As Whitecaps FC take to the pitch tonight at Stade Saputo, the club’s reputation as one that provides a platform for young Canadian talent to take to the bigger stage is becoming more and more evident.
Tuesday’s match against Montreal will see the ‘Caps add Michael Baldisimo to the list of Canadian Homegrown players to make their MLS debut. Recently, fellow Academy products Patrick Metcalfe and Thomas Hasal were thrown in to test their skills against proven competition.
Canadian-born under-23 players Cristian Gutierrez, acquired via transfer during the offseason, and Ryan Raposo, the club's 2020 MLS SuperDraft selection, also have been given their opportunities.
“We’ve got some really exciting talent without a doubt,” says defender Andy Rose, an experienced MLS vet that young players often look to for advice.
Hasal, the revelation of the MLS is Back Tournament for Vancouver, stepped into the first team and looked like he belonged from the moment the opportunity presented itself.
Despite the two tough results in Toronto, Rose believes that Hasal deserves credit for his performances. He explains how Hasal is beginning to find his voice and become more comfortable in the spotlight and in the first XI.
“He played really well and made some fantastic saves,” says Rose. “He’s growing a lot, his voice is getting bigger, he’s more commanding, I’m really excited for the future.”
Against Toronto on Friday, the ‘Caps played eight Canadian players, which set a new club MLS record, and against Montreal tonight, six Canadians are in the starting XI for the second consecutive match.
Among the starters against TFC was 21-year-old Metcalfe.
Rose believes it’s been a long time coming, with the Richmond, BC product showing his talent during the training sessions last season. Even more impressive, according to Rose, is Metcalfe’s mentality, the ability to remain patient and wait for his chance to shine.
“I thought he stepped in and it certainly didn’t look like his first start,” Rose says. “He commanded that space really well, he got up and pressed at good times, he listened, he communicated well.”
Rose is undoubtedly impressed with Metcalfe’s ability citing his vision, his technical ability and his ability to protect the ball in tight spaces as trademark features of Metcalfe’s play, all of which are signs of a top footballer.
“I’m happy for Pat,” says coach Marc Dos Santos. “A young Canadian player, another one that we give an opportunity to show his qualities, and I think for his first game, in a stage like that, Pat did really well.”
“It’s been a long time coming,” says Metcalfe. “I couldn’t be happier to get my start and get my full 90.”
Metcalfe says he didn’t let the setbacks he suffered during his youth career affect him, and continued to believe in himself, knowing that he could eventually play a role with the team.
Hasal says the ‘Caps reputation of breeding young players and seeing his former teammate and fellow Academy graduate Alphonso Davies become the first Canadian player to win the UEFA Champions League is inspiring and motivating.
“It’s been amazing for all of us,” says Hasal. “Seeing him do the things he’s done and it seems like every step he takes is a massive one, and he just keeps going. We’re all so happy for him.”
Hasal says seeing Davies grab his opportunities helped motivate him to grab his own when he was presented one in Orlando.
“Seeing players like that doing things like that definitely motivates us, shows us it’s possible and shows that when the right opportunity presents itself, you can do as well.”
Since Orlando, Hasal has been a regular fixture in net while Maxime Crepeau makes his way back from injury.
“I’m a bit more calm, a bit more together with the team and I just want to keep growing and improving in every game,” he says. “
In the first eight matches of 2020, including the MiB Tournament Knockout Stage, 10 Canadians have seen the pitch for Vancouver, combining for 32 starts, 49 appearances, and 3,042 minutes played.
Baldisimo will be the 11th Canadian to feature for the 'Caps in 2020 on Tuesday evening, and the 10th Academy grad ever to start for Whitecaps FC.
“The academy did a great job bringing us up,” says Hasal. “The more time we spend with the first team, the more time we play, the more time we train, we definitely grow in confidence as well as technical ability. And with now some of us playing, you can definitely see that we’ve got quality players here.”
