VANCOUVER, B.C. — The Vancouver Whitecaps have signed Maxime Crépeau to a contract extension that will keep the goalkeeper at the club through 2022, with an option for 2023, the club announced Tuesday.
Brought in via a trade from the Montreal Impact during the winter, many expected Crépeau would become a backup to Vancouver’s other new goalkeeper Zac MacMath. Crépeau, after all, had very little MLS experience and spent the 2018 season on loan with the Ottawa Fury in the USL.
The Canadian national team ‘keeper, however, earned the starting position during preseason camp and has started in 18 out of Vancouver’s 21 games. In those 18 MLS appearances, he managed 4.06 saves per game, second in the league, and a 70.9 save percentage, which is tied for sixth among ‘keepers with 15 or more starts.
Crépeau is also fourth in the league with 78 saves and tied for second in the league when it comes to leaving the line.
In many ways, the goalkeeper has been one of the few bright spots in what has been a disappointing season overall. Signed with relative little expectations, Crépeau has since become one of the better ‘keepers in the league and also an enticing prospect for a Canadian national team currently experiencing a bit of a golden generation.
“Max came to this club with an opportunity, he has taken his opportunity, and now it’s very important he continues to grow,” Whitecaps goalkeeping coach Youssef Dahha said in a press release .
For Whitecaps’ head coach Dos Santos, it is also proof good players can be found in the lower divisions of North American soccer.
“Since the first day Max arrived in Vancouver, he has been very focused on improving all aspects of his game, and he has earned this opportunity,” Dos Santos added. “He has come up big for us, and he continues to show the commitment that you need to succeed in MLS. This season has allowed us to evaluate how we want to play and identify what we can build on, and this move is one of many that we felt was important to continue reshaping our club.”
“I’m proud to be part of the club’s vision, and I’ll give my best to play at the highest standard and bring the logo, the badge, to a place it hasn’t been before,” Crépeau added.