Rapids Select Yamada and Helmick in Supplemental Draft

January 17, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Tuesday, January 17, 2012) - The Colorado Rapids selected Kohei Yamada and Joel Helmick in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft, held on Tuesday afternoon. Yamada, a midfielder from Hyogo, Japan, and Helmick, a goalkeeper out of Longwood University in Virginia, will join the club for preseason training starting this Thursday.

"We were excited to get Kohei and Joel this late in the draft process," said Colorado Rapids Technical Director Paul Bravo. "Both are talented players, and we're eager to bring them into camp and see if they can contribute to the team."

Yamada, a 22-year-old midfielder from Hyogo, Japan, made his professional debut in 2010 with Thespa Kusatsu of the Japanese second division (J. League Division 2), and has played 34 matches over two seasons with the club. Helmick, a four-year starter at Longwood University, posted a 0.92 goals against average in his senior year and earned 2011 Atlantic Soccer Conference Tournament MVP honors while leading his school to an 11-6-3 record.

The Rapids selected Yamada with the 14th pick of the third round and Helmick with the 14th pick of the fourth round, having dealt their other selections in the Supplemental Draft in previous trades. Colorado's first round pick went to Toronto FC in 2010 in trade for Joseph Nane, while the second round selection went to FC Dallas in 2009 in the trade for Anthony Wallace.

Yamada and Helmick will report to Colorado this week for the opportunity to earn a roster spot during preseason training. The Rapids open the 2012 season on March 10 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, facing off against the Columbus Crew. For more information, or to purchase tickets, please visit www.ColoradoRapids.com or call 303-825-GOAL.

• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...

Major League Soccer Stories from January 17, 2012

• Chivas USA Selects Five Players in 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
• Chivas USA Acquires Goalkeeper Tim Melia - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
• Whitecaps FC Select Four Players in MLS Supplemental Draft - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Impact Acquires Defender Gienir Garcia from Whitecaps - Club de Foot Montreal
• Whitecaps FC Acquire MLS Discovery Rights to Striker Etienne Barbara - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Real Salt Lake Acquires Rights to Leone Cruz, Keeps Three Selections from SuperDraft - Real Salt Lake
• Galaxy shore up depth with draft picks Meyer, Walker - LA Galaxy
• Sounders FC Selects Four Players in MLS Supplemental Draft - Seattle Sounders FC
• Dynamo Select Five Players in 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft - Houston Dynamo FC
• Crew Selects Four in MLS Supplemental Draft - Columbus Crew SC
• The Montreal Impact Adds Four Players in MLS Supplemental Draft - Club de Foot Montreal
• Timbers Select Four Players in 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft - Portland Timbers
• Toronto FC Select Five Players in Supplemental Draft - Toronto FC
• Chicago Fire Select Four Players in 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft - Chicago Fire FC
• New York Selects Three Players in 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft - New York Red Bulls
• Philadelphia Union Select Four in 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft - Philadelphia Union
• 75 Players Selected in 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft - MLS
• Rapids Select Yamada and Helmick in Supplemental Draft - Colorado Rapids
• D.C. United Selects Three Players in Supplemental Draft - D.C. United
• Sporting KC Selects Four in Supplemental Draft - Sporting Kansas City
• Vancouver Whitecaps FC and BC Soccer Introduce Youth Soccer Season Ticket - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Quaker Oats and Chicago Fire Soccer Club Team Up - Chicago Fire FC
• Impact and Olympic Park Announce Four-Year Partnership - Club de Foot Montreal
• New York Red Bulls Weekly Update - New York Red Bulls
• Whitecaps FC Acquire Goalkeeper Brad Knighton - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Timbers Sign Colombian Defender Hanyer Mosquera - Portland Timbers
• Earthquakes Acquire Fourth Round Supplemental Draft Pick for Right of First Refusal for M Michael Th - San Jose Earthquakes
• Sporting Kansas City Acquires Right of First Refusal for Midfielder Michael Thomas - Sporting Kansas City

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Colorado Rapids Stories

• "I Don't Take It for Granted": Cole Bassett Sets New Homegrown Record in Victory over FC Dallas
• Rapids Remain Unbeaten in Four Games, Beat FC Dallas 2-1 at Home
• Colorado Rapids Search for Three Crucial Points at Home against FC Dallas
• Colorado Rapids Face Inter Miami CF for the First Time in Club History
• Rapids Extend Unbeaten Steak on the Road to Four Matches, Rafael Navarro Records First Brace for the Rapids