Greedy among alumni back for nationals

Capers alumnus Ian Greedy known for scoring big goals over five seasons

SYDNEY — Cape Breton Capers fans knew when Ian Greedy was on the field there was a good chance he would find the back of the net for the men’s soccer program.

Over the course of his five years at Cape Breton University, the Halifax product was known for scoring key goals at timely moments of the game.

When he finished his Atlantic University Sport career in 2014, Greedy compiled 42 goals in a Capers uniform, an all-time record that still remains to this day for the program.

“My time at CBU was totally amazing,” said Greedy. “From the moment I got there, I felt welcomed and it was a special time in my life.”

Greedy, now 32 years old, was recruited to play for the Capers program by late coach Robbie Chiasson. He played with the team from 2010 to 2014 and found success along the way.

“It was more about how Robbie sold the program to me in my decision to go there,” said Greedy. “I knew that CBU was one of the only programs that had the bubble going up and I thought it was a good opportunity for me and it turned out it was.”

He won an AUS championship in 2012 and won bronze and silver medals with the team at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championship in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

In 2011, Greedy scored the lone goal in the bronze medal game in the 70th minute to lead the Capers to a 1-0 victory over the Alberta Golden Bears in Victoria, B.C.

FIRST NATIONAL FINAL

The following November, in 2012, the striker scored a pair of goals against the UQTR Patriotes in the national semifinal, lifting the Capers men’s program to its first-ever national final. Cape Breton

would lose in the 2012 national final to the University of British Columbia 1-0 in Laval, Que.

“Scoring those two goals is something I’ll always remember about my time in Cape Breton,” said Greedy. “It meant a lot to me at the time and it means even more to me now knowing that Robbie has passed and he’s the one who kept fighting for me to get there.”

His success on the pitch was noticed in Atlantic Canada and at the national level.

Greedy was the AUS rookie of the year in 2010 and was the conference’s most valuable player in 2013. He was also given four first-team all-star honours (2014, 2013, 2011 and 2010).

He also earned two CIS second-team all-Canadian honours (2011 and 2014) and was a first-team all-Canadian in 2013. Greedy is fifth on the AUS all-time scoring list in the men’s conference.

“I wouldn’t have been able to score the goals that I did without the team and the players around me,” said Greedy. “I like to think I helped contribute to other people scoring more as well.”

Following his time in Sydney, which saw him earn a bachelor of business administration degree, Greedy moved to Western Canada and settled in Calgary working as an avionics technician.

Greedy has since returned to Nova Scotia and lives in Halifax working in the production engineering department for a company that manufactures cables and harnesses for the military aerospace and defence sector.

He continues to follow the local soccer scene in the province and the Capers program.

“Just to see the amount of championships that they’ve won and the undefeated seasons and the players that have come and gone since I’ve been there is pretty spectacular,” said Greedy.

“The whole recruiting department and the number of players that Deano (Morley) was getting interesting in asking questions about CBU, it was probably easy for him sometimes because he’d have more players coming to him than him going for players kind of thing.”

ALUMNI RETURNING

Greedy will be among more than 75 soccer alumni who will be in Cape Breton this week when the Capers host the U Sports Men’s Soccer Championship at Ness Timmons Field in Sydney.

Mark Inglis, CBU development officer for alumni relations, said the university is happy with the interest from its alumni who have confirmed attendance for the tournament.

“These men represented five generations of soccer alumni and we’re thrilled to have them back on campus,” he said. “Nationals serves as a perfect backdrop for these passionate soccer alumni to reunite, highlighting an enduring camaraderie and shared love for the sport that continues to grow within our athletics community.”

Greedy acknowledged the importance of being part of the alumni celebration for nationals.

“I knew right away that I’d have to be there,” said Greedy. “It’s going to be good to connect with people who played before and after me and to see so many familiar faces, it’s going to be a great time.”

Cape Breton played UQTR in the quarter-final late Thursday afternoon but the score result was not available at publication time. A recap of the game can be found on the local sports section at saltwire.com/cape-breton/.

The national semifinal games are slated for 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. today. The bronze medal and championship matches are slated for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday.