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Pacific FC are one of the Canadian Premier League’s most exciting clubs, providing entertaining soccer, a vibrant atmosphere, and a whole lot of purple to Vancouver Island.

Playing out of Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., the Tridents are the only CPL club other than Forge FC to win the championship — which they did (against Forge) in 2021. As they enter 2023, they look to claim back the North Star Shield they surrendered last season

CPL 5 x 5: Key stats, storylines & quotes for Pacific FC’s 2023 season

Story of 2022

• 2022 CPL regular season record (W-D-L): 13-7-8 (46 pts)
• Goals scored: 36
• Goals against: 33
• Goal difference: +3
• Top scorer: Alejandro Díaz (13)
• Canadian Championship: Lost (on penalties) in quarter-finals vs. York United

Pacific entered 2022 as the defending champions after their triumph at Tim Hortons Field in 2021. They came flying out of the gates, winning five of their first seven, but a dry spell in June put them on shakier footing. Top scorer (and eventual Golden Boot winner) Alejandro Díaz departed the club in early August, and from there the Tridents struggled to put the ball in the net, scoring just seven goals in their last 10 regular season games.

They did still make the playoffs, losing a hard-fought tie 3-1 on aggregate to Atlético Ottawa. The highlight of the year, though, was Pacific’s first appearance in the Concacaf League. After beating Jamaican club Waterhouse 6-0 over two legs, they bowed out admirably to Costa Rican giants Herediano on penalties in the round of 16.

Arrivals and Departures

Pacific’s biggest changes have come at the front of their lineup. Two-thirds of the attack that started 2022 has now moved on, with the club’s all-time goals leader Alejandro Díaz leaving last August and now assists leader Marco Bustos making the move to Värnamo in Sweden. They’ve replaced Díaz with Easton Ongaro, the CPL’s second-leading all-time goalscorer with 25 (ironically, tied with Díaz), in hopes he can be the one-touch finisher they need.

Kekuta Manneh, who boasts more MLS appearances than any other CPL player, is the splashiest add, likely to play the left wing for Pacific. Elsewhere, Pierre Lamothe should help stabilize midfield after Jamar Dixon’s retirement, and a handful of other newcomers should add more punch to the attack.

The other major departure at Pacific is goalkeeper Callum Irving, who moved across the Georgia Strait this off-season to be the first-ever player for expansion side Vancouver FC.

Coach’s Profile

James Merriman is the third head coach in Pacific FC’s history, but he’s still been with the club since day one. In fact, he was one of its first ever employees, joining the organization even before inaugural gaffer Michael Silberbauer. He worked as an assistant with Silberbauer and then with Pa-Modou Kah, before taking over as head coach for the first time in 2022.

The 37-year-old Merriman is a Van Isle native, hailing from Nanaimo, and his coaching career prior to Pacific is quite local, with stints as an assistant at Vancouver Island University and Simon Fraser University.

He has an all-competitions record of 16-9-11 as Pacific boss (including one win as interim coach at the end of 2019).

Projected Starting XI

(4-3-3): Emil Gazdov; Bradley Vliet, Amer Didić, Thomas Meilleur-Giguère, Kunle Dada-Luke; Sean Young, Manny Aparicio, Pierre Lamothe; Kekuta Manneh, Easton Ongaro, Josh Heard

With Gazdov taking over in goal, the Tridents have gotten a little younger overall — in midfield as well, where Sean Young is poised to step in. Easton Ongaro and Kekuta Manneh headline a new-look attack in the wake of Marco Bustos and Alejandro Díaz departing the club, but captain Josh Heard will be the thread of continuity up front. Look for him to swap over the right wing more often though, with Manneh likely preferring the left flank.

Pierre Lamothe should line up next to Young in the middle, as that pair look to play the ball up to Aparicio to spring attacks from the central channels.

Roster Notes

More Reading

• Pacific FC name Victoria-raised Josh Heard captain
• ‘Pride on the line’: BC Derby between Vancouver FC and Pacific to open 2023 CPL season
• ‘They play the kind of football I want to be a part of’: Ongaro looks to bring goals to Pacific FC
• Player of the Year finalist Manny Aparicio returning to Pacific FC for 2023