Three Vancouver Whitecaps FC players have been called up to the Canadian U-23 men’s national team for an upcoming camp and Caribbean tour, which includes a pair of international matches.
Canada’s 18-man roster features 19-year-old Whitecaps FC goalkeeper Marco Carducci (Calgary) and 23-year-old midfielder Ben McKendry (Vancouver), as well as 20-year-old WFC2 fullback Chris Serban (Calgary). All three players are graduates of Whitecaps FC’s Residency Program. Former 'Caps Caleb Clarke and Ben Fisk were also selected to the camp.
The 10-day camp runs May 10-19, with stops in three cities: Toronto, Georgetown, Guyana, and St. George's, Grenada. The Canadian U-23 men’s national team will face the national "A" squads of both Guyana (May 15) and Grenada (May 18), who are in the midst of preparations for Caribbean Cup matches in June.
This will be McKendry’s first Canadian national team call-up since 2013, when he appeared in the CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship and scored in a 5-1 win over Nicaragua. The Vancouver native was recently named USL Player of the Week after scoring a wonder goal in a 2-1 WFC2 win over Swope Park Rangers.
Carducci and Serban, meanwhile, both represented Canada at last year’s CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship – Serban played every minute in all five of Canada’s matches. Carducci, a two-time Canadian U-17 Player of the Year, was also called up to the Canadian U-20 men’s national team earlier this year for a friendly vs. England’s U-20s.
CANADA
1- GK- Marco Carducci | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
2- FB- Chris Serban | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
3- FB- Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé | CAN / FC Montréal
4- FB- Jordan Murrell | USA / Pittsburgh Riverhounds
5- CB- Luca Gasparotto | SCO / Glasgow Rangers
6- CM- Louis Béland-Goyette | CAN / FC Montréal
7- M- Chris Mannella | CAN / Toronto FC II
8- M- Ben McKendry | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
9- F- Jordan Hamilton | CAN / Toronto FC II
10- F- Caleb Clarke | GER / SpVgg Unterhaching
11- M- Ben Fisk | ESP / Deportivo La Coruña B
12- M- Richmond Laryea | USA / Orlando City B
13- M- Mark-Anthony Kaye | USA / Louisville City FC
14- F- Raheem Edwards | CAN / Toronto FC II
15- CB- Skylar Thomas | CAN / Toronto FC II
16- CM- Manuel Aparicio | Unattached
17- CB- Brandon John | USA / Seattle Sounders II
18- GK- Maxime Crépeau | CAN / FC Montréal
Whitecaps FC 2 are back in action on Sunday, May 15 for a rematch against LA Galaxy II, after an exciting 2-2 comeback draw in Carson against the only other undefeated USL team two weeks ago. Tickets for the coming match are available here.
This year, every Tier 1 ‘Caps Club MLS membership includes three open tickets to WFC2 matches. Members can select their matches and theme days online through Account Manager. Information on theme days is available at whitecapsfc.com/wfc2/themedays.
Youth season passes are also available for $30 all in. For more information contact wfc2@whitecapsfc.com or call 604-484-7862.
