Northwind Blows into Houston

January 17, 2007 by Bill Frampton | View Comments (3)

The 2007 Australian Rules football season kicks off this Saturday, January 20th at 1:30 PM CST at Tom Bass Park in Houston when the United States Revolution play host to Canada's Northwind.

This will be the seventh meeting between the two countries and the first of two games planned this year. The teams will meet in a return match in Vancouver at the beginning of August. The Northwind take a 2-game winning streak into this one after finishing the 2005 International Cup with wins over Spain and South Africa.

Northwind players have been training for this game since early November, Ontario Australian Football League players at the Hangar in Toronto and western players at locations in Vancouver and Calgary.

Under the leadership of head coach Mark Block and team manager Marty Walter, the Northwind players are looking for their first win over the Revolution. The team is a blend of veterans from past Internationals and new talent, with captain Stefan Leyhane leading the way in his 18th appearance for the Northwind and seventh as captain.

Northwind fans are well aware that the last two meetings between the teams were close ones with the Revolution winning by two points four years ago in Pittsburgh and 12 points three years at Humber North Oval in Toronto. Both teams want a win as they start building toward the 2008 International Cup in Australia.

Here is the Northwind roster for the game:

• Mark Block (Toronto Eagles, head coach)
• Troy Marsh (Toronto Eagles, assistant coach)
• Dr. James Fung (team doctor)

• Stefan Leyhane (Broadview Hawks, captain)
• Mike Butcher (Toronto Dingos, assistant captain)
• Aaron Falcioni (Toronto Eagles, assistant captain)
• Matt Bernardo (Broadview Hawks)
• Chris Buczkowski (Toronto Dingos)
• Nick Dirago (Hamilton Wildcats)
• Rhys Harris (Broadview Hawks)
• Bill Kantartzis (Toronto Eagles)
• Matt Kidd (Red Deer Magpies)
• Kien La (Central Blues)
• Chet Long (Etobicoke Kangaroos)
• Matt Lowden (Toronto Eagles)
• Murray Lovett (Etobicoke Kangaroos)
• Frank Luisser (Toronto Eagles)
• James Maitland (Lakeshore Rebels)
• Dan McIlravey (Toronto Dingos)
• Kevin Minaker (Toronto Eagles)
• Scott Fleming (Vancouver Cougars)
• Bruce Parker (Central Blues)
• Dale Simnett (Mississauga Demons)
• Joshua Symonds (Calgary Kangaroos)
• Gareth Williams (Calgary Kangaroos)
• Dan Zimmerman (Central Blues)