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They are the Island鈥檚 veteran and the kid. Defender Adam Straith will be looking for his 41st cap and goalkeeper, and fellow Victorian, Sean Melvin his first as sa国际传媒 plays Bermuda today in a men鈥檚 soccer friendly in Hamilton, Bermuda.
It鈥檚 one kick, one header, one stop at a time as the Canadian program rebuilds for 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifying.
The next World Cup is in 2018 in Russia, of course, but sa国际传媒 has already out of the race for qualification 鈥� a frustrating refrain stretching back to 1986 when Islanders Ian Bridge, George Pakos and Jamie Lowery played in sa国际传媒鈥檚 only World Cup appearance.
Of more immediate concern is the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup in July in large, mostly NFL stadiums, around the United States.
鈥淭his is the start for all of us this year to try and cement a place in the team for the Gold Cup,鈥� said Straith, the 26-year-old product of the Bays United and Lower Island Metro organizations.
鈥淭here's only a certain amount of times we get together before this summer, so these games are crucial not just as a team to perform, but also individually if we want to be around for the tournament. We have not done as well as we had liked the past two Gold Cups, so that is the main focus for this year, and everything will be in preparation for that.鈥�
Today is a good chance to see some younger players. Melvin, 22, is among five uncapped players on the Canadian roster and 10 players under 24.
鈥淭his is a chance for a lot of young players in their first camp to show themselves,鈥� Straith said.
Including Melvin.
鈥淚t鈥檚 also nice to see another young keeper from Victoria getting his first call up. Sean has accounted himself very well and has looked a lot older on the pitch than he actually is, which is something you want from someone in that position.鈥�
Melvin is out of the Gordon Head youth soccer organization and Mount Douglas Secondary School. He said it was the classic case of putting his hand up one day as a kid in Gordon Head when the coach asked who wanted to go in goal.
He went on to a standout NCAA Div. 1 career at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and now plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps 2. He was called up to the Canadian roster for two friendlies in 2015 against eventual 2016 Euro giant-slayer Iceland, but did not get into the games.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty exciting to be here in Bermuda. I am looking forward to the experience,鈥� Melvin said.
The other Canadian goalkeeper there, Callum Irving, is also uncapped.
Six-foot-four Melvin pointed to his size as his biggest asset.
鈥淚 try to create a big, physical crease presence,鈥� he said.
Both Islanders were back in Victoria training over the winter break, Straith at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence and Melvin at the University of Victoria鈥檚 CARSA facility.
鈥淚 trained a few times with the Pacific Soccer Institute, which was great because I was able to see the future of Canadian players between the ages 16-18 and go back in time a little bit to when I was in their shoes,鈥� said Straith.
The Oak Bay product has played professionally in Germany and Norway and is currently between clubs.
鈥淚'm hoping to have my next club sorted out within the next week after leaving the game in Bermuda. If everything goes to plan, I'll be able to report something sooner rather than later,鈥� Straith said.
World No. 120 sa国际传媒 is undefeated against No. 186 Bermuda with four wins and four draws. The teams last met in 2007.
CORNER KICKS: Two-time Olympic bronze-medallist Canadian women鈥檚 national soccer team starts its long-term vision with Ashley Cathro of Victoria among the 22 players invited to the training camp, which began Friday in Los Angeles, leading to the friendly Feb. 4 against Mexico at sa国际传媒 Place. Cathro, 16, is the second-youngest player in the Canadian camp.
