2012 was a great year for Whitecaps Residency product Ben Fisk.
The midfielder was a key figure in the Caps U18 side that reached the USSDA Championship game, in their first season in the League, and was named the ‘Player of Finals Week’ for his seven goals in the four games, including two hat-tricks and the opening goal in the Championship game. He also featured prominently in the Canadian U20 set up and went to Europe to train.
All that was missing to help make it a near perfect year was to finally become the latest Residency product to earn a MLS contract and make the step up to the Whitecaps first team.
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Some MLS rules regarding homegrown players and their salaries have no doubt got in the way, but for those of us that have followed the development of Fisk and the other Residency guys these last few years, one of our main hopes from this year’s training camp is that Fisk finally secures that elusive contract that his skills and play have more than merited.
So how is he feeling being back in the Caps training camp?
<i>”Good. Really excited to be back. I spent a bit of time away so I feel good coming in.”</i>
Having hit 19, and unable to play in the USSDA any more, that time away involved some quality training time over in Germany.
<i>”I went for a training spell. Originally I was going for three weeks. I was with FC Kasierslautern and they really liked me so I ended up staying for a couple of months. Now I’ve come back here to see how it goes in pre-season.”</i>
It kind of goes without saying, but what are Ben’s hopes from this year’s training camp?
<i>”I’d like to sign a MLS contract. This is my hometown and I’d love to play here.”</i>
We’d like him to sign one and play here too, because if the Caps don’t, we’re pretty sure it won’t be long before someone else does.
As one of the outstanding talents on the Residency team, it’s frustrating to see others come in as trialists and secure MLS contracts whilst Fisk still waits in the wings. Surely it kind of defeats the purpose of producing all of this local talent?
Fisk is performing well in camp, as he did last year, and the Caps management speak very highly of him at every given opportunity. So will this finally be his year?
Caleb Clarke didn’t get his MLS contract until April last year, so even if there isn’t an offer on the table by the time the season kicks off, then there is still hope.
At this stage of his career Fisk needs to play and be getting regular game time. Even if he does sign a MLS contract, his opportunities are going to be limited.
It may even be better for him to make a move to Europe at this stage of his career and then revisit MLS later. He’s in a prime developmental period of his fledgling career.
Whatever happens, we’re pretty sure Ben Fisk will have a professional contract and will be playing somewhere this season. Let’s hope it’s not a case of the Whitecaps loss being someone else’s gain.
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