Two is a coincidence but three is a pattern. Vancouver FC stuck with their guns in the second round of the 2024 Canadian Premier League-U SPORTS Draft giving yet another B.C. player a potential pathway to a professional career.

“We placed our focus on talented players from universities within the B.C. community,” said Afshin Ghotbi, the Head Coach of VFC. With this vision, Vancouver selected midfielder Thomas Powell as the 15th overall pick in the 2024 Draft, making Powell the third draft pick (out of four) in franchise history to call B.C. home.

Powell, 22, has spent the last three seasons representing Trinity Western University (TWU) located just down the road from VFC’s facilities in Langley. The native of Coquitlam, B.C., started in all 16 of TWU’s matches in 2023, scoring four goals and registering four assists. Powell’s leadership and consistency for TWU earned him a Canada West (CW) Men’s First Team All-Star recognition in 2023.

“[Powell] is a complete footballer who will offer us depth, consistency and balance in the midfield,” said Ghotbi.

During his time as a Spartan, Powell has accumulated ten goals, nine assists, and made 38 starts in 44 appearances across all three seasons.

Ghotbi continues, “[Powell’s] ability to play in tight spaces and create scoring opportunities against compact opponents are key attributes to his success.”

Powell competed in League1 BC in 2023 for the Fraser Valley squad, Unity FC. He made 11 appearances and scored two goals during the season.

Powell joins VFC athletes Kadin Chung and Anthony White as an alumni of the Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club where Powell spent his youth career playing in the B.C. Soccer Premier League.

Now that Powell has been selected by Vancouver, he can be invited to join VFC for pre-season training providing him with a chance to earn a roster spot in 2024. “U SPORTS is an integral part of the Canadian football ecosystem promoting promising, talented players to the CPL and beyond,” states Ghotbi.

Although there are no guarantees for any drafted player, there is also no denying the stepping stone and possibilities that are provided through this opportunity. As VFC continues to pave a path for B.C. talent, those possibilities look endless.

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