Nelson’s Mitch Popadynetz helped Team BC’s men’s soccer team to a silver medal at the Canada Summer Games on Saturday in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
Coming into the men’s soccer tournament seeded eighth, Team BC exceeded expectations by making it to Friday’s semi-final against Team Ontario.
Popadynetz was the hero for Team BC, scoring the only goal of the game and pacing his side to the 1-0 lead and berth in the final.
In Saturday afternoon’s final Team BC was matched against a strong Team Quebec side that had the hometown crowd behind them. Though the west coast squad battled hard, Quebec proved too much capturing the gold with a 2-0 victory.
Popadynetz, who plays midfield, led Team BC in scoring in the tournament with two markers.
The former Nelson Youth Soccer standout will now head back to BC where he will prepare for training camp with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. The 18-year-old committed to the Vancouver-based UBC earlier this summer and is one six rookies to be added by the defending national champions.
Popadynetz grew up in Nelson and attended Hume Elementary, Trafalgar Middle School and L.V. Rogers. The 5’10” midfielder left the community in Grade 10 to pursue soccer at a higher level in Maple Ridge.