NAIT international athletes shine as the seas​o​n closes

International blood runs deep in the NAIT athletics program. In the 2018-2019 season alone, the institute welcomed 19 athletes from across the globe representing various teams on campus. Many of which were some of the brightest stars and elite players on their respective teams. The international athletes thaty come to the polytechnic bring an added benefit of diversity and a will to win.

International stars

Here are just a few examples of the elite international athletes that had a major impact for their teams this season.

• Verča Kuželová from Prague, Czech Republic (Women’s Hockey)- ACAC Women’s Hockey Player of the Year and Top Scorer of the Year.
• Brendan Jensen from La Granada, California (Men’s Hockey)- NAIT Men’s Hockey Silver Torch Award(Team MVP).
• Cristian Lima from Carapicuiba, Sao Paolo (Men’s Soccer)- ACAC All-Conference, NAIT Men’s Soccer Rookie of the Year.
• Yuri Akatsu from Yokohama, Kanagawa (Women’s Soccer)- ACAC All-Conference.
• Mitch Lewington from Perth, Western Australia (Men’s Volleyball)- ACAC North Player of the Year, CCAA All-Canadian.

NAIT athletics manager Jordan Richey knows exactly what these unique athletes are bringing to the table each and every season.

Our international student-athletes at NAIT are very impactful. From an All-Canadian Mitch Lewington from Australia. To players of the year and leading scorers in hockey with Verča Kuželová. We have several elite international student-athletes at NAIT.

Jordan Richey, NAIT Athletics Manager

Countries from all over the world are being represented right here in Edmonton. But how do athletes from around the globe end up here in YEG? What makes someone from a country like Australia end up at NAIT? Just like a book, every international athlete has a unique story for how they became an Ook.

Becoming an Ook

No one person has the same process of becoming an athlete at NAIT. Depending on different circumstances and recruitment processes, many different avenues can result in a person becoming an Ook.

Here are the three most common ways that an international athlete can end up playing sports at NAIT.

1. The pipeline– A very common way that an athlete from another country can become connected at NAIT is through another person. Possibly someone that is playing a sport at NAIT or had in the past. This is another reason that quite often two people from the same destination can end up on a team together.
2. Special agents– Athletes from other countries often use agents that reach out to schools or teams in a certain area they have interest in. These agents work directly with the athlete and the teams abroad to find a fit that suits both parties.
3. Canada grown– International athletes don’t always come directly from other countries right to NAIT. In many cases, the athletes have already spent time or are residing in Canada, making the transition much easier.

The transition

If you’ve ever been to a foreign country before, you know what it’s like to be submerged into a culture that isn’t what you’re used to. Even if it is going from Canada to the United States, learning the ways of life can sometimes be tricky. This process can become even more difficult when the language being spoken is different.

“Usually the biggest challenge is language. In the sports environment, there is always communication needed and if somebody doesn’t speak English, then there’s always challenges there,” said Richey.

Natsumi Kurokawa, a forward for the NAIT Women’s hockey team, knows the struggle that can come with moving to a new country. When Kurokowa first joined the Ooks in 2017, the Japan native struggled to communicate with the rest of the team.

“My first year, I couldn’t even speak English at all. I could speak it a little bit. But this year, I think I improved my English skills so I can speak to teammates a lot,” said Kurokawa.

Kurokawa also mentioned the immense strides she has taken learning English as a second language at NAIT. Since coming to the school, she has gone from not being able to speak the language at all to a level four out of six.

NAIT also ensures that international athletes feel as comfortable as possible when coming to the school by working with them on aspects of life such as education, diet and basic living.

Strength in diversity

Coaches love having international athletes on their team for many reasons. Quite often, these athletes can bring a certain unique aspect of their game to the table that someone who joined the team locally may not have. Not only that but having a more culturally diverse locker room can often bring a team closer together.

“Teammates like playing with international players because it’s different. Different culture, different language. It’s just a unique experience to play with an international student-athlete,” said Richey.

Kurokawa was to the point when asked how she has grown with her team since coming to NAIT.

We are like a big family.

Kurokawa on the relationship she has with her team.

Where in the world?

Countries from all over the world were represented this past season in NAIT athletics. But how far does it really spread? Take a look at this map to see some of the faraway places a few NAIT athletes are from.

What’s to come for NAIT athletics?

Although NAIT athletics have come to a close with the end of the calendar season, many of the teams are set to begin their new seasons coming up in August. Head to a game in the upcoming season and see some of the star-studded international talent NAIT has for yourself. For complete schedules upon their release, visit the NAIT Ooks website.