KAMLOOPS – The Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's soccer team and head coach John Antulov are excited to announce the commitment of talented forward Kyle Hansen for the 2022-23 season.

"Absolutely we are excited to add Kyle, not just for this next season but for the next five years up here at TRU," said Antulov. "Being able to get players like Kyle to choose Thompson Rivers University has been good for us. He plays a position that we are looking for and that we are in need of next year, while also giving us that depth and talent level that hopefully will make us a really strong side."
 
A product of Burnaby, B.C. Hansen is a 6-3 forward that describes himself as a creative player that likes to create goal-scoring opportunities.
 
"I really like the total package that Kyle brings together from his: size, strength, footwork, touch on the ball and I think he can be multi-faceted in regard to being that target guy but also able to work himself off a defender," said Antulov. "Obviously James (Fraser, who graduated as the third-leading scorer in program history) is going to be a pretty tough act to follow, but we're hoping Kyle can progress to what James was for us."
 
Currently playing his club soccer with Columbus FC, Hansen has also spent time with the B.C. Provincial system, the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency Program as well as the BCSPL, shining at every level along the way.
 
 "I chose TRU because of the soccer program, as well as the academic and athletic support it provides on and off the field," said Hansen.

Hansen will join a TRU side that is coming off one of the better seasons in program history, going undefeated through their opening six games and qualifying for the Canada West playoffs for the third consecutive season.

A U-16 provincial champion with Fusion FC, Hansen will join a growing number of players from the Lower Mainland on the WolfPack roster when he comes to TRU, and it was future teammate Elijah Dos Santos who got the ball rolling.

"Kyle has obviously played at a good level with the Whitecaps Residency Program but also in the BCSPL, so he's played at the highest levels in Vancouver," said Antulov. "His recruitment started with Elijah Dos Santos putting Kyle into contact with me and it's just kind of gone from there." 

Hansen and the WolfPack have already booked their tickets to the biggest tournament in Canadian university sport in 2022 when the U SPORTS National Championship comes to Kamloops from Nov. 10-13 inside Hillside Stadium.

Kyle Hansen
Position:  Forward
Height: 6'3"
Hometown: Burnaby, BC
Club Team: Columbus FC
 
Achievements
•U17 San Diego Surf Cup Finalist (8 goals in the tournament)
•U16 Fusion FC Provincial Cup Champions (2 goals, 4 assists)
•U15 Vancouver Whitecaps
•U14 Vancouver Whitecaps
•U14 BC Provincial Soccer Team
•U14 MUFC, BCSPL Provincial Cup Champions