THUNDER BAY - The Lakehead Express (LEX) soccer club has been operating in Thunder Bay for the last 23 years, but now, as they've just become affiliated with the largest youth soccer club in the world, Rush Soccer, LEX will now be known as Superior Rush FC, effective immediately.
“For the last 23 years, LEX has continually worked to find ways to improve the soccer experience for our membership. We feel that the affiliation with Rush Soccer is the next step in that evolution. We’re really looking forward to developing the brand in Thunder Bay and growing the club,” said Amy Rubino, Superior Rush FC board of directors president.
“This new era for LEX speaks to the commitment to the players and providing opportunities in the city of Thunder Bay, by creating a more defined pathway for our players as they progress into adult soccer with professional teams at the top of that pyramid.”
The club formerly known as LEX had been looking for affiliation for some time and they almost partnered with a professional club in Spain a few years ago, but talks fell through, they then continued to search until they found Rush Soccer and technical director Rob Pasqualino says it was a perfect fit.
“Eventually this came to be in front of me and it matched up with all our values, the fact that it was the largest youth soccer club in the world helped obviously, just the exposure that our players and coaches can have,” said Pasqualino.
“It just skyrocketed from there and it was a great fit for us. And the biggest thing is, this affiliation is going to provide for our soccer community, the player development pathway and there’s also the huge component of the coach development pathway as well.”
With Rush Soccer being the largest youth soccer club in the world with 110 clubs in 48 countries, it will add tremendous development opportunities for players and coaches, along with new opportunities, including travel across North America, potentially into Europe to play at significantly higher levels than they are capable of providing in Thunder Bay.
This coming outdoor soccer season starting in April will kick off the Superior Rush experience and will be the first test for the team as they will hopefully be taking their talents to a bigger stage.
