Whitecaps Sign Homegrown Keeper Thomas Hasal

The Vancouver Whitecaps continue to fill out the bottom half of its roster with their second signing in as many days. Yesterday, they announced the signing of MLS SuperDraft pick Brendon McDonough and today they announced the addition of Saskatoon-raised homegrown keeper Thomas Hasal.

Hasal comes from the WFC Saskatchewan Academy Centre. He joined the Whitecaps main Academy in 2016, and has played with them until last season. In that time, he made 31 starts. In addition, Hasal appeared for the Whitecaps U-23 developmental club squad in 2018. He has also played for Canada at the U-18, 20, and 23 levels. In the U-20 CONCACAF Championship he recorded two clean sheets in five starts.

He now joins Theo Bair, Michael Baldisimo, and Simon Colyn as teenage prospects, as well as fellow-Saskatchewan player Brett Levis.

Hasal joins a long list of former Residency keepers who have been signed by the senior club: Marco Carducci, Sean Melvin, Simon Thomas, and Brian Sylvestre. Those four previous Residency keepers have played a grand total of one (Simon Thomas) match for the Whitecaps in Major League Soccer (excludes Canadian Championship).

With 24-year-old Sean Melvin the latest keeper to not play a match, it would appear that Hasal’s signing signals the end of Melvin’s opportunity with the Whitecaps; although it is possible that is not the case.

Either way, Hasal has been signed through 2020, with club options for 2021 and 2022. Hopefully he can break into the squad and have an opportunity to play; at least in the Canadian Championship. Maybe as well he gets loaned to a Canadian Premiere League club.

What are your thoughts on this signing for the Whitecaps?