Joe Acorn said he had an easy answer for a moment heSA国际影视传媒檒l never forget as the founder of the Yellowknife Bay Soccer Club, better known as the Sundogs.

SA国际影视传媒淭here used to be an Edmonton city championship for underage girls,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 took down my underage girls. And we went down and thereSA国际影视传媒檚, like, 70 teams in this tournament and our little team from Yellowknife, a community of 18,000, won the Edmonton city championship. The best underage girls team in Edmonton that year was actually from Yellowknife.SA国际影视传媒�

That dates back to 2013, Acorn added. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a moment that shocked him, but also made him ecstatic.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 think the girls SA国际影视传媒� theySA国际影视传媒檙e only seven or eight years old SA国际影视传媒� they never quite realised the magnitude of what they actually did. But it was incredible for a little group from Yellowknife.SA国际影视传媒�

Now, the Sundogs continue to brighten peoplesSA国际影视传媒� day, operating year-round, for both youth and adults.

The youngest in the program is about 16 months, said Acorn. It marks the start of the SA国际影视传媒楽unpupsSA国际影视传媒� for the youngsters. Those now less than the age of five have their chance to play, too.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had some younger ones that were two and three whose parents just wanted to get them out,SA国际影视传媒� Acorn explained. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 basically an unstructured, uncoached program. So, we provide all the equipment and all the field time and parents can just come out and play with their little kids.SA国际影视传媒�

Acorn added that time is for having fun without having any pressure or any coaching. When theySA国际影视传媒檙e ready to move into the next, more advanced program for kids less than five, they can.

The clubSA国际影视传媒檚 next birthday is this coming summer and the name SA国际影视传媒楽undogsSA国际影视传媒� hits close to home, he added.

SA国际影视传媒淚 wanted something that reflected a little bit more of the fact that weSA国际影视传媒檙e from Yellowknife. And weSA国际影视传媒檙e in the North and Sundogs are something that you see in the Northern sky up here all the time,SA国际影视传媒� said Acorn. SA国际影视传媒淚 just thought it was great. I love the name.SA国际影视传媒�

As for the clubSA国际影视传媒檚 existence, it comes from the act of a parent first, and soccer fan second.

SA国际影视传媒淢y daughter was six years old, and there wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 a competitive development option here,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 wanted there to be a skill development competitive pathway for her and my son when he got a little bit older as well.SA国际影视传媒�

AcornSA国际影视传媒檚 daughter, Wren, didnSA国际影视传媒檛 keep up with soccer, making the move to speedskating instead. SheSA国际影视传媒檚 now in Montreal working with the national speed skating program, he said. Still, what matters are the experiences.

SA国际影视传媒淕etting involved in soccer just develops them, in terms of their ability to travel and expose them to other cultures, other places, things like that. And I think that, besides the sporting side of it, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 a really good benefit for the kids up here.SA国际影视传媒�

For Acorn, what matters now is legacy for this club.

SA国际影视传媒淚 want to be able to walk away from this and 20 years from now I want to see my grandkids playing and being a little sunpup,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 want this to last, I want this to be something thatSA国际影视传媒檚 enduring.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒擝y Devon Tredinnick