12 Special Olympics and unified athletes signed with the Impact, two of which will go to the Special Olympics Unified All-Star game
The Montreal Impact renewed its engagement to Special Olympics Quebec this year, offering a contract to 12 Special Olympics Quebec and unified athletes. The team will take on Toronto FC on August 24 at BMO Field, before the MLS game between the Montreal Impact and TFC, while two players will represent the Impact at the Special Olympics Unified All-Star game in Orlando, as part of the festivities surrounding the 2019 MLS All-Star game, presented by Target.
Quebec Special Olympic athletes Marc-André Hevey, Antoine Descoteaux, Jakob Fyfe, Guillaume Bouchard, Émile Ghanem, Jérémie Descoteaux et Gabriel Doyon-Langley and unified athletes Félix Roux, Dominick Chouinard, Marie-Soleil Huneault, Mathieu Hevey and Maude Patoine will be coached by Sylvain Bouchard, head coach of the Impact’s Special Olympics team, and by Marie-Josée Thériault, assistant coach. The whole team will head to Toronto for a friendly; in 2017, the Special Olympics team of both clubs faced off at Stade Saputo, also before an MLS game between the two Canadian rivals.
Two players at the All-Star game in Orlando
Special Olympics athlete Gabriel Doyon-Langley and unified athlete Dominick Chouinard were chosen to represent the Impact at the Special Olympics Unified All-Star game in Orlando, where they will be chaperoned by Marie-Josée Thériault.
Gabriel Doyon-Langley, a Special Olympics athlete since 2009, has loved playing soccer since he was young. Now at 24 years old, he has distinguished himself by his perseverance and team spirit. He always shown concern for his teammates and he has developed a great complicity with the other players on his team. He is very determined, and his strength of character demonstrates this well on the field.
Dominick Chouinard started playing soccer at the age of 5 and immediately fell in love with the sport. He played all year long, participating in development camps to improve his game as he wanted to become a competitive player. Since participating with the Special Olympics team as an assistant coach, he helps the team to evolve with his positivity and team spirit.
Marie-Josée Thériault is a mom to one of the Special Olympics athletes and has been involved in the program since 2015. She’s always ready to invest herself for the happiness of her own children, and all for all members of her extended Special Olympics family. Very dynamic and generous, she organizes numerous events and activities with the athletes.
The Impact is proud to be involved with Special Olympics Quebec and wishes good luck to all the athletes involved.
