Hamilton FC - PDL 2012

[Neil M Brown]

Please see press release details below:

Wednesday December 14, 2011

Hamilton FC Consolidates Operations at McMaster University

HAMILTON, Ont. – Hamilton FC announced today that it has reached agreement with McMaster Athletics and Recreation to run its operations at McMaster University beginning with the 2012 season. This agreement will see both Hamilton FC women’s W-League and men’s PDL teams train and play their home games at McMaster. Home games will be played at the impressive Ron Joyce Stadium.

“This is an important step forward for Hamilton FC,” said HFC Technical Director, Brett Mosen. “The stadium is top quality and this arrangement gives us access to Mac’s training facilities and game day infrastructure.”

Hamilton FC is entering its second season of competition in USL and this arrangement will help build on a successful first season of operations in 2011.

“We are delighted to have Hamilton FC base its operations with us at McMaster,” commented Jeff Giles, Director of Athletics and Recreation at McMaster. “Not only are we committed to working with Brett and his colleagues to help raise the profile of Hamilton FC’s programs, but our own as well.”


USL PDL

The top developmental men’s league in North American, the PDL featured 64 teams in 2011 within four conferences across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. The PDL season consists of 16 regular season matches for each team, eight home and eight away, and provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions. The PDL has proven to be an important stepping=stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world.

[coppercanuck]

So, how much of a stretch is combining the CIS and PDL programs? It will be interesting to see the rosters and /or if McMaster will draw better players to their program.

[Neil M Brown]

So, how much of a stretch is combining the CIS and PDL programs? It will be interesting to see the rosters and /or if McMaster will draw better players to their program.

There will certainly be overlap. Our hope is that both programs will benefit.

Neil

[Neil M Brown]

Hamilton FC player Evan James has recently been invited to attend the upcoming Major League Soccer combine.

Currently a senior at UNC Charlotte, James has been on the radar of MLS scouts following an impressive college career, which culminated in the 49ers reaching the 2011 NCAA National Championship game. In a nail-biter, Charlotte narrowly fell to the number-one seed University of North Carolina Tar Heels by a score of 1-0.

Despite the loss in the final, James certainly made his mark along the way, earning First-Team NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic region honours as well as being named a First-Team All-Atlantic 10 selection this year. James had a strong senior season, leading the team in assists, with seven, and scoring five goals.

Prior to his senior year at Charlotte, James was a member of the inaugural Hamilton FC team playing in the Premier Development League (PDL) within the United Soccer Leagues. Evan joined Hamilton FC from the Oakville Soccer Club where he played from 2006 to 2010. He was on the U21 team that won the Ontario Cup in 2009. He has also been invited to a number of national team camps at the U23 level.


James was one of 52 college seniors from 31 Division I schools named to the MLS Combine to be held January 6 -10 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The initial list of players was decided by a panel of Division I college coaches who nominated and voted for players in conjunction with MLS coaches.

James is among 13 forwards invited. The current list will eventually grow to approximately 66 players as additional names will be announced at a later date.

The MLS Combine is the players’ opportunity to catch the eye of MLS coaches before the SuperDraft scheduled for January 12, 2012. All players invited to the combine are eligible to be drafted. There are 38 spots available among the 19 MLS teams.

[Blue and White Army]

A move from a soccer-specific, grass pitch to an artificial turf with throwball lines?

[Neil M Brown]

A move from a soccer-specific, grass pitch to an artificial turf with throwball lines?

Uncertainties around the future availability of Brian Timmis Stadium due to the Ivor Wynne redevelopment caused us to revisit home field location. Obviously there are pros and cons to any location, one of the cons being the pointy ball lines, but we felt the pros far outweighed the cons.

[Neil M Brown]

Hamilton FC's Evan James scores at MLS Combine. See it below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M424rn6O3Kw

Neil

[kevin]

I hope I can make it out to some home games at McMaster.

[Neil M Brown]

Hamilton FC alum Evan James has been selected by L'Impact De Montreal with the first pick in today's MLS Supplemental Draft.

Congratulations Evan!!

[Neil M Brown]

Please see Press Release details below:

Hamilton FC’s Evan James Selected by Montreal Impact in MLS Supplemental Draft

HAMILTON, Ont. – Hamilton FC announced today that Evan James has been selected by the Montreal Impact as the first overall pick in today’s Major League Soccer (MLS) Supplemental Draft.

After a strong performance and two great goals at the 2012 MLS Combine, James was widely anticipated to be selected in the MLS SuperDraft on January 12. He narrowly missed out on one of the top 38 spots, but Impact manager Jesse Marsch announced the 21-year-old James as the first pick today.
A very quick and technically sound player, James impressed numerous scouts at the Combine in Florida. In his first season in PDL with Hamilton FC, he contributed 2 great goals in 8 games including the leveler in a 3-3 road draw against the Chicago Fire.
On being selected, James commented "It is such an honor and I am so grateful to be deemed someone with enough talent to be wanted by an MLS team. I want to thank Hamilton FC for getting me prepared for this past college season. The club has a fantastic program with a great group of players and staff. I wish them all the best in this upcoming season."

Prior to joining Hamilton FC, James played his youth soccer at Oakville S.C. and Mississauga S.C. All of us at HFC wish Evan the best of luck as he takes this important next step in his soccer career.



USL PDL
The top developmental men’s league in North American, the PDL featured 64 teams in 2011 within four conferences across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. The PDL season consists of 16 regular season matches for each team, eight home and eight away, and provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions. The PDL has proven to be an important stepping=stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world.