Nuke Soccer

WHITECAPS ADD BLAKE WAGNER
VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps have signed free agent defender Blake Wagner. The left-sided player, who has spent the last four seasons with Major League Soccer (MLS) club FC Dallas, has agreed to a one-year contract – plus an option – pending international clearance. The Whitecaps also announced that they will not exercise the 2010 contract options on defender/midfielder Mason Trafford and midfielder Gordon Chin.

During the 2009 season with FC Dallas, the 5-foot-10, 165-pound defender – who also saw time in midfield – played in 15 regular season matches, including eight starts, for 789 minutes of action. Over his four seasons with the Texas-based outfit, Wagner started 32 of his 40 regular season appearances for 2,947 minutes of action.

Wagner – who turned 22 last Friday – was selected in the second round (18th overall) of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft as a Generation adidas player.

Prior to joining FC Dallas, Wagner was a member of the United States U-17 national team Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida, from 2003 to 2005. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, the native of Tampa, Florida, has represented the U.S. at the U-17, U-20, and U-23 levels. This included all four matches for his country at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru, where the Americans reached the quarterfinals before falling to defeat versus the Netherlands.

Trafford, 23, joined the Whitecaps midway through the 2008 season and made 17 regular season and playoff appearances for 750 minutes of action. In 2009, the native of North Vancouver, BC, recorded two assists in 29 total appearances for the club.

Chin, 26, concludes his second spell with the ‘Caps, having first played for the club back in 2003. The Burnaby, BC, native scored one goal and added five assists in 28 total appearances for 1,545 minutes of action. In 2003, Chin made 14 appearances for Vancouver during his first season as a professional.

WHITECAPS RETURN TO DALLAS CUP
The Whitecaps Residency program are returning to the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup U-19 Super Group for a third consecutive year.

The young side will be looking to emulate the efforts made by the Residency team a year ago when they reached the Super Group final before falling 4-0 to Sao Paulo FC of Brazil. 2010 sees the prestigious youth tournament celebrate its 31st anniversary, and the Super Group will once again be well represented by top clubs from around the world. This year’s tournament will include Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur from England, Eintracht Frankfurt and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim from Germany, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube of Brazil, as well as the Mexican national team (91/92), the Japanese national team (91/92) and the USA national team (91/92).

“The Dallas Cup tournament has become somewhat of an annual event for our program and we are very excited to participate in it once again,” said Whitecaps Residency managing director and head coach Thomas Niendorf. “Although this is the program’s third year in Dallas, it will be a new experience for a number of our players, and I believe it will prove to be extremely valuable. We are also looking into bringing a couple former Residency players that are currently training with the Whitecaps men’s team for additional depth.”

Dallas Cup XXXI will take place from March 28 to April 4 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas, and Richland College in Dallas, Texas. Last spring, the Residency team impressed many by their run to the Super Group final. The ‘Caps won Bracket C after victories over Mexico’s Club Futbol Monterrey, Argentine giants Club Atletico River Plate, and Texas club Andromeda SC U-18 Academy. The Residency squad then set up a final clash with Sao Paulo FC after defeating Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in the semifinals.

First held in 1980, the Dallas Cup is one of world soccer’s most recognized youth tournaments, with numerous clubs invited to compete each year. In 2009, Dallas Cup XXX held seven tournaments in the U-13 to U-19 age groups, with the Super Group being the tournament’s marquee competition.

The Super Group, which first took place in 1990, has seen some of the world’s most famous clubs win the tournament. Previous champions include England’s West Ham United in 1992, Spain’s Real Madrid in 1993 and 1994, Mexico’s Club Universidad Nacional AC (UNAM Pumas) in 2001, England’s Liverpool FC in 2008, and Sao Paulo FC in 1995, 2007, and 2009.

The Super Group has also featured some of world soccer’s top stars in the formative stages of their career. The likes of Freddy Adu, David Beckham, Michael Carrick, Landon Donovan, Rafael Marquez, Michael Owen, Raul, and Wayne Rooney are all past participants.

Additional information about the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup can be found at dallascup.com.

2010 SEASON TICKETS
Whitecaps 2010 season tickets are now on sale. Season tickets include all men’s and women’s team regular season and playoff home matches at Swangard Stadium, Nutrilite Canadian Championship home matches against Toronto FC and Montreal Impact, as well as priority listing for Vancouver MLS 2011 in BC Place. For more information on the 2010 season ticket packages, call 604.669.WAVE (9283) or visit whitecapsfc.com.