MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact and the Houston Dynamo completed a trade on Thursday. The Impact received a conditional pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft in return for forward Brian Ching. As per the policies of Major League Soccer and the Impact, details of the deal were not disclosed.
Ching, 33, was selected by the Impact in the 2012 Expansion Draft, last November 23, as he was left unprotected by Houston. After initially refusing to join the Impact and threatening to retire, he reported to the team at the start of training camp on January 16. Ching now returns to the team where he spent the last six seasons of his career.
"We have made this decision based on reasons that we felt were beneficial for both the desires and needs of our club and the wishes of Brian Ching, said Impact head coach Jesse Marsch. We wish him luck on his return to Houston and thank him for his commitment and professionalism while a member of our organization."
The Impact currently has 24 players under contract for its inaugural season in MLS.
The club will kick off its inaugural season in the North American first division on Saturday, March 10, against Canadian rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at 6pm (ET), at BC Place in Vancouver. The team will then host its season opener at home the following Saturday, at Olympic Stadium, on March 17, against the Chicago Fire, at 2pm (ET).
Season tickets for 2012 are still available and can be purchased via the team’s website at impactmontreal.com or by calling 514-328-3668. Individual tickets are available for the Olympic Stadium games via the Admission network.
