Residency Players Help Lead Canada To World Cup

The Canadian U17 men’s team qualified for the 2011 U17 World Cup this weekend in Jamaica as they made it to the final losing to the States 3-0.  The team consisted of five academy players from the Whitecaps organization and three of them played significant roles on the team.  The Canadian boys had not allowed a single goal through five full matches (450 mins) as they conceded all three goals in extra time of the finals after losing their legs.  The team will now play in the U17 World Cup hosted by Mexico between June 18 and July 10.  The five Whitecaps on team Canada were midfielders Bryce Alderson (captain), Wesley Cain, Matteo Pasquotti, and defenders Daniel Stanese and Adam Polakiewicz.

Gage Completes Move From Whitecaps to Reading

A week after the local media discovered that Ethan Gage would not be training with the Caps and was on trial with Reading FC in England, it is official and the reigning U20 player of the year has transferred overseas.  When he did arrive a couple days after news broke Gage told reporters that he felt the trial went well and he were waiting to hear from his agent if a contract would be offered.  The signing of Gage is another example of how successful the Whitecaps residency program has become in developing young football players.  Gage will be the fourth player in four years to move to Europe on transfer or loan with Straith (2008), Latendresse-Levesque (2009), Haber (2010) being the other previous higher profile prospects to make the move overseas.

New Quota Is Not A Problem For Whitecaps

After much negotiation with the CSA, the MLS announced that there would be a Canadian player quota for the Whitecaps and TFC in 2011.  Overall it was reduced from eight players that TFC required last year to each team needing to have three Canadians under contract.  Both teams already have the quota filled on their roster as the Whitecaps have three signed for 2011 and Toronto have five on their roster.  There may be even more Canadians signed by each team as they a number of players on trial during the preseason.

Ethan Gage Trials With Reading FC

On the first day of training it was revealed by Whitecaps management, through Marc Weber's tweet, that U20 Canadian Men's Player of the Year Ethan Gage is on trial with Reading FC of The Champions League in England.  There has been no word prior to today on the trial but the Whitecaps have said Gage will be welcomed back to camp anytime.  If one is to believe management, there wasn't a player on contract for the 2011 season and so we are left wondering whether the Caps will get anything or this falls under as a free transfer.  If the trial is not successful for the young Canadian it will be good experience and it will give him a benchmark as he learns what he needs to work on.  This won't be the first time that Gage is trialing with Reading as prior to signing to the Residency program in 2007 he had training sessions with academies in England with Reading, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, and Charlton.  He also spent time in Germany with Hamburger SV and in Scotland with St. Johnstone.