Diogo Raposo – Sporting & High Performance Director
Diogo Raposo has recently been appointed a new senior role within CBSC as Sporting Director. Diogo will be providing the Technical Leadership and Coaching Staff with ongoing leadership and oversight in order to achieve the Club’s strategic and operational objectives including but not limited to planning and execution of the CBSC Player Pathway, identifying and attracting highly qualified and experienced coaches to the club, enhancing our Coaching Development Pathways and High Performance Stream, creating parity within our Soccer Programs and implementing a comprehensive Integrated Support Team (sport science, sports medicine, performance analysts etc.).
Under his leadership, he has led countless athletes to their collegiate goals, succeeded in multiple provincial competitions, led the Edmonton Internazionale SC U18 Girls to a Canada Soccer Club National Championship in 2016, the overall 2006 AYSL Female league title in 2021 and most recently has led our U17 Girls to a bronze medal in the Canadian National Championships this season. Through these accomplishments he has been a champion for development excellence and an advocate for Fair Play and the Blizzard organization as a whole.
Diogo has spent the last 6 years at CBSC as the Girls Technical Director and in addition to his leadership role at CBSC, also leads the University of Calgary Dinos Women’s Soccer Team as Head Coach. Diogo holds his CSA National B License, CSA Youth License and CSA Children’s License.
Licenses:
- CONCACAF A Diploma – Certified
- Canada Soccer National B License – Certified
- Canada Soccer Youth License – Certified
- Canada Soccer Children’s License – Certified
- United Soccer Coaches National Diploma
- United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeper Diploma
Cedric Bovon – Girls Reach Phase Technical Director
We are elated to announce the appointment of one of our own, Cedric Bovon, as our new Girls Reach, Technical Director. Cedric joined Calgary Blizzard in the Fall of 2020 and has played a key role in the development of our Boys Core Program, as our Boys Core Development Manager.
While working with our Boys Program, Cedric also had the opportunity to be mentored by our previous Girls Technical Director and recently appointed Sporting Director, Diogo Raposo. Cedric is also currently on the Coaching roster with the University of Calgary Dinos Women’s Soccer Team (UOFC WSOC).
Cedric has shown an interest in the development of Reach Phase athletes which closely mirrors and compliments his current development interests with the UOFC WSOC Team. With his experience working alongside those athletes, along with the continued support and mentorship of Diogo, Cedric will bring a wealth of knowledge, dedication and experience to our Girls Program.
His passion for development in these groups supports his key role in the continued growth, for a love for the game, in the Reach Phase ages. Cedric will be dedicating his efforts to the development of our U14-U17 aged female athletes, while providing both collegiate and soccer for life player pathways.
Licenses:
- CONCACAF A Diploma – In Progress
- Canada Soccer National B – Certified
- Canada Soccer Youth License – Certified
- Canada Soccer Children’s License – Trained
- Alberta Soccer Learning Facilitator
Ramon Mifflin – Boys Reach Phase Technical Director
As a youth player, Ramon was part of the United States Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program and represented California on their state team. He then went on to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at the University of San Francisco. After college, he played professionally in the US and Peru. His father, Ramon Mifflin Sr., played professionally for 18 years and represented the Peru National Team in the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
Ramon has been a fixture in the Calgary soccer community for the past 12 years. In his previous club, he led 7 Tier 1 teams to Provincial gold medals and furthermore, 6 national medals. Ramon has also secured a professional contract for Calgary standout, Caniggia Elva, 6 years ago at VFB Stuttgart. He is a staff coach with Whitecaps FC Alberta Academy and the Head Coach with the University of Calgary Mens team. His collegiate experience and relationships in Canada and the United States, offer a unique collegiate pathway for our players looking to take their game to the next level.
Licenses:
- FPF-CSF A License 2006-2008
- CSF-Conmebol A License Sports Studies
- Canada Soccer National B License – Certified
- Alberta Soccer Learning Facilitator
- Canada Soccer Youth License – Certified
Tayla Cowan – Foundation Phase Technical Director
Tayla is a homegrown player who joined Calgary Blizzard in the Spring of 2021. She is a Health and Physical Education graduate from MRU and currently holds her CSA C-Licence. Tayla was the grassroots director at her former club and is known for her enthusiasm and vibrant character when working with the youngest of players.
Although Tayla excels within the grassroots department, the experience of being a competitive female athlete herself has generated a deep passion for supporting other female athletes throughout their sport journey; striving to help them conquer their goals (both on and off the field) and establish their desire to play for life. Tayla’s experience, dedication to long-term player development, and passion for keeping players in sport, will make her an exceptional asset to the growth of our technical team and our Root’s program at Calgary Blizzard.
Licenses:
- Canada Soccer C-License – Certified
- Canada Soccer Children’s License – Certified
- Canada Soccer Youth License – Certified
- Canada Soccer B License – Certified
Stu Baker – Coach Development & Core Technical Director
Stu joined Calgary Blizzard as a technical coach in 2016, and has since changed roles with the club in 2020.
Prior to his experience at Blizzard, Stu played youth, Senior and master’s football in Australia and Canada for various clubs at the state and provincial level, as well as playing for SAIT in Calgary.
Licenses:
- Canada Soccer National B License – Certified
- Canada Soccer Youth License – Certified
- ASA Learning Facilitator
Moe El Gandour – Reach Phase Development Manager
Moe developed a deep passion for football from a young age, growing up in a family deeply involved in the sport. He began his competitive journey at Eastside Memorial at the U12 level before transferring to Calgary South West United later that year. Moe played with the club until U17 and represented and captained Team Alberta from U13 to U16. He also spent nearly two years with the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy. In 2018, Moe committed to Mount Royal University, where he played university football while pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in International Business. In 2019, he was drafted by Cavalry FC in the CPL, and in 2021, he was named Player of the Year for the CanadaWest Conference in USports. During that time, he represented the U23 Lebanon National Team and completed his university career. Moe also competes on the Calgary Blizzard SC League1 Alberta team and was their proud captain.
Throughout his playing experience, Moe developed a passion for coaching, aiming to help local athletes improve both on and off the field. He leverages his academic and athletic successes to inspire younger players and is committed to his own growth as a player. Moe believes in the importance of coaches as guides in an athlete’s journey, encompassing life, football, and overall well-being. He utilizes his own knowledge of the game and continues to learn to shape his coaching approach
Licenses:
- CONCACAF National C License- Certified
- Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders
- Soccer for Life
- Making Headway
- SafeSport Training
- Understanding Rule of Two
- Making Ethical Decisions Training
- Coaching in Canada
- Mental Health in Sport
- Anti-Racism in Coaching
Maggie Zacsko – Girls Core Program Manager
Originally from a small town, Maggie developed a passion for sports early in life. Soccer was the most lasting, and has led to numerous opportunities both in the competitive and coaching worlds. Having played for the University of Alberta, semi-professionally in Sweden, and more recently in Calgary, she has grown in the sport technically and tactically which alongside coaching has created a well-rounded understanding of the game. Having worked with Calgary Blizzard in the past and Calgary Foothills during her time playing semi-professionally, she has learned countless lessons and invaluable experience in coaching. This, along with time spent in the rehabilitation side of sport with her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, and a passion for the educational experience, having more recently pursued a degree in Education; she is excited to use these tools towards the development and growth of soccer, and more specifically players, at Calgary Blizzard Soccer Club. She hopes to take this breadth of experience and joy for the sport to inspire and positively influence the next generation of athletes.
Licenses:
- Canada Soccer National C License – Certified
- CONCACAF B Diploma – In Progress
Andriy Szkwarek – U10-U11 Boys Core Program Manager
We’re thrilled to announce that Andriy Szkwarek has been selected to lead our U10-U11 Core program effective March 10th, 2023. For this role, we sought a technical lead that would continue to represent CBSC’s values, enhance the development of our U10-U11 Core athletes and uphold its reputation as one of the best in the country.
Andriy is a Canada Soccer National B and Youth License certified coach. Andriy has been with CBSC since 2020. Prior to joining CBSC, Andriy was a staff coach with the Barcelona Academy in both Calgary and Virginia. Andriy’s playing career saw him compete in the Canadian Professional Soccer League with the Ottawa Wizards as well as in the National Premier Soccer League with the Seattle Inter-United FC.
We look forward to seeing Andriy’s expertise and passion shine through in the development of our Core athletes.
Licenses:
- National B License – Certified
- Canada Soccer Youth License – Certified
Kevin Adama – Core Phase Development Manager
We are excited to have Kevin join our team from his previous role with 1UP! Kevin brings a wealth of cultural experience and playing styles from three different continents. His love and passion for the game is unquestioned. His dream is to instil the love of game into players and inspire the new athletes in Canada, to be creative and diverse in the way they express themselves on the field.
Kevin is a natural born leader, a great communicator and an individual who loves to work with youth players. He leads his coaching style by following his main guiding principle: “The ball is your paintbrush and the pitch is your canvas, use your skills to paint whatever you want the world to see.”
Playing Experience – DTFA (Dana Cup Youth Tournament 2012 – Denmark), Virginia Tech Soccer Club, Rospack FC (Ghana Division 2), Callies FC (Alberta Major League)
Thiago Silva – Skill Development Manager
Thiago was born and raised in Brazil and moved to Canada fifteen years ago to pursue his passion for soccer. In Canada, he played at the college level for NAIT and Mount Royal University and he also competed professionally with FC Edmonton. Before his move to North America, Thiago had the opportunity to play for prestigious youth clubs in Brazil, including Goiás, Atlético Goianiense, and Fluminense, and he spent two years playing professionally there. Thiago also played AMSL for Scottish, Callies and Green and Gold.
He holds a C Concacaf License and is currently working towards his B Concacaf License, along with a Futsal C License from Portugal.
He currently holds a Master’s degree in Football Business and a Bachelor of Business Administration.
Licenses:
- CONCACAF C License – Certified
- CONCACAF B Diploma – In Progress
- Portugal Futsal C License – Certified
Cody Cook – A67 Technical Director
Cody Cook joins us from another club within Calgary, where he focused his efforts developing athletes as a Technical Coach. Cody’s passion grew from a young age where he had opportunities with FC Sachsen Leipzig, FC Energy Cottbus as a National Team contender and eventually with Team Canada in the 2014 FISU games in South Korea. Cody spent time playing with Vancouver Whitecaps PDL team where he lead the team with 14 goals into the Western Conference as finalists.
Cody has a passion for player skill development and you can see his ability to connect with the players on the pitch. Athletes from around the city currently work with Cody to get the best possible individual skills training available of their athletes. As our A67 Technical Director, Cody will be working with athletes across Calgary, providing a challenging and professional learning environment to allow players the opportunity to maximize their potential.
The program will be run separately from Calgary Blizzard Soccer Club and is led by Cody Cook and his support team.
Patson Choebefu – Technical Coach
As a youth player, Patson grew up with a strong passion for football. Patson began his career at the U14 level. Patson went on to win the U16 Tier 1 Alberta Provincial Championships which then led to him representing Alberta in the U16 Canadian National Championships in which they were ranked the 5th best team in all of Canada. In 2017, Patson committed to playing university football at Mount Royal University while pursuing a degree in Bachelor of Computer Information Systems. Patson went on to represent the Mount Royal Cougars for 3 years before suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear.
Through all of Patson’s playing experience and working with high level coaches, he grew a strong passion for coaching. Patson is a strong believer in, “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”. Patson’s aim will be to help our players develop their technical and tactical side to the game based on their respective positions and ensure the players are maintaining high intensity at every session.
Jordan Santiago – Goalkeeper Academy Coach
Jordan went through the ranks of Calgary Youth Soccer, with Calgary Blizzard Soccer Club, and then played up to the Canadian U20 team.When he was 15 years old, Jordan received his first opportunity to play professionally with Reading FC in England. Jordan was offered a 2-year apprenticeship with Cardiff City FC in December of 2007 and went on to play for SC Veendam in the Netherlands as a goalkeeper.
He retired as a player and moved into a coaching role when he was approached by West Ham United in the English Premier League for the 2013-2014 season. Jordan is the current Cavalry FC Goalkeeper coach here in Calgary!
Jordan Santiago will be supported by current Cavalry FC goalkeepers, Marco Carducci & Niko Giantsopoulos as well as current University of Calgary Dinos WSOC Goalkeeper and Calgary Blizzard Alumna, Lauren Houghton.
Operations & Administration
Jackie Martin, Executive Director
Jax@calgaryblizzard.com
Lucy Woo-Leong, Membership Services Coordinator
Lucy@calgaryblizzard.com
Caitlin Purcell, Marketing and Events Coordinator
Caitlin@calgaryblizzard.com
Karly Sawatzky, Teams Operations Coordinator
Karly@calgaryblizzard.com
Tayla Cowan, Foundations Operations
Tayla@calgaryblizzard.com
Tanissa Schell, Equipment Manager
Tanissa@calgaryblizzard.com
Board of Directors
(As elected in 2023)
Our Board of Directors is responsible for developing and implementing the purpose, vision, values and strategic priorities for the Club. The Board is made up of dedicated volunteers who meet on a monthly basis to oversee the direction of the Club.
Name |
Position |
| Nathan Cicoria |
President |
| Scott Cripps | Vice President |
| Colin Oke | Secretary |
| Amanda Hart | Treasurer |
| Jackie Martin | Registrar |
| Ron Girvitz | Past President |
| Arliss Szysky | Director at Large |
| Jason Ingimundson | Director at Large |
| Peter de Jong | Director at Large |
| Mike Sudermann | Director at Large |
Annual General Meeting
The Club holds its Annual General Meeting in November or December of each year and all Club members are encouraged to attend. New Board members are elected at this time, the prior year is reviewed and future initiatives are discussed. If you are interested in joining the Club’s dynamic board please do not hesitate to contact Club President, Nathan Cicoria by completing the below form.
Blizzard Soccer Club Bylaws
The Club’s bylaws can be viewed and downloaded through this link.