Sudbury Cyclones preparing for return to professional soccer

Professional soccer returning to Sudbury The Sudbury Cyclones professional soccer team will kick off a new season next week after an absence of more than 40 years.

Players and coaches on a new sports team in northern Ontario are making the most of their final days of practice and training.

The Sudbury Cyclones professional soccer team will kick off a new season next week after an absence of more than 40 years.

The team of 25 players is getting in last-minute training as the coaches provide some final direction during practice at the Lancer Dome.

The players have only been together for a couple of months.

“Right now we’re just working on how we want to play … our playing style,” said forward Timi Aliu.

“A lot of guys are not from Sudbury. We’re from North Bay, Nipissing, Algoma — it’s a northern team. So we’re all just trying to get to know each other and build that chemistry through team practices and trying to find out the playing style that works best for us.”

The previous Sudbury Cyclones club operated in the late 70s, but shuttered in 1981.

This re-imagined team was first announced last summer by Sudbury Wolves Sports and Entertainment as a way to grow the sport and the northern fan base.

Mid-fielder Nico Patenaude said some people may think soccer is boring.

“But it’s one of the most exciting sports that you can watch,” Patenaude said.

“I say just give it a chance. It might not be as frantic or as (exciting) as a hockey game for the Wolves, but soccer could be just the same thing, like when you get to those last dying minutes when it’s 0-0, the excitement is still there.”

“There hasn’t been this type of men’s talent all in the same room, all at the same time in 30-40 years,” said assistant coach Evan Phillips.

“All the local clubs are extremely excited. They get (pro soccer) in their own backyard. The kids are excited. So we just we want to go out there and make the community proud, and show that we mean business.”

As a way to help connect with new fans, the Sudbury Cyclones will hold a meet-the-team party this weekend at a restaurant downtown.

The first game kicks off April 20 at the James Jerome field in a matchup against London.