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Newly added backs Ilija Pavicic, LeShawn Facey bolster Sudbury’s defence ahead of Ontario Premier League match against Burlington SC
Published May 01, 2026 • 6 minute read
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Ilija Pavicic and LeShawn Facey
A storm is finally gathering in Sudbury.
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After an unconventional start to their very first season in the top tier of Ontario Premier League soccer, the Sudbury Cyclones came together for a season kickoff celebration at the Days Inn on Thursday evening, roughly 48 hours before the men’s first team will have its OPL 1 home opener against Burlington SC at James Jerome Sports Complex on Saturday.
For head coach Giuseppe Politi and his players, the event felt like it was a long time coming.
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With two regular-season matches and one OPL Cup contest already in the books, the Cyclones were still without a local training facility as of this week with the snow-damaged Lancer Dome still undergoing repairs and the James Jerome turf not quite ready to open. Players from other parts of the province were still in the process of moving to the Nickel City, with some not expected to settle in until next week.
Despite all those challenges, the Cyclones have been right in the mix so far, having followed a Cup victory over Hamilton United and a regular season-opening 4-1 loss to International FC with a tightly contested 2-1 defeat at Scrosoppi FC just this past Sunday.
“The result was not what we wanted, but we were very competitive,” Politi said. “We had the game tied with 15 minutes to go and we generated some chances to equalize. Scrosoppi is a top-three team the last few years, so they’re going to battle for the title, and we were on the road. I’m sure people know by now about the off-field issues with the lack of facilities: we can’t get in the Dome, we can’t get on the turf and we haven’t had true training time, all those variables … but by next week, things should be back to normal.
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“Other than the result, our morale was good. Our motto going into the game was We Belong, we belong at this tier. Now, it’s just a matter of turning the tide, whether it’s getting a point at home this weekend with a draw or getting a win.”
Having repeatedly referred to their local pitches at James Jerome and Cambrian College as a “home fortress,” Politi and company hope their long-awaited Sudbury debut will provide the perfect opportunity to bounce back from a slow start.
The Cyclones did not lose a single match at home in 2025 en route to earning a promotion from OPL 2, then called League1 Championship, and they never dropped back-to-back games stretching back to their inaugural season in OPL 3, then known as League2 Northeast.
“For me, I have that in the back of my mind, because I have been here since Day 1,” Politi said. “I feel a little bit of pressure that we’ve got to stop the little burn and start putting some results up on the board.”
To do that, he’ll rely not only on established goal-scorers such as third-year Cyclones striker Jaiden Santo, who found the back of the net for the second time on Sunday, but also on new additions such as centre backs Ilija Pavicic and LeShawn Facey, both of whom provide size, skill and high-level experience to an already talented Sudbury back end.
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“It feels great, getting to meet these guys,” said Pavicic, a 24-year-old Windsor native and alumnus of St. Clair College and Brock University who played for Windsor FC in L1 Championship last summer.
“I came here a couple of weeks ago and have tried to find time to hang out with some of the guys, whether training or just going to get some food or something. Now, it’s finally time to get things going, get the season underway.”
Even with their limited practice time, Pavicic said the Cyclones’ skills and smarts have helped them to get by in the early going, but they’ll only continue to improve in the coming weeks.
“The guys coming in from last year, getting promoted and being part of this group already, they already know how they play,” he said. “Now, it’s just about players like myself adapting to how they play and adapting to how the coaches want us to play.”
A familiar opponent in 2025, Pavicic made a strong impression on the Cyclones and was among the top targets for assistant coach and lead recruiter Evan Phillips during the off-season.
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“It was an amazing opportunity,” he said. “I couldn’t say no. It’s a chance to play in the highest division you can in Ontario, which is a pretty big bonus, but Giuseppe and Evan made a good case and I believe in the process they’ve got going here and their cause and what they’re trying to accomplish.”
A captain for his team last year, Pavicic listed his physicality and leadership abilities among his greatest strengths.
“I’m a little older player on the team, so I bring some experience in that sense, as well,” he added. “I’m a big mediator — I don’t like to get involved in fights or anything like that. I usually try to split the guys up and try stay away from yellow cards and stuff.”
The new season is also a new beginning for Facey, the Toronto product who played for the Sigma FC organization last year and whose resume includes a national championship with Cyclones teammate Isaiah Noel at Humber Polytechnic in 2024.
“I’m excited,” Facey said. “A lot of these guys I have known over the years, so it’s nothing new coming in and playing with a few of them. We’re a good team, a strong team and I believe in us a lot. We’re going to do a lot of things and we’re going to surprise the league.
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“As each game goes, we get a lot closer with each other and we’re learning how each other plays. It will be a good ride, getting to know each other and learning each other’s preferences.”
Facey pointed to his passion, energy and willingness to defend his teammates as some of his best qualities, to go along with his strong play on the ball, speed and physicality — all of which surely made him a tantalizing prospect for Politi and Phillips.
“Coming from Sigma, I didn’t really get the opportunity to show what I can do,” Facey suggested. “When you have a coaching staff that believes in you, wants you to come out and play and trusts you, it was a no-brainer for me to come out here with this staff and with a bunch of teammates I know, as well. It’s going to be great.”
Facey and his new mates were to participate in their very first team-building activity on Friday — the first gathering outside of a game setting to feature almost the entire roster.
After Saturday’s home opener against Burlington, the Cyclones will also host an OPL Cup game for the first time ever against Waterloo United on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
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“We’re almost there,” Politi said. “We’re finally seeing some structure and the guys are excited to do this. Now, we’ve just got to focus on getting some results.”
Women set for home opener
Before the men hit the James Jerome pitch, Sudbury’s entry in the OPL 3 women’s division will look to bounce back from a 2-0 loss to Oakville Soccer Club on the road last weekend.
The women’s team will open the home side of its schedule against Rush Canada Academy B at James Jerome on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Sudbury’s defeat last week followed a 1-0 win over Rush Canada Academy in the season opener on April 11. Emmy Arsenault was the lone goal-scorer in that contest.
The Cyclones will then visit Simcoe County Rovers FC next Wednesday.
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