By Julius Hern
BARRIE, Ont.—Just a year removed from its historic Canadian Championship appearance, Simcoe County Rovers F.C. is extremely optimistic ahead of the 2025 season–for both the men’s and women’s teams.
Saturday the organization hosted its 2025 season launch party where it unveiled the team’s new kits and allowed season ticket holders to meet players, coaches, and team staff, of which there are many new additions. But there is no bigger addition than first-year head coach Doneil Henry.
Henry takes over the men’s team after the mid-season firing of Zico Mahrady in 2024 after the club started 1-2-4 in League1 Ontario Premier. He was named sporting director and oversaw the coaching staff for the rest of the season, but didn’t think that he would end up taking the helm.
“I think last year really gave me the confidence and the belief that I could be a head coach,” Henry said. “I never wanted to be a coach. I always said that I would hate to deal with people like myself as a player. But very soon I've really figured out that I love this, and it's the fact of I get to literally prepare the team however I want.”
Henry, 31, recently retired from a playing career that included 44 caps for the Canadian men’s national team and three Canadian Championships with Toronto FC.
”Ultimately, my goal here is to continue to allow players to dream.”
Doneil Henry
One of the new signings Henry was most excited about is midfielder Jacob Spizzirri, who was a League1 Ontario first-team all-star in 2024 with Woodbridge Strikers, and scored the winning goal in the 2023 U Sports men’s soccer national championship game for Cape Breton.
Henry’s new role seems to be a big draw for many players to bring their careers to Simcoe County, including 2024 golden boot winner Reshaun Walkes, who had a relationship with Henry from training with Toronto FC in 2022 and had a good feeling about Simcoe County after seeing the club from an opponent’s point of view.
“I played the team a couple of times. They've shown good quality, the fans as energetic as ever, so I thought this was a good opportunity for me.”
Walkes scored the penalty shootout winner for Vaughan Azzurri in the 2024 L1 Cup Final against the Rovers.
Aside from its League1 Ontario success, this team has higher aspirations. After last year’s Canadian Championship appearance and playing an impressive arrangement of preseason friendlies, the team knows that they are nearing the level of play required to compete in the Canadian Premier League (CPL).
“I knew that I could be a professional when I trained with professionals,” Henry said. “We know that we belong there. I think that's a new driving force going into this year that my players want more taste of this professional level. It puts [Canada] on notice that they need more clubs like us.”
“We got to see a lot of what it takes to be at the next level and how to perform and all the things that go into it, team veteran and former pro Shawn-Claud Lawson said. “It was a good learning experience and we're going to take that into this year and years coming up.”
Simcoe County saw two players make the jump to the CPL this offseason: Jevontae Layne was drafted first overall in the 2025 CPL-U Sports Draft by Valour from TMU, and Matthew Fisher went 13th overall from York to York United.
Overall, the internal expectations for the club are high, and Henry enters with a must-win mentality.
"Winning every single day in training. That's in drills, that's in possession, that's in exercises, that's in winning games, winning first tackles,” he said. “I don't want to just tell you that I'm going to win championships here. The ball is round. But, if I keep the right mentality, attitude and characteristics in my players and keep them hungry every single day, it is likely going to happen.”
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Meanwhile, the Northern Super League (NSL) launching this month is giving many on the women’s team new ambitions in their football careers.
“We want to make sure that we have players that are wanting to exceed at that level,” first-year head coach Zach Wilson said. “We have a very new roster, but they're all like-minded, looking to push themselves to the next level and that's what you need to have success in League1.”
Wilson served as the interim head coach of Simcoe County’s men’s team in 2024, and is returning as the boss of the women’s side after serving as the head coach in 2022. Carli Tingstad’s departure for a role with Ottawa Rapids opened the position.
Simcoe County had a player make the transition from League1 Ontario to the NSL during the offseason: all-time appearance leader Chloe Uddenburg, who signed with AFC Toronto in November.
Two additions standout according to head coach, including Tottenham's Bryanna Caldwell who played youth soccer in Barrie.
“I see the ‘Welcome to Barrie’ sign and it literally just feels like home,” Caldwell said. “Being able to represent hometown fans and young players that I used to coach years ago is just, it's crazy.”
Caldwell and Uddenburg played youth soccer together and were close friends growing up, and Caldwell looks back fondly on her youth career and how it’s developed her game.
“Everybody has shaped me into the person and player that I am today,” she added. “From that I think I've increased my soccer skills like crazy. I've learned how to be a leader, I've learned how to work with all different types of players and playing styles.”
Caldwell is coming off a successful college career at McMaster in which she scored 15 goals in 41 appearances and was a two-time OUA West first-team all star.
“We're hoping that she comes in here and is really to able to anchor our back line and will be exciting, Wilson said. “She's also very, very dominant on set pieces.”
Wilson is especially excited about two other signings. First, Soumaya Bouak, who returns to Simcoe County after a two-season stint with Mazatlán F.C in Liga MX Femenil, and Stefanie Young, an OUA West second-team all-star with Brock in 2024 after a seven-goal campaign.
Simcoe County Rovers F.C. opens its seasons April 19th at J.C. Massie Field. The women play FC London at 2 pm, while the men follow against the defending League1 Ontario Premier champion Scrosoppi FC at 6 pm.
This is going to be the first taste of what's to come in the future.
Doneil Henry
