back will be graduating this June from Mount Boucherie Secondary in West Kelowna, BC and currently plays for the Thompson Okanagan Football Club's U-18 squad.  Furlong is from Prince George, BC and billets in West Kelowna in order to play with TOFC.

"The reason I chose TRU is because it is the perfect fit for me," says Furlong, " I have a place to stay at my grandparents and I am not too far from home. There are a lot of good defenders on the team and coach John is very familiar with my position which will help me in my development.  As well, the team is very strong and the school has the right academic program for me."

Furlong will be taking courses aimed at achieving a Bachelor of Science degree.  He was also investigating options at UNBC, Fraser Valley and Alberta before deciding to come to Thompson Rivers.

Furlong's head coach at Boucherie the last three seasons has been Tony Gonzales. " From day one, Ethan has played with a lot of confidence and skill, and as a consequence, he was a starter on the senior team in grade ten.   He continued to develop into one of our team leaders throughout high school. However, I can't take much credit for any of his skill development. High school soccer is short (generally two months a year), I attribute his growth primarily to his training with the Thompson Okanagan FC."

Furlong was the co-captain and captain of his high school squad the past two seasons, winning the regional "AAA" division going undefeated. Boucherie then lost in the Okanagan Valley finals. 

Gonzales adds, " Ethan  is passionate about soccer and is motivated to succeed. He is confident, skilled, a great teammate and better leader. He is not a prototypical center back as he is of slight frame and height. He does possess the skill and abilities but to improve he has to become physically stronger."

Furlong knows he will have to step up his game in order to compete at the USPORTS level.  " I know the pace of play is very different than what I am used to. It will require a lot of hard work and experience to get used to playing at a higher level."

He is looking forward to becoming involved in the WolfPack's community activities. " I think it is important to be a role model in the community because it develops a good character. In the past, I have volunteered to help coach youth soccer teams."
The transition to the WolfPack for Furlong will be made easier because two of his long time teammates with TOFC—Denzel Marican and Adam Calne—also committed to Thompson Rivers.
TOFC general manager Kai Tolpinrud praises Furlong, " Ethan's dedication and drive to succeed in his soccer career led him to uproot himself from the comforts of home in Prince George and relocate to the Okanagan in order to play with Thompson Okanagan FC of the BCSPL, the highest level of youth soccer in BC. This speaks volumes about Ethan and his desire to be the best he can be. I can't help but believe he will have a successful soccer and educational career at TRU."

While his current head coach David Broadhurst adds, "Since taking over the head coaching role for the 2001 TOFC boys team it was clear that Ethan was a natural leader. His work ethic, commitment and overall attitude has been outstanding and it was a no brainer to make Ethan the captain of the team.

His performances are always consistent and he makes limited errors as a defender. Ethan will be a great addition to the TRU WolfPack and I wish him all the best for his future and look forward to seeing him performing at the U SPORTS level."

Says Coach Antulov about his latest recruit, "We are pleased to have Ethan join our program.  He is a player that I have been actively watching and recruiting for over the last year and a half.  He has been playing in a solid team with an excellent coach and has really developed his game.  He is a solid no nonsense center back that I believe can really develop into a very good player for our program and U SPORTS.  He keeps his game very simple.  He is a very good defender 1v1 first and foremost, his positional play is very solid but he also very good at building the ball out of the back and plays a very simple, good first ball out of the back.  We look forward to playing and developing with our solid group of returning players."

Besides Furlong, Marican and Calne, other committed recruits for the 'Pack this fall are: Ryan Matowe, 5'8" forward, Edmonton, AB-Grant MacEwan University/Edmonton Drillers AMSL), 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),  and Darupad "Dodi" Sharma (5'7", wing/attacking midfield, Toronto, ON-David and Mary Thomson CI-West Virginia Wesleyan College (NCAA Div II),
 
CORNER KICKS:  Gonzales has this anecdote as a testament to Furlong's character, " I don't think Ethan knew this but  during an injury in his final year, I saw him training alone on several occasions at a soccer field near my home. He wasn't allowed to train with the team but his commitment, dedication, and desire for the sport he loves was evident and to me, very impressive. I have enjoyed my time coaching Ethan. He is very well-mannered and respectful but truly loves his soccer. If only they were all like him!!"