Vancouver Whitecaps Prospect Report (February 2021)

The Covid-19 pandemic put this series on hold last season but now there are three players the Whitecaps own the rights to playing elsewhere and I figure that’s just enough to justify bringing it back. So here’s how the Vancouver Whitecaps’ young guns did in February.

Simon Colyn:

Colyn was loaned to Spal F.C of Serie B last season. Unfortunately for Colyn the Primavera (Italy’s top level of youth football) was shut down due to the pandemic a week after he arrived. Since the Primavera’s return Colyn has made 5 appearances, 4 of them starts, and registered an assist.

Spal have the option to extend Colyn’s loan and to purchase him. Since he has only had the opportunity to play in a handful of games I think it is extremely likely Spal will exercise the option to extend the loan. According to the legendary Tom Bogert, the Whitecaps see Colyn as being too good for the Whitecaps’ U-19 team but not yet ready for regular MLS minutes (if only there was some sort of intermediary team he could play for until he was ready). Because of the purchase option, if he proves he’s ready for MLS minutes on this loan then we will likely never see him in a Whitecaps shirt again.

College Guys:

The Whitecaps had two of their 2021 Super Draft selections opt to return and play their senior year.

Centre back Joel Harrison has 169 minutes for Michigan across a 4-1 over Northwestern and a 1-0 win against Michigan State. Michigan were down to 10 men for the majority of the 1-0 win against Michigan State and were under an offensive onslaught for most of the time. Harrison has been named to the Academic All-Big Ten and the Big Ten players to watch (I don’t know what that means either but it sounds impressive).

Left back/left wing Eric Illoski has played 37 minutes in a 1-1 draw with San Diego State.