DeDekker Named USports Academic All-Canadian

1 min read January 17, 2023

St. Francis Xavier University has announced that St. Mark grad Damian DeDekker has been named a 2021-22 USports Men’s Soccer Academic All-Canadian.

DeDekker, who is in his second year at St. FX studying for his Bachelor of Science Human Kinetics degree, played in 11 of 12 games as a defender for the X-Men during the Atlantic University Sports season. He had to sit one game out after collecting his third yellow card of the season.

The St. Francis Xavier Department of Athletics honored its U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians Tuesday morning at their annual celebratory breakfast. The Osgoode native earned Academic All-Canadian honours for being among the student-athletes who have achieved an 80 per cent average or above while consuming a year of eligibility competing for a varsity team.

St. Mark High School grad Damian DeDekker was a USports Soccer Academic All-Canadian at St. Francis Xavier University. (Facebook photo/Tim DeDekker)

“Celebrating a long standing tradition of excellence in the classroom is a major highlight for all of us at St. FX Athletics,” commented St. Francis Xavier Director of Athletics & Recreation Leo MacPherson. “Being named an Academic All-Canadian is a remarkable achievement given the dedication and commitment to their respective sports and requirement to manage multiple priorities as student-athletes.”

DeDekker played competitive soccer with the West Ottawa Soccer Club before heading to Nova Scotia to play for St. FX.

In the summer, DeDekker played club soccer for the Suburban FC men’s team in Nova Scotia. Suburban FC won the Nova Scotia provincial championship in August, with DeDekker scoring a goal in a 2-1 win over Halifax Dunbrack SC in the championship game.

DeDekker did not attend the breakfast where he was honoured as an Academic All-Canadian, as he did not want to miss his class.