When Viktor Gutierrez played with Team NWT's boys soccer team at the Canada Summer Games last month, he didn't know where he would be going for post-secondary matriculation.

After the Canada Summer Games ended, the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) made that decision for him.

The 18-year-old Sir John Franklin High School graduate is now a member of the UPEI Panthers men's soccer team after being offered a spot based on his Games performance in Winnipeg. He's now enrolled at the school, has been through team trials and even earned himself a full roster spot.

SA国际影视传媒淚 had no idea I was being looked at,SA国际影视传媒� said Gutierrez.

Gutierrez is perhaps best known as the player who scored the NWT's only goal in Winnipeg. He said the first clue he was being watched came after the team's game against New Brunswick, which made Gutierrez a hot commodity as three schools, including UPEI, took notice.

SA国际影视传媒淚's normally a midfielder but I asked Huw (Morris, head coach) if I could play striker that game,SA国际影视传媒� said Gutierrez.

After the Yukon game, two of the schools told Gutierrez he needed to improve on his skills but UPEI still had faith in him, especially after the NWT played P.E.I.

SA国际影视传媒淟ewis (Page, UPEI head coach) came and told me I had natural soccer ability,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淗e told me he would groom me and help me build into a good player.SA国际影视传媒�
From there, it was off to training camp, where Gutierrez was given a spot on the main roster and a running start to his post-secondary soccer career. He's one of five rookies on the team this season.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's a great set-up here,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淢ost of the guys are older but they're all really nice.SA国际影视传媒�
UPEI plays in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) and Gutierrez said the style of soccer down east is very physical.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's faster and more intense than the soccer I'm used to playing,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭here's a lot of pressure but the soccer is fantastic. I love it.SA国际影视传媒�

He said the soccer is so intense he was injured in a pre-season game against Holland College in the 'P.E.I. Derby' held on the island.

Nothing too serious, he said, although it did require a trip to the hospital.

SA国际影视传媒淚'm just lucky I was able to recover quickly and I won't have too much time off,SA国际影视传媒� said Gutierrez.

Soccer is something Gutierrez has always had a passion for; he's one of the lucky ones who gets a chance to do what he loves.

He figures one of the reasons he got looked at is because he hails from the North.

SA国际影视传媒淲e get a lot more opportunity because we have a small population in the North,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e get to travel a lot and that means a lot of people are watching us. We might not be the people the scouts come to watch at first but we make an impression. University soccer was always on the cards for me and I thought it would happen but now it's real and it's amazing.SA国际影视传媒�
Playing soccer professionally is Gutierrez's dream but if that doesn't happen, he's hoping to fall back on an education degree and become a teacher.

SA国际影视传媒淚've always loved working with kids,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚'd like to come back to Yellowknife and teach one day.SA国际影视传媒�

Gutierrez said he wants to be an example for other Northern youth and show them that they can make their dreams come true.

SA国际影视传媒淛ust because we come from the NWT, that doesn't give us a disadvantage,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hrough hard work and determination, the passion we hold for our sport can bring us success at any level.SA国际影视传媒�