Three University of Saskatchewan Huskies soccer players will suit up for Canada this summer at the University Games in Shenzhen, China.

Josh Northey and Jerson Barandica-Hamilton were selected for Canada’s men’s team for the second time, having previously played in the 2009 games; Daniela Fuenzalida was selected to represent the women’s team.

Northey and Barandica-Hamilton played for Canada at the 2009 games in Belgrade, Serbia in which Canada finished 12th out of 16 teams. It was no surprise that the pair were selected as two of the four returning players from the 2009 squad. Their superb seasons last year with the Huskies led the Dogs to their best-ever finish — a Canada West silver medal.

Northey, a midfielder from Saskatoon, was named a Canada West MVP and a Canadian Interuniversity Sport first team all-Canadian after starting 13 of the Huskies 14 conference games and putting up seven goals, five assists and 27 shots on goal. His 12 points were second in the Canada West conference.

Barandica-Hamilton, a Mexican-born forward from Saskatoon, was named a Canada West second team all-star for his performance last season. His 10 goals were the most of any player in the conference.

Fuenzalida, a midfielder also from Saskatoon, is the first Huskie to play on the Canadian women’s team in at least ten years. Like Northey and Barandica-Hamilton, she has experience playing on the international stage  — she played in the 2008 FIFA under-20 World Cup for the Chilean national team.

Her six goals and five assists in 14 games last season were second in team scoring and her .79 points per game landed her in third amongst Canada West competitors. She was named a Canada West second team all-star.

Fuenzalida joins a Canada team with nine returning players from the 2009 games and which hopes to improve upon its seventh place finish out of 16 teams.

The University Summer Games, most often referred to as the Summer Universiade, are a multi-sport international competition held every two years in which all competitors must be full-time post-secondary students between the ages of 17 and 28.

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file photo: Lesley Porter