Sean Fafinski: Destined to be a Ram

On October 27, 2013, the Rams men's soccer team punched their ticket to the OUA Final Four in dramatic fashion. Fans at Birchmount Stadium witnessed a 3-2 Rams victory over Toronto thanks to a 120th minute goal from Nick Lambis.

Among the cheering fans was none other than a teenaged Sean Fafinski.

"That was one of the games I vividly remember," recalled Fafinski, now a senior midfielder with the Rams himself.

"I remember watching the atmosphere and everyone going crazy. The whole team was celebrating. It was very high level soccer. The community aspect of Ryerson and the fans and the people - you could see the raw emotion of that game."

Fafinski fondly discussed his Rams memories over a Zoom call while in the break room of his retail job at Yorkdale mall. As well as working part-time and competing as a student-athlete, he studies Business at the Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM).

"The time management aspect of being a student-athlete… it's a lot of work, it's a lot of dedication," said Fafinski, echoing plenty of his Rams peers.

Fafinski was born and raised in Toronto, having attended high school and playing club soccer around North York. Though coming to TRSM was not always a certainty, Fafinski was set on joining the blue and gold after meeting with the team.

"I thought it was a very good fit. I knew some of the guys on the team before. It just made perfect sense to come to Ryerson."

While Fafinski started to flourish on the pitch, scoring his first OUA goal in October 2017, he spoke about his struggles in and around the classroom.

"It's a very big program, you get isolated," said Fafinski about TRSM's size. "Students come and go between your programs. You don't know people (on a) first name basis. They're part of your groups and then next semester you won't see them ever again."

Just as Fafinski did as a teenager, he relied on older Rams to support him as a rookie.

"A lot of the older guys, when I was young, were in Business. They sort of helped me adjust to the program. If I needed any help, they would always be there."

Though Fafinski's grades and comfort at the university improved, he reiterated the stress that can come from a student-athlete's workload.

"It does take an impact on people's mental health at times."

Unfortunately, Fafinski faced even further challenges in his third year.

"I know for my third year, it was very difficult for me to adjust because I wasn't playing well. I was doing all right in school. Personally, I lost my dad at the time. So, it was very difficult to manage all those things at once."

Now, having started his fourth season with the Rams, Fafinski appreciates his teammates more than ever.

"It was difficult. And it happened during the season, which was even harder. Luckily, my teammates, my coaches, they were all very supportive of me at the time. I think that's what you get at Ryerson. You just get a large family that is always there for you - for the good and for the bad."

Fafinski also complimented the school's facilities and expressed the importance of speaking up.

"In those difficult personal times you really do need to open up and go speak to someone. That's what helped me, personally. The resources at Ryerson - people like Colleen (Amato, a Counsellor), people like Natalie (Morning, a Learning Strategist), are huge. They're a huge help for Ryerson student-athletes."

He ended his point with words of encouragement for his peers.

"Go talk to someone. Go ask for help - because it is important."

Naturally, Fafinski hopes to follow in the footsteps of the Rams who have helped him along the way.

"For me, it's (about) being a leader and helping the recruits come in, both on and off the field. Helping them adjust to the OUA and helping them excel as student-athletes."

Fafinski said that his club teammates frequently joked about who would end up as a Ram. Now, almost eight years after some of his first Rams memories were made, he has become a leader himself.

"It's sort of my job, and a lot of the seniors' jobs, to help these incoming recruits adjust to this workload. It was very difficult. But hopefully, when they become seniors, they can help the next generation of Ryerson athletes coming in too."

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Players Mentioned

#6 Sean Fafinski: MF; 6' 1"; 4

Players Mentioned

#6 Sean Fafinski
: 6' 1"; 4
: MF

Players Mentioned

#6 Sean Fafinski

Players Mentioned

#6 Sean Fafinski