It’s become tradition for the Impact U17 and U19 teams to take part in the Development Academy Winter Showcase every year. This time around, it will take place from November 29 to December 3, allowing the Bleu-blanc-noir to trade the gloomy Montreal weather for the Florida warmth as all the games will be played at the Premier Sport Campus, in Bradenton. Each result will count in the regular season standings.
Impact U17 faces a great challenge
The Winter Showcase is a great opportunity for the Bleu-blanc-noir teams to play against clubs they don’t usually face during the regular season.
On its list of opponents for the U17 team are two Californian teams. On Friday, November 30, at 10am, Nicolas Gagnon’s players will cross swords with Sacramento Republic FC, currently 23rd in the league. The team coached by Jordan Ferrell has enjoyed a good start to the season with a 6-2-1 record, including wins against the Portland Timbers, the Seattle Sounders FC and the San Jose Earthquakes.
On Saturday, at 1pm, Montreal will face the LA Galaxy, first in the Southwest division and sixth in the league. The team from the City of Angels didn’t manage a win in its only game against MLS opposition this year, tying 1-1 against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on September 23.
In its last game, the Impact U17 will play against Orlando City SC, currently fourth in its division and 24th in the league with a 5-2-2 record. Striker Julian Kennedy scored eight of his team’s 22 goals.
Confirming the good start of the season
The Impact U19 will want to confirm its good start to the season against three strong teams that also had a strong start.
Their showcase will start on Thursday, November 29, at 10am, against Sockers FC. The hometown club of Toronto FC’s captain Michael Bradley is seventh in the league and one of four clubs that hasn’t lost a game in its age category this season.
On Friday, Philippe Eullaffroy’s players will face FC Dallas, who has the MLS record of 23 homegrown players signed to a first team contract. The team is second in its group and 12th in the league with a 6-3-0 record.
To end the showcase, on Sunday, December 2, the Impact will have a Canadian clash with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC at 9am. The club from British Columbia is second in its division but has won only one of its last four games.
With a 7-2-0 record, the Impact U19 is second in its division behind New York City FC. The club from the Big Apple will also face a tough challenge in the Winter Showcase, which means the standings could look different when the Winter Break comes around.
