Hosting the nation’s best

Hurricanes land Canadian men’s championship in 2018

The Holland College Hurricanes will host the best men’s collegiate soccer teams in the country in 2018.

The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) named the college as the host for the eight-team tournament on Wednesday. Vancouver Island University is hosting the 2017 championship in Nanaimo, B.C.

“We were pretty excited,” Hurricanes athletics director Albert Roche said Wednesday night. “I think soccer is one of those sports where homecooking counts.”

The Hurricanes have won three straight Atlantic titles, with the only blemish on their record being a tie in each of those seasons. Holland College has won five of six and six of the past eight conference titles.

Holland College has represented the region six times at nationals, with its best finish being second in 2011. Roche credited coach Jonathan Vos for building the strong program and expected Wednesday’s news to help the team continue to remain a powerhouse.

“We’ve never shied away from producing a team that can compete at nationals and this is just a little more fuel for the fire,” he said. “It’s good ammunition for us to use on the recruitment trail, too.”

Holland College has become the host institution for national events amongst Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association schools, welcoming men’s volleyball in 2015, women’s volleyball in 2016 and both golf and men’s basketball during the 2016-17 academic year.

It hosted women’s soccer in 2012 but has never had men’s soccer.

“Holland College has earned the reputation for hosting excellent CCAA national championships,” said David Munro, CCAA men’s soccer convenor. “The Holland team has developed a successful formula and they’ve succeeded in creating memorable and unique experiences for our studentathletes.”

The site for the Nov. 7-10, 2018, championship has not been determined.