Ethan and Michael: The Goalkeeping Dream Team

Based on how many youth players requested player cards for these two the other weekend, you probably already know our men’s keepers! Meet Ethan Lunny and Michael Heppelle! This goalkeeping duo runs the NUFC Goalkeeping Academy and are our BCPL men’s keepers. 

Ethan Lunny and his fan club.

MEET MICHAEL

Michael Heppelle is not only NUFC’s goalkeeping lead and starting BCPL keeper, he is also the BCPL’s women’s goalkeeper coach! Talk about a dedicated athlete and club member! As NUFC’s youth goalkeeper lead, Heppelle plans all the academy “sessions and makes sure the sessions are the best fit for each age category. I do my best to provide a fun environment but also a place for players to get better individually.” For our older athletes, “I’m giving them sessions that I’ve experienced to become a better goalkeeper. Lots of repetition and high intensity drills.”

I want to make Nanaimo United a hub for goalkeeper development - make Nanaimo United known for always having great goalkeepers. My ultimate goal is to be a coach that really understands them. Goalkeeping is a super unique position. We have a different mindset than outfield players. We tend to get more nervous and even scared sometimes. And I understand all the feelings that they might have so I want to be a guy who every goalkeeper is reaching out to before games!

Michael’s passion for goalkeeping started in grade 5. At the age of 15, he left his home town of Kamakura, Japan to attend Shizuoka Gakuen - a boarding school with one of the highest level soccer teams and programs in the country. Out of the ten keepers at the school, he was selected as the routine starter. “After that I came to Canada and I was not planning on playing soccer anymore but my father insisted that I keep playing.” Michael switched his position to outfield for his VIU career and while at Nanaimo United. “For this year, I switched my position back to my real position - goalkeeper.”

Michale Heppelle

What's your favourite part about being the women's goalkeeper coach and a BCPL player? Why did you decide to take on both roles?

My favourite part about being the women’s goalkeeper coach is working with high level goalkeepers that challenge me with questions that I really have to think about. It’s been really awesome working with Kaiden - she is super coachable!

My favorite part about being a BCPL player is that my academy kids come to home games and cheer for me.  It means the world to me and gives me a reason to play in this league. 

The keeper kids at the academy love you! They refer to you as Mikey and wanted your autograph so badly the other week at the game. What's your favourite part about working with NUFC's youth keepers?

My favorite part about working with them is how honest they are. If the session is engaging and fun, they respond really well — and if it’s not, you can tell right away. It keeps me on my toes and pushes me to constantly improve as a coach. It’s also great to see kids coming to watch home games, and when I play well, it gives me more credibility and influence as a coach when working with them.

MEET ETHAN

Ethan Lunny is a grade 12 Dover student and one of Michael’s goalkeeping coaches. Ethan has not only coached at NUFC’s goalkeeper academies, he has refereed, coached summer camps, volunteered at an adaptive soccer program for folks in the diverse needs community and played recreational, REP, adult and now BCPL level soccer for the club. He’s been with the club for 13 years. “I’ve really enjoyed being involved in different parts of the club and helping younger players develop their love for the game.”

My favourite memory playing for NUFC was the club night this April. I did not play in the game, but the atmosphere at Merle Logan was very special. The crowd was enthusiastic and although we didn't win, the team battled hard.  It was a full-circle moment for me seeing all the kids I have coached come to our game to cheer us on. When I was younger, my dad would take me to watch League 1 BC games almost every weekend.  It is really meaningful being in the shoes of those who I used to watch. 

As a high school student, what made you want to play in the BCPL?

I want to play in the BCPL because it is the highest level of play available to me. Playing with university players, alumni and ex-pros is amazing for my development, going into my last year before I begin to play university soccer myself.

You are playing for VIU next year - how are you feeling about transitioning into university sport and how do you think the BCPL is helping with that transition?

I am really excited to play for VIU this year. Transitioning into university sport is definitely a step up in terms of intensity and expectations but the BCPL is an amazing help with getting to that level. It is also great to meet and play with so many of my future VIU teammates as so many of them play for Nanaimo United in the BCPL. 

Catch Michael and Ethan in action this weekend at our BCPL home game. They kick-off on Sunday May 31 at 3 PM. The women play first at 12:30 PM. 

Buy tickets here!

See you at the stadium - let’s cheer these lads on!