MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact unveiled on Sunday its 2019 preseason roster, presented by Allstate, with camp starting this Monday in Saratosa/Brandenton region, in Florida, on the fields of Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch.
18 players from the 2018 edition are back with the team: goalkeepers Evan Bush, Clément Diop and James Pantemis, defenders Víctor Cabrera, Rudy Camacho, Zakaria Diallo, Daniel Lovitz, Jukka Raitala and Bacary Sagna, midfielders Micheal Azira, Mathieu Choinière, Ken Krolicki, Ignacio Piatti, Samuel Piette, Shamit Shome, Saphir Taïder and Jeisson Vargas, as well as striker Anthony Jackson-Hamel.
Lovitz is currently with the United States national team and will join the Bleu-blanc-noir following the USMNT friendly games against Panama, on January 27, and Costa Rica, on February 2.
The Impact will welcome four newcomers: defender Daniel Kinumbe, midfielder Clément Bayiha, winger Harry Novillo and striker Maximiliano Urruti.
Two Academy players, goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois and winger Mikale Fontaine, will be in Florida as well.
Midfielders David Choinière, who played the last three seasons with the first team, Amar Sejdic, the Impact’s second round pick from the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, and Chris Wehan, who played with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2018, along with Canadian international full-backs Zachary Brault-Guillard and Émile Legault, have been invited.
Goalkeeper Jason Beaulieu and defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguère will spend the season on loan with Ottawa Fury FC through the partnership agreement which will soon be approved by MLS and USL.
The Impact and defender Michael Petrasso have also mutually agreed to terminate his contract.
The team will kick off its season in San Jose on March 2, with its six first games on the road, playing its home opener on Saturday, April 13, at 1pm, at Stade Saputo, against Columbus Crew SC.
Supporters can acquire a ticket for the home opener at the purchase of a Membership for the 2019 season at 514-328-3668 or at impactmontreal.com. The IMFC Membership allows you to notably save up to 50% on the price of individual tickets, take advantage of discounts at the club’s boutique and at Stade Saputo’s food concession stands, while having access to exclusive events. It is possible to pay for your Membership in monthly, interest-free payments.
2019 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER
Goalkeepers (4): Evan Bush, Clément Diop, Jonathan Sirois, James Pantemis
Defenders (9): Zachary Brault-Guillard^, Víctor Cabrera, Rudy Camacho, Zakaria Diallo, Daniel Kinumbe, Émile Legault^, Daniel Lovitz, Jukka Raitala, Bacary Sagna
Midfielders (13): Micheal Azira, Clément Bayiha, David Choinière^, Mathieu Choinière, Mikale Fontaine, Ken Krolicki, Ignacio Piatti, Samuel Piette, Amar Sejdic^, Shamit Shome, Saphir Taïder, Jeisson Vargas, Chris Wehan^
Strikers (3): Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Maximiliano Urruti, Harry Novillo
* Academy player
^ On trial
IMPORTANT DATES
Monday, January 21 at 3pm – Departure for Saratosa/Bradenton
Wednesday, January 30 at 7pm – Preseason game v FC Cincinnati – IMG Academy
Wednesday, February 6 at 7pm – Preseason game v Nashville SC – Premier Sports Campus Lakewood Ranch
Thursday, February 7 – Return to Montreal
Monday, February 11 – Departure for St. Petersburg
Saturday, February 16 at 4pm – Preseason game v Philadelphia Union – Al Lang Stadium
Wednesday, February 20 at 7pm - Preseason game v Tampa Bay Rowdies – Al Lang Stadium
Saturday, February 23 at 7pm - Preseason game v D.C. United – Al Lang Stadium
Sunday, February 24 – Departure for San Jose
Saturday, March 2 at 10pm – First game of the season in San Jose
Saturday, April 13 at 1pm – Home opener at Stade Saputo against Columbus
