Jason Pelletier Retiring After Seven Seasons with Harrisburg
February 21, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
Harrisburg, PA - After seven years the captain of the Harrisburg City Islanders, midfielder and Middletown native, Jason Pelletier is retiring.
"It's hard to believe this time has come and to be honest, I wish it wasn't here. One door has closed, but another has opened and I am extremely excited for the next chapter of my life. Soccer has been a huge part of my life for the last 23 years and it is tough to think about the end and what I am going to do next," said Pelletier. "Instead of dwelling on my professional soccer career being over, I reflect on all of the memories I made with the City Islanders family. It's hard for me to put into words exactly how I feel for all of you and how much I appreciate the support you've given. I hold each one of you close to my heart and wish you all, nothing but the best."
Pelletier turned professional in 2008 when he signed with the City Islanders of the USL Second Division and made his professional debut on April 26, 2008 in Harrisburg's 1-1 opening day tie with the Cleveland City Stars. He went on to score his first professional goal a short time later, on May 3, 2008, in a 1-1 tie with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
"Even in his first season Jason was an impact player for our team right away. Technically he was a perfect fit," said City Islanders head coach Bill Becher. "He played a lot of games his first season and by his second became a fixture in the line up for the rest of his career as an Islander."
Before turning professional, Pelletier attended and graduated from Middletown Area High School, where he helped lead the team to a class AAA state championship in 2001. Pelletier then went on to play college soccer at Robert Morris University, where he was a staple in the central midfield for the Colonials, earning All-NEC selections in 2005 and 2006. He was also a Regional and National Olympic Development Program participant.
Since joining the City Islanders in 2008, Pelletier has made his mark with the team after seven seasons. After racking up 10,851 minutes of play in 141 games for the Isles, Pelletier has logged in 8 goals, 11 assists, and 24 points.
YEAR GP MIN G A PTS SHT F
2008 17 811 1 0 2 6 14
2009 18 1527 3 4 10 21 28
2010 20 1658 0 2 2 11 26
2011 23 1951 1 1 3 20 21
2012 23 2003 0 4 4 22 20
2013 22 1831 3 0 3 12 14
2014 18 1070 0 0 0 - -
TOTAL 141 10851 8 11 24 92 123
Pelletier's versatility and leadership ability allowed him to play multiple roles on the pitch, which is just one of the reasons the City Islanders are going to miss him.
"Jason was a guy you could always count on to make the big plays. He was a big part of our team during out most successful seasons, including two trips to the USL Pro Championship," said Becher. "Jason was a leader by example. He wasn't showy; he went about his business and set an example on and off the field. I think everyone that played with Jason looked up to him."
Pelletier's decision to retire was a hard one to make, partly due to all of the memories he's made with the team.
"I was an Islander for seven years and we have had some great memories. The first to stand out is definitely the open cup game against the New York Red Bulls that we pulled off by scoring three goals in the final OT. Next I'd have to say the first USL Pro final against Orlando. That Orlando team was quite good and we really should have finished them off but ended up dropping in penalty kicks. I personally enjoyed that game because we scored off of two of my corners," said Pelletier. "Thank you to all of my teammates, coaches, owners, staff, trainers, and my family and fans."
Since he will no longer be playing professional soccer, Pelletier is working on finishing his bachelor's degree in Computer Science at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. Most importantly, he added, "I also have a beautiful girlfriend and family who I am looking forward to spending more time with! Hopefully a little soccer player is in the near future."
Everyone from the Harrisburg City Islanders organization would like to thank Jason for his time with the team and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. The Islanders look forward to honoring Pelletier at their home opener on Saturday, April 18th at 7:00 p.m. ET as the Islanders take on FC Montreal. For more information you can contact media@cityislanders.com.
With the 2015 USL PRO season rapidly approaching, the Isles are preparing for yet another action-packed season. The Islanders kick off their season on the road on March 28th against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Highmark Stadium. The Isles' home opener is slated for April 18th against FC Montreal. For tickets and group packages for the upcoming Islanders season please visit our website at cityislanders.com or call us at 717-441-GOAL (4625).
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