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MASL Mississauga MetroStars

MetroStars Encouraged by Talent at Open Tryouts

October 22, 2018 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Mississauga MetroStars News Release


Mississauga MetroStars open tryouts
Mississauga MetroStars open tryouts
(Mississauga MetroStars)

The Mississauga MetroStars of the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) held open tryouts this past weekend at the Canlan Sportsplex in Mississauga, ON, and the club's GM/head coach Phil Ionadi was pleasantly surprised by the overall talent level on display.

"Many of the boys came in prepared for the fitness and conditioning tests so we were happy with that," said Ionadi at the conclusion of the two-day trial session. "As for game situations, some players obviously lacked experience in the arena game but the talent was there."

Thirty-five players from across Canada took part in the first day of tryouts that included a four-step fitness testing regimen, under the supervision of MetroStars' strength and conditioning coach Adrian Becic and Director of Sports Science Dr. Paul Biondich.

Players were tested for: a) lower body strength, by performing a long jump; b) maximum acceleration, through a 20-metre sprint; c) agility, through rapid movement with the ball around cones; and d) anaerobic capacity, through a grueling 300-metre shuttle that consisted of a 25-metre sprint repeated twelve times. The fitness evaluations were followed by controlled scrimmages.

Fitness Testing at MetroStars' Open Tryouts (Photo Credit: Alf De Blasis)

"Between 30 and 40 per cent of the boys had very good results," said Becic. "The data from these tests can provide our coach with insight when determining his selections for training camp."

Of the almost three dozen players that attended the first day of tryouts, the oldest was 39-year-old Zoran Rajovic and the youngest was Dexter Medina, who turned 18 just last month. Both were included in the 25-man list of trialists that returned on Sunday. The player that came in from the furthest outpost was Darko Hardi from Saskatoon, SK. He was also among the 25 players invited to return on Sunday.

"One thing I was looking for were players who can think outside the box and can see angles," said Ionadi. "I saw two or three players that I think have a good shot at getting to training camp and opening some eyes."

Behind the Scenes at MetroStars' Open Tryouts (Photo Credit: Alf De Blasis)

Of the 25 that participated in Sunday's session, Ionadi will invite between 16 and 18 players to the MASL expansion team's training camp set to begin November 6. That announcement is expected later this week. They'll join the 12 players already under contract with the MetroStars.

"We're fortunate because in the past year we operated the Arena Premier League (APL) here at Canlan, so some of the players that came out this weekend we were already familiar with," Ionadi said. "The biggest thing for us was seeing them play at a highly competitive level and getting an understanding of the game."

Final instructions from MetroStars GM/Coach Phil Ionadi (Photo Credit: Alf De Blasis)

This season, the MetroStars will play in the MASL's Eastern Division, with Utica City FC, Harrisburg Heat and the defending champion Baltimore Blast. The MetroStars' home opener against the Florida Tropics, at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, is set for Saturday, December 8, at 3:05pm (ET).




Images from this story

The long jump at Mississauga MetroStars open tryouts
The long jump at Mississauga MetroStars open tryouts
 A view of the action at Mississauga MetroStars open tryouts
A view of the action at Mississauga MetroStars open tryouts
 Mississauga MetroStars open tryouts
Mississauga MetroStars open tryouts

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