Christian Dean Called Up to US Men's National Team, Russell Teibert among Canadian Selections

This surely has to boost his confidence heading into this season; Young Vancouver Whitecaps defender Christian Dean has been called up to the US Men's National Team, the first time in his short career that he's gotten the nod.

The camp gets underway on Monday in Carson California. The Whitecaps press release also highlighted some of the most important dates for the squad.

US national team camp important dates:

• January 12: Player arrivals into Carson, California

• January 13-23: Training in Carson, California

• January 24: Travel from Carson, California to Santiago, Chile

• January 25-27: Training in Santiago, Chile

• January 28: Match vs. Chile

• January 29: Travel from Santiago, Chile to Carson, California

• January 30-February 7 : Training in Carson, California

• February 8: Match vs. Panama

Dean was the only Whitecap selected, and he joins a back line that includes Brad Evans, Matt Besler and Jermaine Jones.

It's a very interesting selection, and should be great experience for Dean, who's one of the Whitecaps top prospects. In the past, his age might have been a deterrent from gaining access to the squad, but Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann has shown a propensity for taking a gamble on young players. I have no idea how big of a role Dean will have, but hopefully some meaningful time on the pitch isn't out of the question.

On the Canadian side of things, plenty of Whitecap flavor was thrown in the mix, including Russell Teibert, Caleb Clarke and Goalkeeper Sean Melvin, who's a recent residency graduate.

They'll battle Iceland in a pair of friendlies on January 16th and 19th, with the matches to take place at the University of Central Florida.

Other graduates from the 'Caps residency program that earned a call were Kyle Porter, Daniel Stanese, and Adam Straith.

Teibert earned his 8th cap, Clark his third, while Melvin is a first timer.

The full roster is listed below:

GK- Sean Melvin | USA / University of North Carolina Wilmington

GK- Quillan Roberts | CAN / Toronto FC

GK- Kenny Stamatopoulos | SWE / AIK

D- Nana Attakora | unattached / sans club

D- Kevon Black | CAN / Toronto FC Academy

D- Jonathan Grant | CAN / Sigma FC

D- Dejan Jakovic | JPN / Shimizu S-Pulse

D- Manjrekar James | HUN / PMFC

D- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC

D- Karl W. Ouimette | CAN / Impact de Montréal

D- Adam Straith | unattached / sans club

D- Maxim Tissot | CAN / Impact de Montréal

M- Patrice Bernier | CAN / Impact de Montréal

M- Christoper Mannella | CAN / Toronto FC

M- Julian de Guzman | unattached / sans club

M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC

M- Issey Nakajima-Farran | CAN / Impact de Montréal

M- Samuel Piette | ESP / Deportivo la Coruña

M- Daniel Stanese | GER / FC Augsburg II

M- Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC

F- Caleb Clarke | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC

F- Dwayne De Rosario | unattached / sans club

F- Iain Hume | IND / Kerala Blasters

F- Kyle Porter | unattached / sans club

What do you think? Do you like the roster?