Seventeen years ago, the Vermilion Soccer Association suffered a tragic loss when Derek Bucharski, a beloved and passionate soccer player, lost his life in a devastating accident. Derek had been an integral part of the association for nine years, playing on the youth indoor and outdoor teams, as well as the Men’s team. Renowned for his skill and love for the sport, Derek also dedicated his time as a referee and volunteered within the soccer community. To commemorate his unwavering dedication and team spirit, Derek’s family established the “Derek Bucharski Memorial Award for Dedication and Team Spirit.”

The prestigious award, presented annually, honours four individuals, one from each of the U13, U15, U17, and U19 squads, and is chosen each year by their coaches. To be selected for this honour, recipients must demonstrate exceptional dedication, a positive attitude, a love for the sport, and regular practice attendance. This year, the 2025 recipients were recognized for their outstanding commitment, positivity, and team spirit during the season-end wrap-up ceremony held on June 23 at the Vermilion Soccer Field in the Provincial Park.

Mary Bucharski, Derek’s mother, graciously and emotionally opened the award ceremony by extending a warm welcome to all attendees and expressing her gratitude for their presence. She also acknowledged the Vermilion Soccer Association executives, coaches, volunteers, parents, and children, recognizing their instrumental role in making the award possible. Mary’s heartfelt words captured the essence of the event: “We want to thank all the kids for coming out; we are very happy to see all the kids out from little kids all the way up to big guys.”

Brad Bucharski had the honour of presenting the U13 Derek Bucharski Memorial Award to Aaron Elder and read coach Cyndal Zurbrigg’s reason for choosing Aaron. “Aaron has great skills and, more importantly, a ton of versatility. He’s always been willing to play wherever the team needs him. This year, when we shifted him into a primary role as a defender, he accepted it without complaint—and more than that, he really thrived in it.”

It also showed that Aaron has many attributes which makes him deserving of the award, such as, perfect attendance, listening skills, a vocal presence, leadership skills, confidence, and perseverance. “He’s consistently looking for ways to get better and find more opportunities to play. I want to out that last season, when he was in a walking boot for half the year, he still came to every practice. He did what he could physically, and when he couldn’t participate, he stayed, watched, and learned.”

Derek’s mom Mary Bucharski presented the U15 Derek Bucharski Memorial Award to Korbin Betz, reading the reasons Stephen Dykstra chose Korbin. “I have the distinct pleasure to present the Derek Bucharski Memorial Award this year. As a friend and teammate of Derek throughout my playing years at VSA, I know the dedication and passion he brought to the game and our community. I had a fantastic group, but one player stood out this year for truly embodying the spirit of teamwork and dedication. This person consistently goes above and beyond, not just to meet team expectations, but to exceed them.

Their positive attitude and unwavering commitment for self-improvement makes them an invaluable asset to our team. He was an excellent teammate to both the girls and boys on our team. Very coachable, he takes criticism good and bad very well. He rarely wants to leave the field and gives 100% effort wherever he plays. I am honored to present this award to Korbin Betz!”

Jade Delves received the U17 Coed Derek Bucharski Memorial Award from Derek’s Sister Tanya Lee, who read from the coaches notes: “This young lady has a quiet unassuming presence and a somewhat shy and sweet disposition with her teammates. But on closer inspection, it has been very evident this player has gone about her business with a steely determination, a willingness to learn and a most notably, to face down adversity… This young lady in particular was tasked to play a position often taking on the fastest and most confident male counterparts playing in the district. Regardless of being put into a situation of speed and power mismatch, we have watched her respond with a hardened resilience and a never give up attitude. She never backs down from the physicality and her cognisance to her positioning has ensured she has been a true asset to the defensive backfield…Her influence on the team has been positive and upbeat no matter the differences, and her support of her teammates can be heard on the bench while she supports and cheers on the efforts of those that just left the field with her.”

Derek’s brother Patrick had the privilege of presenting the U19 Derek Bucharski Memorial Award to Sofia Teran. Brad read from coach Alphonso Salinas-Alvarado comments: “Sofia didn’t just play soccer — she lived and breathed it. Someone whose presence lifted our team in ways that go far beyond stats or goals…She joked around, laughed loud, and made every moment more fun — but when it was time to play, she gave everything she had. You could see it in her hustle, in her determination, and in the way she poured her heart into every single second on the field. She didn’t just play for herself — she played for us, for her team. And we felt it, her passion was unshakable…Sofia, thank you for your joy, your laughter, your heart, and your grit… It is with note of sadness that we acknowledge this young lady and her family will be departing to reside in Argentina – which quite frankly – our loss is Argentina’s gain. But until we cross paths again – it is our pleasure to recognise – Sofia Teran as the very worthy recipient of our highest honour.”

Each recipient was honoured with a trophy and a soccer ball, symbolizing their achievements and the legacy of Derek Bucharski. The awards serve as a testament to Derek’s enduring spirit and the impact he made on the Vermilion Soccer Association. Through this annual ceremony, his memory lives on, inspiring young soccer players to embrace dedication, positivity, and team spirit.