Territory 3 - USA/NCAA Introduction

Posted March 14th, 2008 by Al Clark

The View from the South – Introduction to the USA Territory

The line between what constitutes Canadian and American professional sports can best be described as blurred; the NHL, MLB and NBA all have Canadian teams (or American, depending on how you look at it) within their franchise make-up. Soccer is no different.

From the NASL, through the A-League and current USL divisions, Canadian teams have been participating and achieving success along the way. In 2007 the first MLS team, Toronto FC, kicked off their inaugural season to great commercial success, fervent fan support yet few accolades on the field. The fan response was so energizing that it was one of the primary motivations for this website. Canada had spoken; it was a new age for the World’s Game.

Over the past few season, several prominent Canadian’s have found a home in MLS, none more so than Houston’s back-to-back MLS Cup winners, Dwayne de Rosario and the evergreen Pat Onstad. Frank Yallop also assembled a Canuck contingent most TFC fans would welcome in CMNT players Ante Jazic and Kevin Harmse, and since his move to SJ he has continued this trend by selecting Chris Pozniak from TFC in the expansion draft. Harmse has since found his way to BMO Field, but with Adrian Serioux at Dallas, there is arguably more Canadian talent in Texas than on Toronto’s senior roster.

With Mo Johnson overlooking former Canadian U20 defender Matthew Britner, the former Brown player is currently fighting for a place on the New England squad that selected him in the Supplemental Draft. With Stevie Nicol’s eye for drafting unheralded talent, TFC fans are hoping that Mo didn’t let another domestic talent slip through his fingers.

The USL has two Canadian teams, in Vancouver and Montreal, but with no roster restrictions there’s a number of Canucks playing on other teams over the two divisions. Two recent acquisitions by Charleston highlight the group, with ex-MLSers Jack Stewart (Chicago/RSL) and Marco Reda (TFC) signing on for a new-look central defensive partnership in Carolina. The Battery now has an impressive FIVE Canadians on their roster!

This Territory will also cover some of the up-and-coming talent in the US collegiate system (NCAA) which includes standouts like reigning Hermann Trophy winner O’Brian White, Dan Jakovic and Tosaint Ricketts. NCAA players are all the more interesting to fans of TFC as these are likely to be the domestic representation in future drafts. Many have earmarked White as the #1 overall pick – with Toronto waiting in the wings as they hold both their own and the natural selection of expansion side San Jose.

If you find or know of a player plying his trade in the USA that is not on the below list, please feel free to email al@canucks-abroad.com

United States - Professional

Dwayne De Rosario - Houston Dynamo (Major League Soccer) (1)
Pat Onstad - Houston Dynamo (Major League Soccer) (1)
Adrian Serioux - FC Dallas (Major League Soccer) (1)
Ante Jazic - Los Angeles Galaxy (Major League Soccer) (1)
Chris Pozniak - San Jose Earthquakes (Major League Soccer) (1)
Matthew Britner – New England Revolution (Major League Soccer) (1) - Trial

Justin Thompson - Portland Timbers (USL First Division) (2)
Charles Gbeke - Rochester Raging Rhinos (USL First Division) (2)
Leigh Sembaluk - Rochester Raging Rhinos (USL First Division) (2)
Alen Marcina - Minnesota Thunder (USL First Division) (2)
Marco Reda - Charleston Battery (USL First Division) (2)
Gordon Chin - Charleston Battery (USL First Division) (2)
Ian Bennett - Charleston Battery (USL First Division) (2)
Jordie Hughes - Charleston Battery (USL First Division) (2)
Jack Stewart - Charleston Battery (USL First Division) (2)

Brian Rowland - Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL Second Division (3)

United States – Amateur/Collegiate

Jeffery Gonsalves - Rhode Island Stingrays (USL PDL) (4)
Tomasz Charowski – Cary RailHawks (USL PDL) (4)

O’Brian White – University of Connecticut (NCAA)
Dan Jakovic – UAB (NCAA)
Stefan Caulfield – Virgina Tech (NCAA)
Kyle Hall - Syracuse (NCAA)
Frank Jonke – University of Louisville (NCAA)
Adam Lang – University of Washington (NCAA)
Stefan Leslie – Trinity Western University (NCAA)
Joey Loreth – University of Oregon (NCAA)
Michael Luk – St John’s University (NCAA)
Dominic Oppong – University at Buffalo (NCAA)
Brad Peetoom - Syracuse (NCAA)
Vince Petrasso – Campbell University (NCAA)
Andrew Proctor – UC Santa Barbara (NCAA)
Tosaint Ricketts - University of Green Bay-Wisconsin (NCAA)
Derek Rios – UAB (NCAA)
Alex Ruhe-Lischke – University of Albany (NCAA)
Todd Rutledge – Fairfield University (NCAA)
Masumi Turnbull – University of Kentucky (NCAA)
Dane Roberts – Furman University (NCAA)
John Jonke - University of Louisville (NCAA)

David Thompson - Potomac Cougars (Maryland) U18
Drew Beckie - Real Colorado (Colorado) U18
Teal Bunbury - Apple Valley Juventus (Minnesota) U18
Mackenzie Pridham - De Anza Force (California) U18

Trinity Western University

On March 17th, 2008 Masster (not verified) says:

Trinity Western University is not in the NCAA. They are located in Langley, BC and play in the CIS. Stefan Leslie is also property of the Whitecaps and may make their roster this year so he isn't really a Canadian abroad.

Good work on the site. Keep it up!

Thanks for that link. I'll

On March 16th, 2008 Al Clark says:

Thanks for that link.

I'll add those guys.

There's obviously going to be LOTS of Canucks in the collegiate system (UK and UofL here in KY have about 5 each!), so I'm going to need to keep the list to people with one or more of the following:

*Previous Canadian experience - U17 or U20. Even if it was just a call to camp.
*Who have won awards (all region/conference etc..)
*Are at big programmes and have had stand-out careers to date (regualr stats, captains, goal scoring etc..)

Thanks everyone