(TORONTO, ON) U Sports Canada has announced that Miles Pinsent, head coach of the UNB Varsity Reds men’s soccer team, will lead Canada in men’s soccer at the 2017 Summer Universiade, in Chinese Taipei.

The 29^th World University Summer Games are set for August 19-30, in Taipei City.

Pinsent is in his 14^th season with the UNB Varsity Reds men’s team. A three-time Atlantic University Sport Coach of the Year(2003, 2012, 2013), Pinsent was also named U Sports Coach of the Year in 2012. He has led the Varsity Reds to success in numerous seasons, including a bronze and silver medals at the CIS Championship in the 2013 and 2015 seasons respectively.

Assistant coaches, team leader and medical staff will be announced at a later date.

“What an extreme honour it is to be selected to lead Canada’s men’s soccer team at the 2017 World Universiade Games in Taipei,” said Pinsent, who led the UNB Varsity Reds to three-consecutive AUS titles from 2013-2015, and looks to continue his success on the Universiade level. “I have dedicated the past 15 years of my professional life to Canadian university sport so it is exciting to have the opportunity to coach our country’s top student-athletes as they challenge themselves against the best from around the world.”

At the 2015 Summer Universiade in Gwangju, South Korea, the Canadian men’s team finished in 13^th out of 16 teams.

The all-U Sports Canadian roster for the Tapei City Games will be announced at a later date.

CANADA’S ALL-TIME UNIVERSIADE RESULTS IN MEN’SSOCCER:

2015 (Gwangju, South Korea): 13^th / 16 teams

2013 (Kazan, Russia): 7^th / 15

2011 (Shenzhen, China): 9^th / 16

2009 (Belgrade, Serbia): 12^th / 16

2007 (Bangkok, Thailand): 4^th / 16

2003 (Daegu, South Korea): 15^th / 16

1995 (Fukuoka, Japan): 16^th / 16

1993 (Buffalo, USA): 16^th / 16

1979 (Mexico City, Mexico): 12^th / 24

Canada did not qualify for the Universiade men’s soccer tournament in 1985, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2005... Following its debut in 1979, men’s soccer wasn’t part of the Universiade program in 1981, 1983 and 1989.

About the 2017 Summer Universiade

The Universiade is an international multi-sport competition that takes place every two years. The event, which is second only to the Olympics in number of participating athletes and countries, is open to competitors between the ages of 17 and 28 in the year of the games who are full-time students at a post-secondary institution (university, college, CEGEP) or have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the year preceding the games.

The 2017 Summer Universiade will feature 14 compulsory sports and seven optional sports. Compulsory sports: athletics, basketball, fencing, football (soccer), artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, diving, water polo, tennis, volleyball, judo, table tennis and taekwondo. Optional sports: archery, badminton, baseball, golf, roller sports, weightlifting and wushu.

Official website: http://www.taipei2017.com.tw/