BC Soccer News, Wednesday, December 21, 2016

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS

Whitecaps FC to host Philadelphia Union in 2017 MLS regular season opener – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC will commence their seventh season in Major League Soccer when they host Philadelphia Union on Sunday, March 5 at BC Place, the club announced on Wednesday. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. PT.

MLS announces 2017 home openers for all 22 clubs; season kicks off March 3 – MLS
Major League Soccer announced the 2017 home openers for all 22 clubs on Wednesday, with newcomers Minnesota United visiting the Portland Timbers in the opening match of the season on Friday, March 3. Fellow expansion club Atlanta United will open at home on Sunday, March 5, vs. the New York Red Bulls.

Whitecaps weighing up player acquisition options – SN
By the time the new MLS season gets underway in March, Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson will have racked up thousands of air miles in his search to strengthen his squad and make the ‘Caps playoff contenders once again.

Source: Whitecaps interested in Scott Arfield; could pursue Juninho, Gil – Metro
Scott Arfield might just be MLS bound with one Western Conference team looking to address their need at central midfield with the Canadian international.

Fire land goal-scoring striker for present, future in Nemanja Nikolic – SBI
Nemanja Nikolic may not have the star power of previous Designated Player targets Didier Drogba and Jermaine Jone, but the Chicago Fire are fully expecting him to make game-changing contributions on the field all the same.

Minnesota United, Club León Agree to Transfer Fee for Miguel Ibarra – Fifty Five One
Minnesota United secured the rights to bring Miguel Ibarra back from Liga MX via a trade earlier this week. Now, they’ve taken another step to bringing Ibarra back to the North by agreeing a transfer fee.

Atlanta United sign free agent forward Jacob Peterson – MLS
Atlanta United announced on Wednesday the signing of veteran midfielder Jacob Peterson to a multiyear contract, making him the second free agent to sign with the club ahead of the club’s 2017 inaugural season.

On American Soccer: Chinese Super League hijacks Atlanta United target, KC gets rights to U.S. U-17 star – SN
It was almost a year ago when Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber made it clear he wasn’t too worried about the big-spending ways of the Chinese Super League. He didn’t consider it a threat and insisted that it wasn’t something for MLS to concern itself with until the CSL showed it could keep up that high level of spending over the course of multiple transfer windows.

Montreal Impact will have shortest off-season in team history – Sportsnet
The Montreal Impact will open training camp on Jan. 24 at Olympic Stadium before moving to Orlando, Fla., to continue preparation for the 2017 season, the Major League Soccer club announced Tuesday.

Toronto FC to open 2017 season in Utah – Toronto Star
Eighty-four days after Toronto FC lost the MLS Cup final to Seattle Sounders, the Reds will be back for the 2017 season.

TFC ‘keeper Irwin has one hell of a week – Toronto Sun
Finally, following a whirlwind season, Clint Irwin was settling into the holidays. Then Toronto FC’s starting goalkeeper answered his phone from his home in Charlotte, N.C.

Local businessman Ingram provides Nashville MLS bid with significant financial backing – SBI
As the race for expansion slots 25-28 in MLS heats up in a big way, one contender has received a massive boost to their profile and hopes.

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BC SOCCER NEWS

The Juan de Fuca Plate: Will a mystery Vancouver team challenge Victoria Highlanders in BC? – Northern Starting XI
Last week, goalWA.net broke the news that the Washington Crossfire PDL team had sold its rights to a group in Vancouver, BC. Besides causing some additional havoc for the US Open Cup, for which the Crossfire had qualified, it also creates some interesting possibilities North of the border. The PDL has had multiple teams in British Columbia before, and it had developed into an interesting rivalry and some special silverware.

KYSA Elects New President – BC Soccer Web
Candace Dodson-Willis was elected from within the 7-person board, comprised of volunteers who themselves have been elected by the association’s membership at the KYSA Annual General Meeting.

VI Soccer League’s holiday hiatus partly weather related – Goldstream Gazette
Heading into the Vancouver Island Soccer League’s holiday break, the Westcastle United men holds down fourth spot in the Division 2 standings at 5-2-3, just two points back of Vic West Casuals in third.

Difference Makers: North Van teen gives the shirt off his back, and then some – Vancouver Sun
The best thing about soccer is that wherever you happen to be playing it, there is a universal language being spoken that has nothing to do with vocabulary or vernacular.

BC Soccer Assoc. is Now Accepting 2016-2017 Awards Nominations – BCSA
We are pleased to inform everyone that BC soccer Assoc. is currently accepting Awards nominations until the submission deadline date of March 31, 2017. Selection of the award recipients is based on many factors including the individual’s commitment, community involvement and willingness to give back to the game. This year any BC Soccer Assoc. member and their affiliate clubs may submit a nomination.

2017 BC Soccer Assoc. is accepting candidates for its Board of Directors – BCSA
BC Soccer Assoc. is accepting candidates for its Board of Directors for terms commencing June, 2017 (following the BC Soccer Annual General Meeting).

Victoria Highlanders 2017 Season Passes now on sale – Highlanders FC
Support local soccer on Vancouver Island. Join the excitement of Highlanders FC PDL Soccer!

PHOTOS: CANADA WEST WOMENS FINAL, UBC 3, TWU 0, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

VMSL PHOTOS: Richmond FC Hibs 1, ICSF Columbus FC 0, November 5, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

Tickets now on sale for Canada Soccer Women’s National Team celebration match 4 February in Vancouver – CSA
Individual tickets to the Canada v Mexico Women’s National Team Bronze Medal celebration match on 4 February 2017 in Vancouver are now on sale to the public. Complete ticket information can be found at CanadaSoccer.com/Tickets.

MWSL PHOTOS: Van United Primas 0, Fraser Valley Action 2, October 30, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

PHOTOS: GNAC Women’s Soccer: SFU 1 Concordia U. (Ore.) 0, October 20, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

BC Soccer Assoc. Delivery of Coach Mandate – BCSA
IMPORTANT:  If you are coaching in the ages U6-U12 you are required to complete the age appropriate course(s) even if you have a higher level of certification (ie. Soccer for Life, B pretest, C License, B License or A License). In order to enable our membership to deliver on the coaching mandate, BC Soccer Assoc. will be scheduling Learning Facilitator training sessions to assist organizations to have qualified individuals to deliver in-club coach certification courses to their coaches.

2016 BC Soccer Provincial Cup Photo Galleries – BC Soccer Web
Westhills Stadium & Goudy Park in Langford hosted the 2016 BC Soccer Adult Provincial Cup Finals. It was a thrilling weekend of soccer on Vancouver Island that saw seven champions crowned. Richmond FC & Surrey Pegasus qualified for the National Championships this Fall in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Both Coquitlam Metro-Ford Masters & Classics sides qualified for the Western Canadian Masters Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In all, it was a clean sweep for teams from the VMSL & MWSL. Monique Lamoureux & Bill Currie from BC Soccer Web were on location that weekend, capturing the all the action.

Free Physiotherapy Clinical Trial for Achilles Pain at UBC – UBC Centre for Hip Health & Mobility
Do you have Achilles pain? Interested in free Physiotherapy? If yes, join our clinical trial to look at the effectiveness of intramuscular stimulation (IMS), a form of acupuncture therapy, in treating Achilles tendon pain.

The BC Soccer Web Guide to Empire Field – BC Soccer Web
Empire Fields and Plateau Sports Park is the lofty and formal name given to Vancouver’s newest addition to the soccer scene. Yet, anyone who’s ever kicked or carried both kinds of footballs around these parts knows the place by heart.

Introducing BC Soccer Web Syndication – BC Soccer Web
You can now add BC Soccer Web news to your website simply by adding our new RSS Feed! Find out more.

Send your Soccer News to BC Soccer Web! – BC Soccer Web
BC Soccer Web is the hub for soccer in British Columbia. We want to share your soccer news with the entire province, and you can help by letting us know! We want your match reports, club news, league standings, and info on upcoming tournaments and clinics. Whether you submit links to existing news on the web, or your own original writing, we want to share it with the soccer community in B.C.

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CANADA SOCCER NEWS

Canada’s women’s soccer squad is Postmedia’s team of 2016 – Toronto Sun
John Herdman wants a different label. He’s sick of being an underdog. “Let’s stop pretending we’re the old Canada that wins the odd game,” Canada’s women’s soccer coach told Postmedia.

Artificial turf with rubber crumbs safe to play on, Dutch study finds – Toronto Star
The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment published a report saying that the health risk from playing on such fields, which are common throughout the Netherlands and elsewhere as low-maintenance alternatives to natural grass, is “virtually negligible.”

A License course wraps in Montreal, QC – CSA
Twenty-three coaches from across the country wrapped up the on-field portion of the latest Canada Soccer A License course in Montreal, QC last week with their practical assessments.

Karman Singh named Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame Athlete of the Month –  Inside Toronto
Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame Athlete of the Month Karman Singh played a critical role in the team’s success recording shutouts in all tournament play. He thanked Humber College for giving him the chance to play, and his teammates and coaches for letting him be a part of this record-breaking season.

NCAA 2016 Wrap: League1 Men Make Presence Felt – League1 Ontario
Current and alumni League1 players continue to make their presence felt in post-secondary play south of the border.

State of the game in Canada: Looking outside of MLS in 2016 – Red Nation Online
With Toronto FC’s recent success, it has taken some of the attention away from the domestic game in Canada. With all the talk of the Canadian Premier League, the Canadian soccer pyramid is as important as ever. As mentioned in my League One Ontario recap, 2016 saw a lot of familiar faces and clubs win trophies across the country, although there were a few new names that should be considered when following the game domestically and to keep an eye on with the Canadian Premier League becoming more of realistic venture.

Double victory – Prince Albert Herald
The Prince Albert Youth Soccer Association U14 and U18 Celtic girls’ teams had a successful finish to 2016.

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Trickett-Smith, Chaney Aboard for Republic FC – USL
Sacramento Republic FC announced Tuesday the return of in-season signings Daniel Trickett-Smith and Christian Chaney from this past campaign. Their 2017 signings are pending league and federation approval.

What Alex Morgan to Lyon means – The Equalizer
The seeds were sown for Alex Morgan to play for Lyon as early as March when club chairman Jean-Michel Aulas suggested that U.S. national team players would join his side in 2017. Morgan’s name has been attached since the summer. Tuesday morning it happened when Morgan, Lyon and her NWSL side Orlando Pride all announced the move.

Karen Bardsley says Lionesses can grab glory at Euro 2017 – The FA
Karen Bardsley says England must use their World Cup bronze medal as a springboard for more success next summer.

Caitlin Foord says the Matildas can win a World Cup and opens up on Australia’s Olympics heartbreak – Perth Now
It seems like the stuff of dreams — and insane dreams at that. But Australia’s women’s football team, the Matildas, are every chance of taking home the world game’s biggest prize within the next 10 years.

How a 19-hour flight changed Ashlyn Harris’s life forever – Excelle Sports
Ashlyn Harris traveled to Africa last month to help change the lives of young women. But after one week in the small West African coastal country of Liberia, she returned feeling as though what had changed most significantly was her own life. And for the better.

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WORLD SOCCER NEWS

Cameroon loses 7 players for AFCON as they opt to stay at European clubs – Inside World Football
In what has all the hallmarks of a classic club versus country dispute, seven Cameroon players say they are shunning the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on January 14.

Chelsea, Inter, PSG, United – where will James go when he leaves Real Madrid? – SN
What next for James Rodriguez? The Colombian playmaker said after Real Madrid’s Club World Cup win that his future may lie away from the Santiago Bernabeu and even though the club do not want him to leave in the winter window, a departure in the summer seems likely.

AC Milan delayed for Super Cup game in Qatar – Sportsnet
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani says his team will be at a disadvantage in its Italian Super Cup match against Juventus in Qatar after having to cancel its flight on Tuesday.

Supercoppa bigger than Liverpool v Man Utd, says Suso – SN
AC Milan attacking midfielder Suso says the Supercoppa Italiana against Juventus will be the biggest game of his career.

Bayern Munich loses American forward Julian Green to Stuttgart – Sportsnet
United States forward Julian Green is leaving Bayern Munich and switching to second-division club Stuttgart.

Tottenham slash Europa League tickets to just £5 in bid to avoid empty seats at Wembley – The Telegraph
Tottenham Hotspur have dropped the price of tickets for the Europa League to as low as just £5 and could keep the top tier of Wembley shut to prevent Mauricio Pochettino’s team from having to play in front of large sections of empty seats.

Marc Wachs: German player in hospital after shooting that kills family member – BBC Sport
Dynamo Dresden defender Marc Wachs has received emergency surgery after a shooting that killed a family member.

Joey Barton back at Burnley and in the last-chance saloon – The Guardian
The announcement that Joey Barton is to be re-signed by Burnley in January heralds the beginning of a new chapter in the colourful life of a footballer whose most significant contributions since leaving the club for Rangers last summer have come in literary, rather than football form.

Police identify 155 potential suspects in football abuse investigation – SN
British police say the number of potential suspects in the investigation into child abuse in football now stands at 155.

FIFA extends sanctions relating to match manipulation and betting activity – FIFA
FIFA can today confirm the worldwide extension of the sanctions imposed on two officials and five players from England, Korea DPR and Laos respectively relating to incidents of match manipulation and betting activity.

Transfer Watch 2017 – The Guardian
There are 10 days before the transfer window opens but clubs in the top five European leagues have already agreed 3 deals for £10,521,000

The 100 best footballers in the world 2016 – interactive – The Guardian
Our panel of 124 experts from 45 nations compiled a list of the greatest male players on the planet. Today we reveal Nos 100-41.

‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’: The Power of a Song – FIFA
With scarves raised, banners aloft and flags flying, the Kop at Anfield has long held a standard for producing some of football’s great sights and sounds. This is particularly so when Liverpool supporters stand and sing one of the game’s most beloved anthems, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. With its heart-warming notes and lyrics, the song not only brings Reds fans together, but passionate football supporters the world over.