VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that five Canadian youth national team players will be returning to Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) for the 2016 United Soccer League (USL) season.
The quintet of returnees includes defenders Kadin Chung (Port Coquitlam, BC), Jordan Haynes (Peterborough, Ontario), and Chris Serban (Calgary, Alberta), as well as midfielders Terran Campbell (Burnaby, BC) and Thomas Gardner (North Vancouver, BC). All five players are graduates of the Whitecaps FC Residency program and made their professional debuts during the 2015 USL season.
“We’ve built a great core of young Canadians at the club, including these five players who have already made their professional debuts while still in their teens,” said Whitecaps FC 2 head coach Alan Koch. “There will be a number of additional returning players, as well as new additions which will strengthen the group going into our second season.”
2016 WFC2 Season Tickets are on sale now. 'Caps Club Season Ticket Members can add WFC2 to their MLS season ticket package for only $7 per month! For more information on WFC2 tickets, call 604-484-7862 or e-mail wfc2@whitecapsfc.com.
Campbell, Chung, and Gardner – each 17-years-old – were signed to professional contracts in August and made their debuts near the end of the 2015 USL season. All three local players represented Canada’s U-17 national team in the past year, with Campbell and Chung wearing the Red and White at the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship tournament. Earlier this month, Chung was called up for the next cycle of Canada’s U-20 men’s national team. All three players also continue to play for Whitecaps FC U-18 Residency during the current United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) season.
Haynes and Serban – both 19-years-old – played for Canada at the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship tournament. In USL play, Haynes started 14 of his 16 appearances in his rookie season, while Serban started 13 of his 16 appearances before his season ended prematurely due to a broken jaw. Serban, who is also a member of the UBC Thunderbirds men’s soccer team, was a finalist for the 2015 USL Fan Favourite award.
