ORLANDO, Fla. -- As Canada's national team looks to integrate the next generation of senior internationals, one of the players who has found a place on Benito Floro's team in recent months is Montreal Impact defender Karl Ouimette.
And he's got big expectations for the Canadian national team this year.
“Winning, for sure,” Ouimette said after Monday’s 1-1 draw against Iceland. “We want to win the Gold Cup.”
There’s a lot to look forward to for the youngster, and the Canadian national team, in 2015. Canada begin World Cup Qualifying in June, and they’ll participate in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup beginning in July. Ouimette notched his 7th and 8th caps, respectively, with the friendly series against Iceland that wrapped up on Monday, and he played an important role in the result.
MLS veteran Dwayne De Rosario netted Canada’s only goal in the draw, but it was the 22-year-old Ouimette who indirectly set up the tally, as he drew the penalty.
The young defender got the start at left back for Canada, and charged into the Icelandic penalty area with the ball in the 29th minute. Ouimette wrong-footed Iceland defender Hordur Arnason, who clumsily took down the fullback for what appeared to be a clear penalty.
“Actually, the coach was telling me to try and go 1 v. 1 if I had the chance,” said Ouimette of the play. “I decided to push the ball and try to pass the defender. I got in front of him and protected the ball. I tried to cross the ball, and he got ahold of me.”
Ouimette put in two full shifts for the Canadian national team on the trip, playing all 90 minutes in both Monday's draw and Friday's 2-1 defeat. Following Monday's match, Ouimette said he was looking forward to beginning the MLS season, though it remains unclear how Montreal plan to utilize him in 2015.
The Impact academy product logged nine starts for Montreal in 2014, but his time with the club has been split between fullback and center back.
“I don’t know [where I’ll play],” he said. “I told [Montreal] I’m most comfortable at center back. If they need me left or right, I can do the job. I just want to play some games and keep getting better. Hopefully as a team, we can make the playoffs this year”
Ouimette was generally happy with the two-match series in Orlando. His playing time would certainly indicate that Floro has a measure of trust in the youngster. Still, he seemed to appreciate that 2015 is an important year for Canada -- in addition to aiming for the summit at the Gold Cup, Canada's quest to make the World Cup for the first time since 1986 is arguably even more important.
“I think it was two pretty good games; It was positive,” Ouimette explained. “In [World Cup] Qualifying though, that’s when it counts.”
