Canada’s summer of soccer squad announced for Men’s National Team match in Montréal

Canada will face Curaçao on 13 June at Stade Saputo

Canada Soccer have announced their preparation squad for a home send-off match in Montréal as part of the Men’s National Team’s build up to the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Men’s International Friendly match is part of a three-match Summer of Soccer Series in Canada which includes a pair of Women’s International Matches in Winnipeg and Toronto.

Canada will face Curaçao on 13 June at Stade Saputo, with tickets available via migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io. The match will be broadcast live on TSN and RDS, the official broadcaster for Canada Soccer’s National Teams.

This marks the first time ever that Canada Soccer has hosted a combination trio of Men’s National Team and Women’s National Team international matches in different venues across Canada over the course of a week. The Women’s National Team has matches against Costa Rica on 8 and 11 June ahead of the Men’s National Team’s return to Montréal on 13 June.

“We have the perfect mix of experience and youth in this squad,” said Octavio Zambrano, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “We are looking forward to seeing how they come together on the pitch. With this camp, we have a chance to look at players for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, but also younger players that are part of our long-term plans.”

The expanded squad features 11 players from four different Canadian teams, including Montréal-based players Patrice Bernier, Maxime Crépeau, Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Wandrille Lefèvre, and James Pantemis. For Bernier, this could mark his last international match in front of his hometown fans at Stade Saputo.

“Patrice Bernier is a stalwart that has played many times for Canada and has demonstrated his value,” said Octavio Zambrano, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “Patrice can also help our young players who are looking to earn their places in the National Team.”

Four players have received their first call up to the Men’s National Team while two others are getting their second call up. Pantemis, Kwame Awuah, Juan Córdova, and Mark-Anthony Kaye are the debutants while Raheem Edwards and Tyler Pasher are both making their return to the Men’s National Team.

In all, 17 of the 27 players are 25 years or younger, including Jonathan Osorio who will turn 25 on the day before the match in Montréal.

In terms of experience, Bernier (53), Tosaint Ricketts (55), and Marcel de Jong (50) have all surpassed the half century mark in international matches. Additional experience will come from Will Johnson (42), Adam Straith (42), Dejan Jaković (34), and Milan Borjan (32).

From the larger group of players, coach Octavio Zambrano will reduce the size of his squad on 9 June, with only 18-20 players dressing for the international match on 13 June.

After the 13 June match, Canada Soccer will announce their squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in mid June. The 40-man consideration list for the CONCACAF Gold Cup will be announced in early June.

SUMMER OF SOCCER IN CANADA
This summer, Canada Soccer’s National Teams will play in Winnipeg, Toronto and Montréal from 8-13 June. The Women’s National Team will face Costa Rica on 8 June at Investors Group Field and 11 June at BMO Field before the Men’s National Team, in their send-off match before the CONCACAF Gold Cup, face Curaçao on 13 June at Stade Saputo.

For complete ticket and event information, fans can visit migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io/tickets.

CONCACAF GOLD CUP
Taking place every two years, the CONCACAF Gold Cup is the official national team championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Drawing large crowds and millions of television viewers from across the region, the Gold Cup is a celebration of soccer, sportsmanship, and culture.

Canada are two-time CONCACAF champions, having won the CONCACAF Championship in 1985 and the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2000. Since the first edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 1991, Canada’s best finishes are first place in 2000 and semi-final finishes in 2002 and 2007. All time, Canada have posted a record of 15 wins, 11 draws, and 15 losses in 41 matches.

In 22 international matches since the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup‎, Canada’s record is eight wins, five draws, and six losses, including most recently a 1:1 draw with Scotland on 22 March 2017.

CANADA
GK- Milan Borjan | POL / MKS Korona Kielce
GK- Maxime Crépeau | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
GK- James Pantemis
CB- Dejan Jaković | USA / New York Cosmos
CB- Manjrekar James | HUN / Vasas Budapest
CB- Wandrille Lefèvre | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
CB/M- Adam Straith | CAN / FC Edmonton
FB- Fraser Aird
FB- Kwame Awuah | CAN / New York City FC
FB- Juan Córdova | CHI / CD Huachipato
FB- Marcel de Jong | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
FB- Andrés Fresenga | URU / Cerro Largo FC
FB- Tyler Pasher | USA / Sporting Kansas City
M- Tesho Akindele | USA / FC Dallas
M- Patrice Bernier | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
M- Raheem Edwards | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Kianz Froese | GER / Fortuna Düsseldorf
M- David Junior Hoilett | WAL / Cardiff City FC
M- Will Johnson | USA / Orlando City SC
M- Mark-Anthony Kaye | USA / Louisville City FC
M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Samuel Piette | ESP / CD Izarra
M- Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
F- Marcus Haber | SCO / Dundee FC
M/F- Anthony Jackson-Hamel | CAN / Impact Montréal
F- Cyle Larin | USA / Orlando City SC
F- Tosaint Ricketts | CAN / Toronto FC

CANADA A-Z

Name | Birthyear | Age | City in which they were raised | First club / active start
Aird, Fraser | 1995 | 22 | Scarborough, ON, CAN | North Scarborough SC
Akindele, Tesho | 1992 | 25 | Thornton, CO, USA | Mississauga
Awuah, Kwame | 1995 | 21 | Toronto, ON, CAN | Club Uruguay Toronto
Bernier, Patrice | 1979 | 37 | Brossard, QC, CAN
Borjan, Milan | 1987 | 29 | Hamilton, ON, CAN | Radnicki JP
Córdova, Juan | 1995 | 21 | Los Anges, CHI | San Esteban Association
Crépeau, Maxime | 1994 | 23 | Candiac, QC, CAN | Ligue de soccer pour enfants de Candiac
de Jong, Marcel | 1986 | 30 | Valkenswaard, NED | De Valk
Edwards, Raheem | 1995 | 21 | Toronto, ON, CAN | Erin Mills SC
Fresenga, Andrés | 1992 | 24 | Toronto, ON, CAN | Toronto Argentina
Froese, Kianz | 1996 | 21 | La Habana, CUB & Winnipeg, MB, CAN | Garden City Community Centre
Haber, Marcus | 1989 | 28 | Vancouver, BC, CAN | Dunbar SA
Hoilett, David Junior | 1990 | 27 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Mississauga SC
Jackson-Hamel, Anthony | 1993 | 23 | Québec, QC, CAN | Impact Junior ARS Québec
Jaković, Dejan | 1985 | 31 | Etobicoke, ON, CAN | Kingsview
James, Manjrekar | 1993 | 23 | North York, ON, CAN | North York Azzuri
Johnson, Will | 1987 | 30 | Toronto, ON, CAN & Chicago, IL, USA |
Kaye, Mark-Anthony | 1994 | 22 | Toronto, ON, CAN | Wexford SC
Larin, Cyle | 1995 | 22 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
Lefèvre, Wandrille | 1988 | 28 | Chartres, FRA & Montréal, QC, CAN | ES Pérols
Osorio, Jonathan | 1992 | 25 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Toronto Futsal League
Pantemis, James | 1997 | 20 | Montréal, QC, CAN | Pierrefonds
Pasher, Tyler | 1994 | 23 | Elmira, ON, CAN | Woolwich Soccer Association
Piette, Samuel | 1994 | 22 | Le Gardeur, QC, CAN | Lionceaux de le Gardeur
Ricketts, Tosaint | 1987 | 29 | Edmonton, AB, CAN | Edmonton Juventus
Straith, Adam | 1990 | 26 | Victoria, BC, CAN | Bays United SC
Teibert, Russell | 1992 | 24 | Niagara Falls, ON, CAN | Niagara Falls SC