The Huskies add an out-of-province commit to their Class of 2017.
The Saint Mary’s Huskies most recent commit, Mitchell Mackett, a defensive back and kicker from St. Ignatius High School, had a natural talent for the game it seems.
Mackett’s career is young to say the least. Having been undecided on a school to pursue for a soccer scholarship, he went back for a fifth year. On a whim, he tried out for the senior football team and fell in love with the sport immediately.
“Having enjoyed watching football in the past, the opportunity to practice each day and develop on the field was a fulfilling transition from being a goalkeeper on the pitch for the Thunder Bay Chill PDL/Reserve Program,” he said, having only played football for one season.
“Starting at defensive back and kicking allowed me to further enjoy the opportunity to play and support my teammates,” he added. “Following our team’s win at the OFSAA Simcoe Bowl this past fall, (it) added even more to the excitement and desire to continue to play at a higher level.”
And that’s when Saint Mary’s came knocking. “SMU appealed to me right away on my visit,” Mackett said. “It was a perfect fit, I believe, both academically and athletically for me. Since the first time I met and spoke with Head Coach Colzie and Assistant Coach Tufford, I have been impressed with their commitment to details to all the aspects of the game.”
Hailing from Thunder Bay, Ontario, the 6’4, 195lbs athlete played as a cornerback, free safety and kicker for the St. Ignatius Falcons (Superior Secondary Schools Athletic Association). He will be pursing an International Development Studies degree.
“It will be a great pleasure to be part of the history that the Huskies program has developed over the years,” Mackett said. “The city of Halifax is a beautiful place and I can’t wait to take in more sights and sounds while I am here.”
Although his football career is in its infancy, he has won a 2016 OFSAA championship and a SSSAA city championship. That year, he also won a silver medal in the USA Cup U19 Soccer Championships. The year before, he took home a gold medal at the U18 edition of the USA Cup. In 2012 and 2013, he won back-to-back SSSAA city championships in soccer.
While he will always have a love for soccer, it will soon be time for Mackett to focus all his efforts towards football. “I am looking to forward to furthering my development under Coach Colzie and his staff while demonstrating the pride to be a Huskie both on and off the field,” he said.
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