By JOSE M. ROMERO
The Vancouver Whitecaps' recently-completed six-week offseason training camp yielded a couple of new players, as the expansion MLS side has signed Greg Janicki, the 2010 USSF-2 Defender of the Year, and Canadian midfielder Terry Dunfield.
The two played for the Whitecaps in their final season in USSF-2 this year. They are the fourth and fifth former lower-division Whitecaps to be brought to the MLS club, joining goalkeeper Jay Nolly, defender Wes Knight and midfielder Philippe Davies.
Whitecaps coach Teitur Thordarson praised Janicki and Dunfield in a statement from the club.
"Terry and Greg are very professional in their approach and bring a lot of character to our roster," Thordarson said. "Terry has played soccer at a very high level in England and we will benefit from the experience he will add to our team as we enter our inaugural season in MLS. Greg is a player with huge potential and continues to mature as a center back. His performances last season gave us the confidence to add him to our MLS roster."
Dunfield, 28, joined his hometown club on August 10, 2010. The native of Vancouver, BC, started all but one of his 11 appearances and scored two goals. He'd previously spent much of his career in England, having started as a youth trainee at Manchester City.
Dunfield has played for Canada at the U-20, U-23 Olympic, and senior international levels.
Janicki, 26, was named to the USSF-2's Best XI after leading a Whitecaps backline that gave up a league low 22 goals during the regular season. He started all but one of his 33 total appearances for 2,953 minutes of action and scored four goals.
The former Michigan State standout has MLS experience with D.C. United in 2008 and 2009.
Per club policy, details of the contracts were not disclosed. Vancouver's roster is now up to 11 players — four defenders, four midfielders, two goalkeepers and a forward.
I really dont care if you consider the two rosters MLS and USL to be different, this is just RESIGNING your players from last year.
Did he play for the Whitecaps last year?
Yes.
>camp yielded a couple of new players
THEYRE NOT NEW PLAYERS!!!!!
I get that people are trying to keep busy and making it seems like something is happening but THEYRE NOT NEW.
THey played for the team last year.
I repeat,.. NOT…. NEW… PLAYERS….
Theyre not starting anew. This isnt an expansion team but one that exists longer than the MLS and USL and probably will outlive the MLS as well.
The ‘Caps only allowed 22 goals in 30 games this year. Nelson Akwari was playing very well on defense, but got hurt and Janicki stepped up to another level. I thought Bellisomo deserved alot of credit for the D too.
Yes, “We are Teitur Tots”.
Terry Dunfield is captain material. Along with DeMerit.
On a sad local note Luca Bellisimo was cut.
Teitur Thordarson <— Awesome name for a coach. I can't help but think it's pronounced "Tater"…anyone know?
Janicki was horrible against MLS opposition! Soehn saw this first hand (well i think haha). So why does he think itll work out this time around?
Plus, how the hell did Janicki get defender of the year!?!? I dont follow USL so can any USL fans fill me in if he really deserved it or not.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…….
… and by “he”, I’m referring to Janicki, a great third division defender.
Hey, maybe he’ll let DC score to make up for all the goals he was at fault for when he played at RFK.
I guess the (not-so) old saying is true: once a Tommy Soehn favorite, always a Tommy Soehn favorite.