Pacific FC signs former Canadian attacker Adonijah Reid

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LANGFORD — Pacific FC and Vancouver FC added to their attack Tuesday while Atletico Ottawa bolstered its defence as Canadian Premier League teams continued building towards the 2023 season.

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Pacific signed winger/forward Adonijah Reid, a former Canadian youth international and FC Dallas draft pick. Expansion Vancouver added forward Shaan Hundal to up its current roster to nine and Atletico Ottawa signed Canadian international defender Karl Ouimette.

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York United FC, meanwhile, re-signed Canadian defender Roger Thompson, the team’s longest-serving player. The 31-year-old, who made his York debut in June 2019, has signed one-year deal plus a club option.

Reid, a 23-year-old from Brampton, Ont., was most recently with Miami FC in the USL Championship.

He made waves in 2015 when, as a 16-year-old, he scored 20 goals in 20 appearances with ANB Futbol in League 1 Ontario. He went on trial with France’s Nice and Olympique Lyonnais, before signing a Generation Adidas deal ahead of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft.

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Dallas selected Reid in the second round (40th overall).

Dallas loaned Reid to the Ottawa Fury in 2017 and 2018. He played there alongside Jamar Dixon, Pacific’s current manager of football and player development.

Reid then played for Le Havre AC in the French second tier before joining FC Miami in January 2021, making 55 appearances over two seasons with nine goals and six assists.

“Adonijah is a dynamic and inspiring player who knows how to find the back of the net,” Dixon said in a statement. “He has a big future ahead of him and we are happy to provide this opportunity for him to break out and take his game to the next level.”

Reid represented Canada at the 2018 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship.

Hundal, a 23-year-old former Canadian youth international from Brampton, Ont., has CPL experience having made six appearances for Valour FC during the Island Games in 2020.

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“Shaan possesses the ability to influence games as a scorer and provider in the danger areas,” Vancouver head coach Afshin Ghotbi said in a statement. “The combination of his power, speed and skill make him an exciting addition to our attack. I look forward to celebrating his goals with our fans during our first season in the Canadian Premier League.”

Hundal spent last season with Inter Miami CF II in the MLS Next Pro League, scoring six goals and adding three assists in 21 games.

Before that he played for Fort Lauderdale CF, Inter Miami’s now-defunct USL League One side, leading the team with 11 goals. Hundal was a finalist for the USL League One Young Player of the Year award.

Hundal signed his first professional contract with Toronto FC II in 2016, graduating to the squad after two years in the club’s academy. He spent parts of four seasons with the team.

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In 2019, he was loaned to the Ottawa Fury in the USL Championship.

Hundal joins strikers Mamadou Kane and Nathaniel St. Louis, midfielders Elliot Simmons and Gabriel Bitar, defenders Rocco Romeo, Marcus Simmons, Kahlil John-Wentworth and goalkeeper Callum Irving on Vancouver’s roster.

Vancouver and Pacific kick off the 2023 Canadian Premier League season on April 14 when they meet at Starlight Stadium.

Ouimette started with the Montreal academy, playing 20 regular-season MLS games for Montreal from 2012 to 2014 before joining New York Red Bulls in 2015.

The 30-year-old from Terrebonne, Que., played 18 games for the Red Bulls in 2015-16 before moving to the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and the United Soccer League (USL) to play for the San Francisco Deltas, Indy Eleven and Detroit City FC.

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Ouimette won 18 caps for Canada between 2013 and 2016.

“Karl is a player that has been on our radar for a few months now as we knew there would be a chance to sign him during the off-season,” Atletico head coach Carlos Gonzalez said in a statement. “He is a very versatile defender who can adapt to multiple positions, including holding midfielder. He is a great addition to the squad as he provides solidity in defence as well as leadership qualities on and off the pitch.”

Ottawa opens its season at home to HFX Wanderers FC on April 15.

Thompson has made 44 appearances in total for York.

“We are extremely pleased to have Roger return,” said York head coach Martin Nash. “He is one of the top centre backs in the Canadian Premier League. He’s a big part of our squad for the upcoming season for a few reasons.

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“He’s a leader both on and off the field, and he’s got some excellent qualities as a player. He’s a calm presence, reads the game exceptionally well and possesses a real composure on the ball. His ability to play an intelligent pass from deep is a real bonus and last year we saw on a number of occasions just how much of a potent weapon that is.”

York opens its season April 16 against visiting Valour FC.

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