The Whitecaps open their 2017 MLS season in a tilt against the Philadelphia Union in hopes of repeating the impressive win  three days prior against the Red Bulls.

Given the win it’s great to see a huge crowd on hand to support the Whitecaps on opening day, but many were questioning why the Caps never hosted Toronto, Montreal, Seattle or Portland, but it was obvious there was a reason.

Arriving at the match earlier today it was mentioned that Peter Schaad will return to the mic for TSN being sure to “dazzle” everyone with his comments and insight in all matches he calls.

It’s interesting to know that Whitecaps HC Carl Robinson and Philadelphia midfielder Maurice Edu both played with Toronto in 2007-2008.

Caps Montero played for Sporting CP along with Union’s Oguchi Onyewu, while Caps HC Robinson and Union HC Curtin are two of the youngest coaches in the MLS this season.

To the surprise of no-one the Whitecaps started David Ousted and played in 33 games in the back-end while the Union started Andre Blake who has played 32 games and comes from Jamaica.

The part I personally find interesting is the story of the game referee Sorin Stoica, who started as a referee while still playing as a youth and comes from Romania.

At the time he was a young 19 years of age and not getting paid to play so took a test to become a police officer, which he passed.

He worked as a officer for five (5) years in a small town not far from Bran Castle, which is better known as Dracula’s Castle.

Eventually in 2001 he moved himself and his Wife to Cleveland Ohio and since he held his officiating license he began to referee in the area.

After a year in the US he met up with a Romanian person who was also an official and he directed him to the Referee Association website and from there he followed the necessary steps to become a referee in North America 

He has spent time officiating minor soccer in and around his area, which as most officials know they need an understanding wife, which some have and others don’t.

Unlike some of the politicians, he is thankful for coming to the US and mentions they gave him the chance that he had hoped and worked for.

He mentions “you can do what you want, but you have to work hard for everything you get.”