Tenacious midfielder Dugas joins Scottish United, Juventus teammates on Griffins
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Work ethic is a harbinger of success.
When that characteristic is combined with pedigree, you have an especially intriguing and promising prospect on your hands.
That's what MacEwan Griffins head coach Adam Loga believes he has in new recruit Kayden Dugas – a tenacious midfielder who is the son of retired professional soccer player Martin Dugas.
"He's just super keen and is a great student as well in the classroom," said Loga. "He's always wanting to learn, always wanting to train. He'll be an engine for us, gets around the park, covers every blade of grass. It's a great thing.
"As we help him grow in the program, we'll just need to help him understand that he doesn't need to chase. But that will come with development. It won't be due to a lack of willingness on his end, that's for sure."
Dugas is a teammate of previously announced members of the Griffins' 2023 recruiting class Zewdu Mekonnen, Kaleb Lutz and Abhiroop Sandhu on Loga's League One semi-pro side Edmonton Scottish United.
The foursome also teamed up lead Juventus to a provincial indoor title in March, where Dugas was second in team scoring to Mekonnen with five goals in four games. Previously, they played together with Internazionale in their youth.
"They're going to continue with the chemistry that they had prior with their youth club," said Loga. "I think it's a good recruiting class and for them to be together in a standard like League One off the bounce, it's only going to help them as a cohort and us as a program moving forward.
"I think it's exciting for them. It's nice to get recruiting classes that are already linked in some way, let alone as intensely as they've been over the last couple years. It will be great for us."
