Morning Star Staff/SFU Athletics
Vernon’s Victor Gouchee once volunteered to play goal as a newbie in Pee Wee House hockey. He was incredible, earning MVP and leading his team to the North Okanagan championship.
He’s played soccer longer and is also a natural in net with acrobatics and quick reflexes.
Gouchee, who graduates from Fulton Secondary next Friday, has signed to play for the Simon Fraser University Clan next season.
He just finished a Rep season with the Thompson Okanagan under-18 team in the B.C. Soccer Premier League. He was coached by James Thompson.
“I was looking at UVic (Victoria Vikings) and the University of Windsor (Lancers), but once SFU talked to me, I made up my mind. They were one of my top choices,” he told The Morning Star.
He receives a $500 scholarship to start as he takes general studies. That number doubles depending on how much he plays.
“Victor is a big body that has a lot of the intangibles that you cannot teach a goalkeeper,” said SFU head coach Alan Koch.
“He has good size and is a physical presence in goal. He has come a long way as a goalkeeper and I am excited to see how far he can push himself under coach (Clint) Schneider’s tutelage. He adds to a list of great players to come from the interior to SFU, including in recent times, Carson Gill and Joel Malouf.”
Gouchee is a veteran of two B.C. trials and has trained at the Sporting Lisbon Academy in Portugal.
“I was attracted to SFU because of the great soccer program,” said Gouchee. “Playing in the NCAA has always been a goal and being able to stay in Canada is a great factor as well. Being from a small town, I wanted to live in a city atmosphere as well. I’ve also heard lots of great things about the SFU academics so that definitely helped my decision with knowing I can get a great education while still playing soccer.”
Gouchee also won a bronze medal at the Keele Cup in England and has competed at the B.C. Summer Games.
“I would describe myself as a hardworking, positive and very vocal goalkeeper with a will to learn. I like to control my back line. My goal for next season is to play a role in helping SFU to yet another title.”
The keeper also excels in the classroom as an honour roll student.
Gouchee, who turned 18 on Friday, will join the Clan in August as the team gets training camp underway in preparations for the 2014 season.
He was born in Vancouver and moved to Vernon at age four, starting soccer in the Li’l Kickers program.
The Clan earlier signed striker Justus Hogback (Lidkoping, Sweden).
“Justus is an elite level striker,” said Koch.
Hogback comes from the same club as Johannes Hallman of the Clan.
“SFU attracted me because of the great education and the great soccer program,” said Hogback.
“The two back-to-back final four appearances in the NCAA Tournament tells me SFU has something going on. Also I’ve heard that the city of Vancouver is beautiful.”
He won a division three championship with Lidkoping FC in 2013 and was the IF Heimer top goal scorer in 2011, with 11 goals in 20 matches.
