First Game of 2026 + Meet Jonathan Mckenzie

Here we go! NUFC is off to the mainland today for their first 2026 BC Premier League games. Their opponents: Langley United FC. The season kicked off on Thursday with both the TSS women' s and men’s teams defeating Burnaby FC, and the Vancouver Rise and Whitecaps Academies securing wins against Kamloops FC. Follow our match live on the PSLC MatchDay app.

Featured: Kaiden Thorpe. Did you know that Kaiden, our women's goalkeeper, has been around since day one? She has been the women's keeper since our first season in the league.

This season, two of our men’s players are on double duty - Michael Heppelle and Jonathan Mckenzie are not only rostered as players, but are also contributing to the club as Premier League coaches. Heppelle is our women’s goalkeeper coach, and Mackenzie, who grew up playing soccer in Nanaimo, is one of our women’s assistant coaches. 

Jonathan Mckenzie, last season, in action against Unity FC.

MEET JONATHAN MCKENZIE

My time as an athlete:

I'm excited to return for another season with the NUFC BC Premier League men's team. This will be my 4th season with the team. Last year I took on more of an assistant coach role, but for this season with the men's side, my focus is on bringing some experience to a young squad and supporting wherever the team needs me most as a player. I grew up playing soccer in Nanaimo, and am proud to represent the club as a long time veteran. I started playing with the NUFC division 1 men's team in 2009.

Why I wanted to contribute as a coach on the women's team: 

Right now I am pursuing coaching opportunities, and am working on my certifications through CONCACAF. As I (slowly) have been transitioning from a player to the coaching world, I saw helping this year's women's team as a great opportunity to develop my craft, and to work with the top players from the island. Right now, I am currently an assistant with the VIU Mariner's men's team, co-head coach of the NDSS soccer academy, and will be next year's 2010 BCSPL girls head coach. I believe that working with the BC Premier League women's team will help me grow as a coach, and is a chance to learn from a really talented and dedicated group that I know will be very competitive in the league this season.

Coaching and teaching at NDSS: 

I'm one of two head coaches in the NDSS Soccer Academy, and also teach physical & health education at NDSS right now. I love being a teacher and coach in Nanaimo. I've been very lucky to be able to work with young athletes through the programs at NDSS and have seen many graduates go on to play at high levels all over the country. Working with students and young athletes as my day job has helped to prepare me for the challenges of coaching on the soccer field. There is a lot of crossover between the two worlds, and I'm very thankful that it's something that I get to do each and every day. It also doesn't hurt that I'm on my feet and very active throughout the day, keeping me (somewhat) fit to continue playing!

OPPORTUNITIES FOR NANAIMO UNITED AND THE REGION

We're excited to have Jonathan with us this season. He's a great example of the kind of player and person that is involved in the club and helps illustrate the opportunities that the BCPL provides! We hope you’re as excited as we are to get the season started and we'll see you at our home games. Stay tuned for more player profiles throughout the season.