On and off the field, Gray Cyr has always kept his dad’s advice close: “It’s that simple, everything you are doing is just one step at a time. You know what you have to do. Just keep it simple.”
Those words echo through Cyr’s mind every time he steps onto the field. One step at a time.
That mindset carried Cyr to St. Thomas University’s men’s soccer team and an Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) championship this season.
Cyr’s soccer career started when he played for Ottawa South United in high school.
When he was in grade 10, his club made its first appearance in the Ontario Cup final in 13 years.
“I realized then that this is what I want to do, I’d like to compete and win.”
In his first season with STU, Cyr was a rookie when he played at the Nationals in Calgary, against bigger, more experienced opponents.
“I was 18 and they were 23 or 25, with way more experience. But, I remember setting up the first goal of the game with a corner kick.”
“We defeated one of the top teams in the nation despite being massive underdogs. It didn’t seem real. I realized then just how far we could go,” he said.
Cyr’s experience at Nationals was not just about the game, it was about the bond he formed with his teammates.
“We were all from different parts of Canada and within weeks, we were like family,” he said. “We played together, we lived together. We won the league that year and it felt amazing because we were all in it together.”
To Cyr, his team is more than just a group of players — they’re his brothers. That family bond continued to fuel Cyr through his biggest moment — scoring the game-winning goal in the 2024 ACAA finals.
“I’m not really the scoring type,” he said with a grin. “I’m more of the creator, the one who sets things up but, that final, when I scored the game-winning goal, it felt special. It felt like redemption.”
“More than that, it was for my team. These guys are my brothers, some of my best friends. Winning for them and for our coach in his final season — it was unforgettable.”
When Cyr looks back at how far he’s come, it’s clear that the game has shaped him in more ways than one.
“I came to St. Thomas not knowing what to expect,” he said. “But, over time, I’ve grown into someone I’m proud of. I’ve become a STU athlete, someone who represents this school, this team and everything it stands for.”
Cyr’s love for the sport goes beyond the wins and the losses — it’s the way soccer allows him to exist in a flow state, where nothing else matters but the game.
“It’s like a release,” he said. “When I’m on the field, everything fades away. The stresses of life, school, everything just disappears. It’s my moment to breathe.”
As he prepares to move on to the next chapter of his life, Cyr’s journey in soccer is far from over. He is committed to giving back to the sport that has given him so much. He wants to focus on coaching and helping the next generation develop their skills and find their own flow in the game.
In many ways, Cyr’s journey is just beginning. With big aspirations for both playing and coaching, his future is filled with promise. One thing is certain: he will continue to take it one step at a time. Because, as his father taught him, when you keep it simple, everything else falls into place.
