Many are the local coaches and administrators whose involvement in the Sudbury sports scene conjures up images of a particular athletic association.

Some, the likes of Sid Forster (Sudbury Hardrocks / Sudbury Spartans) and Ken Creasey (Copper Cliff Minor Hockey) and such, actually extend their tenure well into the decades, fortifying that connection between the person and the sport.

Rare, however, are the instances where the lifespan of a particular sports group starts and finishes with the relationship of a singular individual.

The recent sad passing of Frank Malvaso reminded me of this notion, such was the connection between the passionate soccer man and his legacy that was the Sudbury Canadians.

Launched right around the time that his daughter, Francesca (one of four children in the family) was reaching high-school age, the Sudbury Canadians Soccer Club would become the springboard for a boatload of local talent to the post-secondary ranks, both north and south of the border.

While current Olympian Cloe Lacasse might represent the crowning achievement for the vision that Malvaso embraced, the long-time soccer pro and graduate of Ecole secondaire Macdonald-Cartier was hardly alone.

The first wave would see the likes of Megan Schutt, Lauren Podolski, Kristy MacKenzie and Karla Winters give way to Samantha Falcioni, Erica Duczeminski, Cara Smith and a host of others.

Future versions of the Canadians dream provided the developmental platform that allowed Karolyne Blain, Renee Jacques, Megan Gallo and Tiffany Johnson to make their way to U Sports and CCAA careers of note.

All of which doesn’t begin to scrape the surface of those multi-sport athletes who leveraged their summer training with the Canadians to the benefit of other sporting pursuits in both Canada and the United States.

(Tessa Bonhomme – Danielle Rancourt – Katie Johnston – Samantha Cooper – Serena and Natasia San Cartier – and many more are all proud graduates of the Sudbury Canadians Soccer program)

There is some irony to the fact that Francesca Malvaso (now Bostic) should accept a hockey scholarship at the University of Findlay in Ohio, where she would meet her future husband and current basketball developmental coach with the Houston Rockets, Josh Bostic.

You just knew, however, that sport was going to be interwoven deeply into the Malvaso family, though Frank, himself, never actually played soccer – or much sport at all, for that matter.

“It was literally eat, breathe and sleep soccer around the house – and we really, really connected with that,” said Francesca from her home in southern Texas. “Dad felt that sports was the best thing in the world for young girls, for self-esteem and confidence.”

“There wasn’t a whole lot for girls at the time.”

Though Frank was just beginning to gain his footing in the local soccer scene as the eldest child and only son of Frank and Colette (Emile – born 1974) meandered through the minor sport ranks, Malvaso added an interest in ringette to the mix as Maria (born in 1976 – now living in Barrie) excelled with a very talented Walden-based crew.

“He never coached me in ringette,” said Maria, whose daughter has followed the on-ice interest that Francesca displayed as a young girl. “He made sure we were having a good time, don’t get me wrong, but he definitely wanted us to do really well.”

“He saw the value in women sports like few others did.”

For as much as the entry of the Sudbury Canadians into the United Soccer League in 2004 may have seen Malvaso set his sights a little too high, the basic notion of wanting to have his athletes tested against the best possible competition could not be disputed.

“He wanted the girls to have the same opportunities as the boys,” added Maria. “And his dedication was off the charts. He was doing this every day.”

While the youngest of the Malvaso siblings (Amanda – 1987) was not bitten by the sports bug nearly to the extent of her elders, Francesca would catch lightning in a bottle, part of a cohort that could excel at almost every athletic undertaking they would tackle.

Frank Malvaso could see that potential, clear as day, even as the toddlers ran rambunctiously around as members of the Sudburnia youth soccer brigade.

“He realized that we were pretty good and decided to put together a competitive team,” recalled Francesca. “All of the girls parents’ were very like-minded, so a lot of us did soccer in the summer and hockey in the winter.”

Such was the birth of the Sudbury Canadians.

The flourishment and expansion, however, largely rests on the shoulder of the man who was equal parts sports fanatic and conscious social worker, a proud employee with the provincial government for much of his life.

“It started with northern Ontario and then we started going down south and he would make connections with other coaches,” said Francesca. “He realized these tournaments were hubs for coaches and scouts and started doing on-line research. He really took that and ran with it.”

To the benefit of many, as it turns out.

“He was always on the phone with different people, helping to make it happen for the girls.”

And not just his own girls either.

“He wanted the best for all of the kids that he coached,” said Maria. “He invested his time, his energy, his life to finding success for everyone on the team, which I think is a gift.”

“As much as he loved sports, he loved to help people.”

And for that, some two decades of Sudbury Canadians talent will forever be grateful.