Yukoner Joe Hanson has become the first northerner to sign a Major League Soccer contract.

On March 7, Hanson signed on with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC2, a team set to play in the new MLS Next Pro League, Sport Yukon said in a press release on its website.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 still kind of wrapping my head around it,B次元官网网址� the 18-year-old striker stated in the press release.

The league, set to launch with 21 teams - later this month, is a professional league with teams throughout Canada and the United States. Of the teams, 20 are affiliated with MLS Clubs. The exception is the independent Rochester New York FC team.

Hanson has been part of the Whitecaps Academy since he was 15 and has been training with the U23 team since May 2021. He sees joining the Whitecaps FC2 as a step towards his ultimate goal of making the Whitecaps first team.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a big step for me to sign a professional contract and become a professional now because itB次元官网网址檚 a whole different world,B次元官网网址� Hanson said. B次元官网网址淐ompared to youth and amateur soccer, IB次元官网网址檓 still getting used to it a little bit.B次元官网网址�

Joining him on the field will be a number of others he was playing with on the U23 team.

B次元官网网址淪o now itB次元官网网址檚 a pro team, weB次元官网网址檝e brought in more players and IB次元官网网址檝e been able to stick with the team and become a professional,B次元官网网址� he said.

Hanson said the quality and speed of the game is much faster at the professional level.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no room for error,B次元官网网址� Hanson in the statement. B次元官网网址淓verything you touch, pass, shoot, you know it has to be close to, if not perfect. If you mess up, you may not get the ball for another two or three minutes because the other team is just as good.B次元官网网址�

Hanson praised the territoryB次元官网网址檚 soccer community, noting that making it to the Whitecaps FC2 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have been possible without past players and coaches who worked to enhance the soccer environment in the Yukon.

B次元官网网址淭hey gave me and other players opportunities to play from a young age,B次元官网网址� Hanson said, adding his hope his success will show other young Yukon soccer players that they can make it to the professional level.

B次元官网网址淭he first thing I thought of, one of the reasons I wanted to sign the contract, was to break down that door and create a pathway for younger players that will follow me and they can achieve their dreams of playing pro,B次元官网网址� he said in the press release.

B次元官网网址淚 hope it inspires them to follow their dreams to play professional soccer because now they can see it,B次元官网网址� he said.

The Whitecaps FC2 team will begin their regular season on March 26 in Houston, Texas against the Houston Dynamo 2.

B次元官网网址淭he team, we have a few older players,B次元官网网址� Hanson said. B次元官网网址淏efore we started bringing them in, we were a young team and it showed. To have some more experienced players coming in to share a bit of knowledge has been helpful.B次元官网网址�

Hanson believes he will see regular minutes on the field, it was noted.

B次元官网网址淚 think I should be a regular player on this squad,B次元官网网址� said Hanson. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been proving myself the last few months and been playing well enough that I should be on the field lots.B次元官网网址�

Contact Stephanie Waddell at stephanie.waddell@yukon-news.com