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

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.”

MONTRÉAL! #CANMNT will face Curacao at Stade Saputo on June 13th. Be there to cheer on Canada! Tickets: https://t.co/58IGIQvTUG pic.twitter.com/BixGMeJehU
​— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) May 28, 2017

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.

#CANMNT w/ 12 players based in Canada. Montréal 5= Maxime Crépeau, James Pantemis, Patrice Bernier, Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Wandrille Lefèvre pic.twitter.com/jcjnp4x4OW
​— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) May 30, 2017

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