Huitema offers an early peek at Canada’s future
Coach compares 15-year-old to Sinclair after an impressive debut at the senior level
For Jordyn Huitema, it was 41 unforgettable minutes. For Canadian soccer, it could be the beginning of something special.
The 15-year-old forward from Chilliwack, B.C., made her senior debut Wednesday in Canada’s 1-0 Algarve Cup final loss to Spain in Sao Joao da Venda, Portugal.
Huitema became the thirdyoungest woman to play for Canada, behind only record-holder Kara Lang and Jessie Fleming, who were also 15.
It is distinguished company. Christine Sinclair, the face of Canadian soccer, didn’t make her senior debut until 16.
At five foot 10, Huitema (pronounced Hite-ehr-marr) has size and is one of the fastest players in Canada head coach John Herdman’s talent pool. She also has a knack for goals, as shown Wednesday.
“Jordyn nearly scored on her first touch,” Herdman said. “Starting in the Algarve Cup final — it was a big moment for her.”
“It was amazing. The best moment in my life probably so far,” Huitema said.
Huitema started the game, giving way as planned late in the first half after the Spanish strategy of pressing the Canadians began to fade.
“At first it was very nerve-racking. But it was such an honour to step on the field with the women that, when I was younger, I looked up to. And being surrounded by such amazing people, it was just an honour to represent my country,” Huitema said.
Her scoring chance came on a cross from the right side.
“I couldn’t quite get in front of the defender for it. It was very close,” she said.
When Huitema left the field, she was replaced by her idol, Sinclair.
“It was very amazing,” Huitema said.
The teen, who has been developing with the Vancouver Whitecaps elite girls’ program for two years and managed to squeeze in international soccer during spring break, is returning to Grade 10. And then?
“Keep striving to improve in soccer and hopefully, come back into this environment,” she said.
Huitema, one of seven teens on Herdman’s Algarve Cup roster, was 13 when she attended an under-15 talent identification camp. Since then she has taken part in a dozen or so national youth team camps or international tournaments, including the U-17 World Cup.
“She’s one of the closest things I’ve seen to Sinclair — so no pressure on the kid,” Herdman said dryly. “As a youngster, I’ve seen those qualities of Sinclair — the touch, the movement — in people like Janine Beckie. But from what I’ve seen of Jordyn, she’s got the goal-scoring ability and the sort of height and size and presence that you associate with Christine on the field.”