December 14, 2023 – Canadian Premier League (CPL) – Pacific FC News Release
Langford, BC – Pacific FC today selected two players as part of the 2024 Canadian Premier League – U SPORTS Draft presented by Degree.
Pacific selected forward Michael Maslanka (Mass-lank-ah),18, with the sixth overall pick in the 2023 draft. Maslanka is a first-year student athlete at the University of Toronto where he played 11 games this year and scored seven goals. The 5-foot-eight attacker from Mississauga also plays in Ontario’s League 1 Reserve team.
Known for his work ethic and speed, Maslanka, led the Blues in goals this season and was named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East rookie of the year, OUA East first team all-star, and U SPORTS all-rookie. In 2021, Maslanka was a trialist for HB Køge of the Danish 1st division.
“Michael is a young attacking player, a goal scorer with good potential,” said James Merriman, Head Coach, Pacific FC. “He’s got great character and he’s hungry to prove himself.”
With its second pick of the draft (14th overall) Pacific selected Ibrahem Saadi (E-Bra-Heem Sad-E), 19, of Western University. Saadi of London, Ontario is described as a born centre back who played in 11 university matches this season and scored one goal. He was named Rookie of the Year for OUA Sport West as well as a First Team (West) All-Star.
“Ibrahem is a technically strong centre back who can play with both feet,” said Jamar Dixon, Manager of Football, Pacific FC. “He has a deceiving change of pace in possession which allows him to play out of a difficult situation and he’s calm on the ball.”
Maslanka and Saadi can be invited to Pacific FC’s preseason training where they will be eligible to compete for a roster spot for the 2024 CPL season.
Pacific FC has a history of finding first team players through the CPL-U Sports Draft, signing midfielder Zach Verhoven (2018 Draft), defender Chris Lee (2020 Draft), midfielder Luca Ricci (2022 Draft) and defender Eric Lajeunesse (2023 Draft) to playing contracts in previous years.
U SPORT FACTS:
– U SPORTS drafted players have played 1,099 CPL matches in total, 839 of which were with the club that drafted them
– Cape Breton University leads the way in both total players selected (12) and total CPL games played (176)
– Zach Verhoven (Atlético Ottawa, drafted in 2019 by Pacific) has the most games played by a U SPORTS pick with 91
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