Class was in session on Wednesday morning at Hamilton Stadium, where Forge FC hosted their third annual School Day Match.
The club welcomed a crowd of 15,122 — the vast majority of them children from local schools — to watch them defeat FC Supra du Québec 1-0 and keep hold of first place in the Canadian Premier League.
Despite a spirited effort from the CPL's newcomers, Forge defender Dan Nimick scored a highlight-reel screamer in the second half, securing his team's first win in one of these School Day games.
"It's awesome," Nimick said of the raucous atmosphere postmatch.
"Different kind of crowd, a lot more engaged because obviously they're out of school, so they're really excited to be there. They were joining in with all the chants from the announcer and all that kind of stuff. I was lucky to be a part of it last year, and I'm a part of it this year again, and those kids just bring the energy all game, it's so much fun to play. I'm glad we were able to get a goal for them; I was a little worried that it was going to end 0-0 and all those kids came out of school for nothing, but we were able to get that goal, and it was an awesome moment seeing the energy in the stadium."
With the win, Forge improved to 5-1-0 on the CPL season, with just one goal conceded still.
The Hammers hosted School Day Matches in both of the last two years, the first being a Canadian Championship game against CF Montréal. On that occasion, Forge managed a 1-1 draw with the MLS side, and went on to beat them in the second leg to win the quarterfinal tie.
Forge's goalscorer in that inaugural School Day Match, David Choinière, also took part in this year's game, albeit in a different capacity. The FC Supra captain, playing against his former club for the first time, admitted postmatch that it was weird to be in the visitors' dressing room at Hamilton Stadium.
Bobby Smyrniotis, who always speaks highly of the atmopshere at these School Day events in Hamilton, repeated the sentiment postgame.
Each year, a greater number of kids in the stands have been wearing Forge gear, or bringing homemade signs to cheer on individual players.
The Forge coach suggested that moments like this are all part of the momentum building in Canadian soccer.
"Hamilton Stadium is a fantastic venue, especially when you fill it up; there's great energy to it, watching the game," he said.
"We hope these young kids are inspired, and keep on coming back with what we're doing, with what's happening this summer in this country with the World Cup. All of that stuff is positive, and that's what we need. We need more kids playing, more kids following the game, and especially following our guys here."
