Vancouver FC drafted midfielders Luke Norman and Thomas Powell in the 2024 Canadian Premier League-U SPORTS draft. The announcement was made Dec. 14.
Both Norman and Powell can now be invited to join Vancouver for pre-season training and be eligible to compete for a roster spot for the 2024 Canadian Premier League (CPL) season.
鈥淲ith the 2024 CPL-U SPORTS draft, we placed our focus on talented players from universities within the B.C. community,鈥� said VFC Head Coach Afshin Ghotbi.
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Norman, 19, was selected by Vancouver with the second overall pick out of the University of British Columbia (UBC). The Vancouver native completed his first season with UBC Thunderbirds in 2023, making 17 starts in 20 appearances.
In Canada West competition, Norman scored four goals and registered six assists, which earned him a spot on the CW All Rookie team as well as a nomination for CW Rookie of the Year. Norman finished his inaugural season with UBC by playing in all three of the Thunderbirds鈥� U SPORTS national championship matches and registering two goals, including the bronze medal game-winning goal against fellow CW competitors Mount Royal University.
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Powell, 22, was selected by Vancouver with the 15th overall pick out of Trinity Western University (TWU). The native of Coquitlam entered his third year at the 91原创-based university in 2023 as a starter on the senior squad. Powell registered four goals and four assists in each of his previous two seasons with TWU, but the midfielder earned three more starts in 2023 for 16 total appearances. He was subsequently named a CW Men鈥檚 First Team All-Star at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
Ghotbi described Powell, as 鈥渁 complete footballer who will offer us depth, consistency and balance in the midfield.鈥�
In addition to representing TWU, Powell competed in League1 BC for Unity FC in 2023, making 11 appearances and scoring two goals. Powell began playing soccer at a youth level with Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club in the BCSPL.
