Technically, it all seemed like a normal set of practices and exhibition games, with a chance to be seen by the Major League Soccer squad’s coaches and scouting staff.
But then an invitation showed up. And Cushway found out he had been selected for the U16/17 Boys MLS Academy residency in Saskatoon, a major soccer development program founded by the Whitecaps to further the growth of the sport in Saskatchewan and beyond.
“It’s a pretty cool opportunity,” Cushway said. “Moose Jaw soccer coach Aleksandar Bijelic just said I should head up there and show what I could do, and I had no idea that it was all about this residency academy. It was almost like a normal practice, I got to meet other kids and they knew it was a major tryout and everything, but it wasn’t that much different to what I’d been in before.
“There were a lot of good players there, so it’s cool to be chosen for this.”
The Boys MLS Academy is very similar to what one would find at sport school hockey academies, only fully dedicated to the Beautiful Game: a maximum of 20 players are selected, receiving four intense practice sessions a week to go along with a full slate of eight to 10 games in the provincial soccer league, a full schedule of 20 games in the men’s Indoor 9v9 Premier Division and five Saskatchewan Soccer Association games. This year, the Academy is also taking part in an eight-day tour of Portugal as well as the Whitecaps Prairie Showcase.
Unfortunately, the notification came a little too late for Cushway to join the academy this season, as billets couldn’t be found in time for the coming school year.
“I was very excited and honoured, but unfortunately I just couldn’t accept,” Cushway said.
That means another season of play and development locally with an eye for next season in Saskatoon. To that end, Cushway plans to play futsal with JJ Soccer over the winter in addition to looking to lead the Central Cyclones to a repeat city championship as well as a crack at a provincial title when Moose Jaw hosts the 4A high school championships this fall.
Cushway is plenty aware of the potential playing for Academy could bring, even possibly leading to a professional career.
“That’s hopefully what I’m looking forward too, but I’d also like to be seen by university coaches and hopefully have a back-up plan for schooling and all that,” he said.
The Moose Jaw high school soccer campaign kicks off on Sept. 7, with Cushway and the Cyclones taking on the Peacock Tornadoes in their season opener at 10:30 a.m. at VLA field.
