At the time coaches Derek Arthur and Steve Leblanc formed a new team and were grateful to the Bluewater Soccer Club for providing them with a home in a Club where player development is a continual focus. The team has never broken faith with its commitment to practicing 2-3 times per week and maintaining a very competitive developmental program throughout the winter months. The JR Blaze 96s have shown continual progress in each of their four seasons, moving up to a higher league every year.

On October 15 they were recognized for their accomplishments with a #12 provincial ranking in the U-13 age division. By comparison the second highest provincially ranked team in Lambton-Kent (all ages, boys and

girls) was the U-12 Bluewater JR Blaze (#28), followed by the Sarnia Spirit U-16 girls (#36) and U-16 Sarnia Fury boys (#45).

The season highlights for the U-13 JR Blaze included winning their first four Ontario Cup games to advance to the provincial quarterfinals. They also advanced to the semi-finals of the prestigious Nike Cup tournament in Columbus, Ohio before bowing to the 4th ranked team in Michigan following two overtime periods and a shootout. The Blaze also won 5 of their final 6 league games, competing in the Western Ontario Level 3 league. And during the past year five members of the JR Blaze were selected to the Southwestern Ontario District program (four of these players Dilly Ohuegbe, Josh Graham, Marcus Dusseault, and Richael O’Neill who joined the team this year, were selected to the Southern Ontario Regional team).