Petrasso, Fleming named 2015 Canadian U-20 Players of the Year

Michael Petrasso and Jessie Fleming have been named 2015 Canadian U-20 Players of the Year. Canada’s two footballers won the honour from a vote shared by national team coaches (50%) as well as Canadian clubs and coaches (50%).

Michael Petrasso is a member of Canada’s Men’s National Team and Queens Park Rangers in London, England, where he recently made his first team debut in the Championship. At the international level, he spent parts of the 2015 campaign with both the U-20 and U-23 teams, notably helping Canada finish fourth at the CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament. He scored four goals and two assists in 10 competitive international youth matches.

“I would like to congratulate Michael for winning the award again who, from the U-20s to the Men’s National Team, has developed terrifically over the year,” said Canada Soccer Men’s U-20 Coach Rob Gale. “We have had the pleasure of working with him in the national program and both his pace and dynamic game have resonated well with the fans. We congratulate him for working hard at his game and blazing a path for our national program.”

Fleming is a member of Canada’s Women’s National Team and has also played for London Nor’West SC. In 2015, she helped Canada finish sixth overall at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, with more than 20 million Canadians watching the record-setting competition. She also helped Canada finish second at the Cyprus Women’s Cup (where she scored her first international “A” goal) and fourth at the Pan American Games. Fleming is currently in Brazil rounding out her 2015 campaign, with Canada’s next match on Wednesday 16 December.

“Congratulations to Jessie Fleming on this honour after experiencing the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 at such a young age,” said Canada Soccer’s Women’s U-20 Coach Daniel Worthington. “She already has the experience of three FIFA tournaments in two years across the U-17s and U-20s and the FIFA Women’s World Cup, allowing her to develop critical tournament expertise. These tournaments have been a platform for Jessie’s individual technical and tactical development as she sets out to establish her place as an international footballer for the years to come. “

Petrasso of Woodbridge, ON finished first in voting ahead of runners up Chris Serban of Calgary, AB (Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2), Cyle Larin of Brampton, ON (Orlando City SC), and Fraser Aird of Scarborough, ON (Glasgow Rangers FC). Fleming finished first in voting ahead of runners up Gabrielle Carle of Lévis, QC (Dynamo de Québec), Sarah Stratigakis of Woodbridge, ON (Unionville-Milliken SC), and Sarah Kinzner of Calgary, AB (University of Colorado at Boulder).

The 2015 Canada Soccer Player Awards are announced from 11-18 December, with the Canadian Para Soccer Player of the Year announced on 11 December (Trevor Stiles), the Canadian U-17 Players of the Year announced on 13 December (Kadin Chung & Kennedy Faulknor), the Canadian U-20 Players of the Year announced on 14 December, and the BMO Canadian Players of the Year announced on 17 and 18 December.

CANADIAN U-20 PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
2015 – Michael Petrasso & Jessie Fleming
2014 – Michael Petrasso & Kadeisha Buchanan
2013 – Dylan Carreiro & Kadeisha Buchanan
2012 – Doneil Henry & Sabrina D’Angelo
2011 – Ashtone Morgan & Amelia Pietrangelo
2010 – Ethan Gage & Jonelle Filigno
2009 – Nana Attakora & Chelsea Stewart
2008 – Nana Attakora & Jonelle Filigno
2007 – Asmir Begovic & Sophie Schmidt
2006 – David Edgar & Jodi-Ann Robinson
2005 – Ryan Gyaki & Kara Lang