e club had offered $2.45 million. Frazier

For a long time there has been a large obstacle placed in front of some of Canada’s most talented young soccer players. How will they develop further if they can’t play games? The growth of professional clubs across our country in the last few years and their investment in development has been great to see, but now a missing piece of the puzzle has been added. On Friday, Vancouver Whitecaps launched Whitecaps FC 2, a new team playing in USL PRO, the third tier of North American soccer. That follows recent announcements by Montreal Impact and Toronto FC who will also be launching USL PRO teams starting next year. With all three of Canada’s Major League Soccer clubs committing to this step, it will provide massive benefit to some of our country’s top young players, giving them the opportunity to play regularly in competitive matches. In the past, players just haven’t had enough time out on the pitch playing at a standard that will help them to continue to develop in the best way possible, so this provides a much needed link between the club’s academy programs and their MLS teams. Whitecaps assistant coach Gordon Forrest led the club’s residency program before making the step to the first team and he is well aware just how significant the arrival of a USL PRO team will be. “It’s a fantastic day,” said Forrest after the announcement. “It is a massive piece of the player pathway that we have been looking for at the club. The USL team will service a number of needs for players within the whole club.” “This is so important to take that next step for players to try and progress to the first team. It will be a great challenge for them, there will be some great games and great environments and it is what we really need to make sure they are ready to play in the first team,” added Forrest. The sentiment is the same in Toronto where former Canadian international Jason Bent was this week named as head coach for the club’s new USL PRO team. “I feel this pathway will help us bridge the gap between the academy and first team level and enable some talented young men, especially Canadian players, to really learn their trade and develop into legitimate first team players,” said Bent. When launching their new team FC Montreal, Impact President Joey Saputo acknowledged the ability for this new level of competition to change the landscape of player development for young Canadians. “It is a major change in our structure and the development of soccer in Quebec,” he said. “This new team will serve as the final step and transition for our young players before joining MLS. We believe it is the best way to prepare them for the top league in North American soccer.” With all three Canadian clubs basing their USL PRO teams in close proximity to their MLS teams, it will allow good integration between the squads. It will also be of benefit to senior players who are on the fringes of the first team or needing games to get match fitness after injury. There are now seven MLS clubs that have launched USL Pro franchises with the three Canadian clubs joined by LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers. While there is no doubt the addition of USL PRO teams will be benefit for the Impact, Whitecaps and Toronto FC, Canada’s national team program will also reap the rewards in the longer term. It is a big financial commitment from the clubs, but it will be well worth it in the long run. There are certainly exciting times ahead as we get the opportunity to see young Canadian talent compete and develop in USL PRO. Cheap New Balance 574 . Sweeting scored two in the first and three in the second before Strong (4-4) got two back in the fourth. Sweeting then scored three in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh to grab a commanding 9-2 lead. Cheap New Balance Sneakers . But that changed when he committed a five-minute major penalty and helped pave the way for a comeback by the Philadelphia Flyers. Vincent Lecavalier scored at 2:45 of overtime and the Flyers rallied from a two-goal deficit for a 5-4 victory on Sunday. http://www.wholesalenewbalance.com/ . Many of those eyes are in the United States of America, a country that the sport has wanted on its side for some time. On Sunday the football Gods delivered once again, only this time it was time for good old USA to experience as much heartache as joy. Discount New Balance . Brooks replaces right-hander Yordano Ventura, who left his last outing with a sore elbow. Ventura is expected to miss one start. Brooks has made one relief appearance for the Royals this season, allowing six runs in two innings in a May 3 loss to Detroit. Clearance New Balance Shoes . Gauteng High Court Judge Dunstan Mlambo ruled Tuesday that South African media houses will be allowed to install three remote controlled cameras in court for the Olympic athletes trial starting next week to capture images that likely will be seen by millions around the world.CINCINNATI - All-Star catcher Devin Mesoraco agreed to a $28 million, four-year contract on Monday, leaving the Cincinnati Reds with two players in salary arbitration.The Reds were trying to get deals with two other All-Stars, third baseman Todd Frazier and closer Aroldis Chapman. They havent had a player go to an arbitration hearing since 2004.Mesoracos deal includes a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $2.4 million this year, $4.9 million in 2016, $7.2 million in 2017 and $13 million in 2018. The salary in the final year can increase by as much as $2 million.Hes an example of a guy who has worked extremely hard and hes the kind of guy you want to build an organization around, general manager Walt Jocketty said.The 26-year-old catcher was a first-round pick — the 15th overall — in the June 2007 draft. He started 84 games in 2013 and the Reds decided he was ready to become the full-time catcher last season, when he made $525,000. He surpassed their expectations on offence.Mesoraco led all major league catchers in homers (25) and RBIs (80) while batting .273. His 24 homers while catching were the most by a Reds player since Johnny Bench in 1977.I think that before you do actually have success in this league, there is always a little bit of a question mark in your head just as far as if I can be successful, Mesoraco said Monday after the deal was announced. These are the toughest players in the world, so you have to actually go out there and do it, put up soome numbers and produce out on the field before its 100 per cent in your mind.ddddddddddddBut I definitely wasnt lacking confidence going into last year and it showed.The four-deal deal establishes him as part of the clubs core for the next few years. Starting pitcher Homer Bailey got a six-year, $105 million deal during spring training last year that runs through 2019. First baseman Joey Votto is playing under a 10-year, $225 million deal that runs through 2023. Right fielder Jay Bruce got a six-year, $51 million deal that runs through 2016.Mesoraco recognized that the deal makes him someone that people and fans can count on for being part of the club and producing out on the field — me and Joey and Homer and guys like that, guys that the organization has committed to.Mesoraco had asked for $3.6 million in arbitration and the club had offered $2.45 million. Frazier is seeking $5.7 million and Chapman has asked for $8.7 million.Mesoracos 2018 salary would go up by $400,000 each time he reaches 502 plate appearances in the first three years of the deal. It also has award escalators for that year, capped at $800,000. The salary would rise by $150,000 each for making the All-Star game and winning a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger. It would go up by $200,000 if hes among the top five in MVP voting, $150,000 for sixth through 10th, $100,000 for 11th through 15th and $50,000 for 16th through 20th.___Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay ' ' '