WHITECAPS FC SIGN CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL AND 2010 USSF D-2 DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
VANCOUVER, BC – Following the completion of their six-week offseason training camp this week, Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the signings of midfielder Terry Dunfield and centre back Greg Janicki to the club's Major League Soccer roster. Per club policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
Both Dunfield and Janicki were members of Whitecaps FC during the club's final season at the North American second division level in 2010. The pair joins goalkeeper Jay Nolly, right fullback Wes Knight, and midfielder Philippe Davies in making the transition from Vancouver's United States Soccer Federation Division-2 Professional League (USSF D-2) team to their MLS squad for the 2011 season.
"Terry and Greg are very professional in their approach and bring a lot of character to our roster," said Whitecaps FC head coach Teitur Thordarson. "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 centre back. His performances last season gave us the confidence to add him to our MLS roster."
Dunfield, 28, joins the Whitecaps FC MLS squad after a successful half-season with Vancouver, having first joined his hometown club on August 10, 2010. The native of Vancouver, BC, started all but one of his 11 appearances in the USSF D-2 Pro League for 929 minutes of action, scoring two goals in the process. Before returning to the 'Caps, the midfielder spent much of his career in England, having started as a youth trainee at English Premier League giants Manchester City FC.
A Canadian international, Dunfield has appeared for his country at the U-20, U-23 Olympic, and senior international levels. This included appearances in all three of Canada's group matches at the 2001 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina and an appearance in the second round of CONCACAF Olympic qualifying in November 2003. His senior international debut came on May 29, 2010, when Canada claimed a 1-1 friendly draw in Venezuela. Dunfield performed well in central midfield during his last international appearance, as Canada defeated Honduras 2-1 in a friendly in Montreal, Quebec, on September 7, 2010.
Janicki, 26, returns to MLS after an impressive 2010 campaign with Whitecaps FC. The native of New Baltimore, Michigan, earned the USSF D-2 Pro League Defensive Player of the Year award, and was named to the league's Best XI, after helping the 'Caps surrender a league low 22 goals during the regular season. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound defender started all but one of his 33 total appearances for 2,953 minutes of action. Janicki also finished in a three-way tie at the top of the club's goalscoring charts with four goals, with two of his goals being match winners away from home.
Prior to joining Whitecaps FC, the former Michigan State University standout was a member of MLS outfit D.C. United from 2008 to 2009. The centre back made 10 regular season appearances during his two seasons with the Washington, D.C., outfit. He also appeared for United in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 editions of the CONCACAF Champions League, while he also made five starts in United's run to the 2009 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup final.
Terry Dunfield
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
Born: February 20, 1982, in Vancouver, British Columbia
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Last Club: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (USSF D-2 Pro League)
Citizenship: Canada
How Acquired: Signed to a MLS contract by Whitecaps FC on December 10, 2010
Greg Janicki
Position: Defender
Height: 6-03
Weight: 190
Born: July 9, 1984, in Rochester, Michigan
Hometown: New Baltimore, Michigan
Last Club: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (USSF D-2 Pro League)
College: Michigan State University
Citizenship: United States
How Acquired: Signed to a MLS contract by Whitecaps FC on December 10, 2010
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