Swarm nets $1,000 for Families of Kids with Cancer fund

The Nickel Centre Subway Swarm had plenty of reasons to celebrate last Saturday.

Not only did the U8 mixed minor soccer team cap off a highly successful season, capturing their divisional championship, but the boys and girls also found time to give back, for a cause, during the summer of 2013.

The Swarm presented a cheque for $1,000 to the Northern Ontario Families of Kids with Cancer fund, using their soccer skills to lend a helping hand — and foot.
"Our coaches put us in and every 10 goals we scored, the people who signed how much money they would give us, then they would give us that money," said seven-year-old Blake Rosener.

"We walked around our neighbourhood and asked people, and we went to my grandpa and grandma's house, to my neighbours," Rosener added. "The people were really nice."

Thankfully, the team had plenty of talent on their side.

In addition to the goal scoring that often came courtesy of Owen, Carter, Deakon, Joe and Blake, the Swarm also did a great job of holding opponents at bay as well.
"The girls (on the team) like playing in net," said Rosener.

"We would switch goalies, but all of them are super good."

The generous donation was just part of the festivities last weekend in Falconbridge as the Nickel Centre Minor Soccer Association wrapped up a summer of outdoor fun.

A barbeque courtesy of M & M Meats, games and raffles and activities for kids of all ages were intermixed with a full day of soccer matchups, with all of the end-of-year hardware being distributed.

While Rosener admits that he's been fortunate to be on some very good teams in three of his four years of summer soccer, this particular Swarm group excelled at a variety of aspects of the game, including passing.

"When no one is blocking a guy, or when someone is open, or when someone is in front of the net, that's a good time to pass them the ball," he said.

The 2013 edition of the Nickel Centre U8 Subway Storm included Allison Legault, Riley Lafantasie, Isabelle Leahy-Libroiron, Hunter Findlay, Joseph Pagano, Lia Pagano, Blake Rosener, Noah Bangs, Deakon Lanouette, Owen Turner, Brady Boucher, Mackenzie Shannon, Carter Grenier and Hayley Wood.