VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today their annual team awards - presented by BMO - with right fullback Young-Pyo Lee voted as the club’s 2012 ‘Player of the Year’. Rookie striker Darren Mattocks won the ‘Most Promising Player’ award, while midfielder Jun Marques Davidson was the recipient of the 2012 ‘Jock MacDonald Unsung Hero Award’. Youngster Omar Salgado was honoured as this year’s ‘Humanitarian of the Year’.
Whitecaps FC honoured the 2012 Awards Winners in a pre-match ceremony prior to Vancouver’s final regular season home match versus Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers on Bell Pitch at BC Place on Sunday afternoon.
In honour of Lee being voted as Whitecaps FC Player of the Year, BMO Bank of Montreal awarded Alessandro Hojabrpour from the Whitecaps FC U-13 Pre-Residency team with a $500 Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) before Sunday’s kickoff.
“When over 300 Whitecaps FC fans turned up at BMO’s Coquitlam branch recently to meet Young-Pyo Lee, we realized he had a great local following,” said Joanne Gassman, Senior Vice President, BC, BMO Bank of Montreal. “We’re very pleased to present the annual team awards as part of our commitment to the beautiful game in Vancouver.”
PLAYER OF THE YEAR -Young-Pyo Lee
Presented to the winner by BMO, the ‘Player of the Year’ honour was awarded to Young-Pyo Lee after Whitecaps FC supporters selected the former South Korean international for his efforts throughout the 2012 MLS campaign. The tireless defender has been one of the first names that ‘Caps head coach Martin Rennie writes down in his starting XI. Prior to today’s match, the 35-year-old has made a team-high 31 appearances and amassed 2,790 minutes of action this season. In doing so, the former PSV Eindhoven and Tottenham Hotspur FC man has ensured Whitecaps FC have maintained some semblance of familiarity at right fullback through 2012. With a strong work ethic, Lee ranks second in the team for assists with four. He even scored a fortuitous match-winning goal at Columbus Crew on April 28. The defender’s industrious work on the right flank has twice won him the Budweiser Man of the Match award.
MOST PROMISING PLAYER -Darren Mattocks
The 2012 ‘Most Promising Player’ award was presented to Darren Mattocks, with the honour selecting a younger player from either Whitecaps FC or Whitecaps FC Residency program that exemplifies noticeable development throughout an individual season. The first-year striker has made an instant impact for Whitecaps FC after the club selected him with the second overall pick in this year’s MLS SuperDraft. The 22-year-old’s electrifying pace and clinical finishing has him in contention for MLS Rookie of the Year honours. Prior to today’s match, the recently-capped Jamaican international has scored seven goals and added one assist in 19 MLS appearances. Mattocks leads the Blue and White with two game-winning goals in 2012 and was recently named the best MLS player under the age of 24 in MLSsoccer.com’s ’24 under 24’ list for 2012.
JOCK MacDONALD UNSUNG HERO AWARD -Jun Marques Davidson
The 2012 ‘Jock MacDonald Unsung Hero Award’ was awarded to Jun Marques Davidson in memory of Jock MacDonald's dedication to Whitecaps FC. Jock was a founding member of Vancouver 86ers and a key individual to resurrecting professional soccer in the Lower Mainland. His gracious personality and contributions were an important part of the club’s success. In his first season in MLS, Davidson’s contributions as a holding midfielder have played an important role in the considerable improvement of Whitecaps FC as an MLS outfit. Prior to today’s match, the 29-year-old has started all 24 of his league appearances for 2,115 minutes of action. His efforts have earned him the Budweiser Man of the Match award on two occasions this season.
HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR -Omar Salgado
The 2012 ‘Humanitarian of the Year' was awarded to Omar Salgado, which highlights a player that has shown an active willingness to give back to the community by volunteering and participating in club and community initiatives beyond the regular call of duty. The 19-year-old was a regular contributor to Whitecaps FC’s various community initiatives during the 2012 season. His enthusiasm and commitment helped Whitecaps FC continue with their mission and vision to be a significant asset in the community. Prior to today’s match, Salgado started all but one of his six league appearances, recording one assist, before a foot injury in early June put him on the sidelines for an extended period of time. Despite seeing limited action this season, the United States youth international was selected #23 in MLSsoccer.com’s '24 Under 24' list.
DOMENIC MOBILIO GOLDEN BOOT
With two matches remaining in the 2012 regular season, Darren Mattocks is in pole position to claim the ‘Domenic Mobilio Golden Boot’ award as Whitecaps FC top goalscorer for 2012. Prior to today’s match, the former University of Akron star has scored seven goals in MLS to go with his single goal in this year’s Amway Canadian Championship for a total of eight. Last season’s top scorer Camilo Sanvezzo is second with five league goals in 2012, while three players - Gershon Koffie, Dane Richards, and Barry Robson - are tied with three MLS goals each. The award is named in honour of Domenic Mobilio, who in 15 seasons with Vancouver 86ers scored 170 goals, more than double the club's next leading scorer. In memory of his great accomplishments, the Domenic Mobilio Golden Boot - a bronzed trophy made from one of Domenic's left boots - is awarded annually by the Mobilio family to the Whitecaps FC men's player who scores the most goals in a single season.
About BMO and Soccer
BMO supports soccer across Canada from youth players in local neighbourhoods and communities all the way up to the professional level. Our deep commitment to ‘The Beautiful Game’ is evident from the beginning of the curve with our grassroots sponsorship of more than 900 youth teams nationally. The relationship continues with support of Canada’s men’s and women’s national teams, our professional teams (Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Montreal Impact) and our soccer venue title sponsorship (BMO Field).
