After a weekend of orientations at Investors Group Field and learning that, yes, it really is -20°C outside, Valour FC will officially kick off training camp in Winnipeg Monday afternoon.

In all, 27 players are taking to the field to either prepare for the inaugural Canadian Premier League season or earn a contract with Rob Gale’s club.

Gale has already publicly laid out his expectations for pre-season, urging players to “get on the ball and take control of the game” with a number of holes yet to be filled on the club’s inaugural roster.

“We’ve got to establish very quickly everything we want to with our football club,” Gale said. “So from Day 1 we’ll be working on the tactical things and building our philosophy and the key performance indicators and everything the players know they are being judged on and assessed on. We want to rapidly identify who we are and what our brand and style of football is going to be and impart that as quickly as we can.

“We want players with on-field personality, players who are brave and want to give up the ball and express themselves and be a front-foot team that tries to take the game to the opposition,” Gale said.

Two CPL-U SPORTS draft picks and eight trialists are set to join the 17 roster players signed by Gale so far.

Here’s a quick look at the signed and unsigned players set to battle it out.

Goalkeepers: Mathias Janssens, Tyson Farago

Three goalkeepers will take reps between the sticks at camp with signings Tyson Farago and Mathias Janssens battling for the top job. Trialist Svyatik Artemenko will be a fixture throughout camp as well.

Farago, a Winnipegger, signed from Irish first-tier side St. Patrick’s Athletic last year. With 25 games of pro experience, he will look to take control of the number one job and provide a veteran presence to the young Belgian Janssens.

“He’s at a very good age for ‘keepers, and we’ll see his best years here in Winnipeg,” Gale said of Farago when he signed the 27-year-old in December.

Janssens, a former Belgium youth international, was a target of Valour FC for several months.

“He has been involved at the highest levels in Belgium from 16 years of age and has terrific pedigree,” Gale said about the 20-year-old. We are delighted to bring him on board to create great competition for the goalkeeping position.”

Defenders: Jordan Murrell, Skylar Thomas, Raphael Garcia, Martin Arguinarena

So far, just four defenders are under contract. Uruguayan Martín Arguiñarena will join Canadians Skylar Thomas, Jordan Murrell and Raphael Garcia later in the week. All four come with experience at professional clubs, leaving Gale to add depth to his backline.

Reinforcements could come quickly with some defenders on trial. Additionally, a South American left fullback with ties to a current Valour player is currently exploring a move to the club.

Midfielders: Raphael Ohin, Dylan Sacramento, Dylan Carreiro, Josip Golubar, Nicolas Galvis, Nestor Navia, Ali Musse, Diego Gutierrez, Glenn Muenkat

Nine midfielders have been signed by Valour FC entering camp making it the deepest position numbers-wise.

Dylan Carreiro, Dylan Sacramento, Raphael Ohin and Ali Musse are all local players that have been under the tutelage of coach Gale at some point in their careers. All four were standout players on their previous team and have the extra incentive of playing for their hometown club.

Fellow Canadians Glenn Muenkat, Nicolás Galvis and Diego Gutierrez are all known to their head coach through Canadian national team programs. Gutiérrez is one of the more intriguing names on the opening roster — the 22-year-old joins Valour after four years with Chilean side CD Palestino.

Internationals Néstor Navia (Columbia) and Josip Golubar (Croatia) round out the group. Golubar, 33, adds loads of professional experience coming off a 10-year career in various European leagues. Navia will be a late arrival in camp but could be in town by March 8.

Forwards: Tyler Attardo, Stephen Hoyle

Only two forwards are under contract entering March: Englishman Stephen Hoyle and Winnipeg-raised youngster Tyler Attardo.

Hoyle has yet to arrive in Winnipeg as he completes the New Zealand Premiership season with Canterbury United. In 16 games for the Dragons, Hoyle has scored 10 goals, helping his club hold the final playoff spot with two games remaining. The league final is scheduled for March 31.

Attardo is entering his first professional camp after impressing at the CPL trials held in Winnipeg. Just 17 when he signed for Rob Gale’s side, the hometown product will be the youngest player at camp.

Draft Picks: Jack Simpson, Lewis White

With CPL-U SPORTS second-overall pick Dylan Carreiro signed to a contract, the attention turns to remaining CPL-U SPORTS draftees Jack Simpson and Lewis White.

Both are from Scotland and both were selected from the Cape Breton University team that finished runners up at the 2018 National Championship. White, a defender, was also a member of the 2017 national champion Capers team.

“Lewis White comes from a good pedigree with some professional experience under his belt, and Jack Simpson showed very well at the U SPORTS Championship,” Gale said.

On Trial: Svyatik Artemenko (GK), Eli Roubos (DF), Matt Santos (FW), Kyle Andrade (MF), Ezequiel Lubocki (MF), Mitch Popadynetz (MF), Yvenson Andre (DEF), Federico Pena (FW)

Gale plans to cycle in some unsigned talent throughout camp, with a potential CPL contract on the line for those involved. So far eight players, all Canadian, will get a chance to show their stuff.

Svyatik Artemenko (GK): A Winnipegger who impressed at the #GotGame Open Trials, Artemenko could be brought in as cover for Farago and Janssens. He plans to get game experience with local semi-pro side WSA Winnipeg this season.

Eli Roubos (DF): The 22-year-old central defender is looking for a new club after a four-year NCAA career. He was last on the roster of TFC III in League1 Ontario. It’s worth noting Valour has only four natural defenders under contract.

Mathew Santos (FW): Scoring 21 goals in 30 games over the past two seasons in League1 Ontario, Santos scoring prowess could help him land a spot on a Valour squad that, it’s worth noting again, only has two forwards signed.

Kyle Andrade (MF): A former member of Premier Development League side Thunder Bay Chill, Andrade spent last season with Winnipeg club CSSE Juventus, scoring four goals.

Ezequiel Lubocki (MF): The Argentine-born Winnipegger impressed scouts enough at the CPL trials to earn an invite to camp. Lubocki has spent the last few years in the local soccer leagues after a five-year career with the University of Toronto ended in 2014.

Mitch Popadynetz (MF): A former Canada West player of the year and U SPORTS all-star with Thompson Rivers University, the B.C native also spent 2018 with Victoria Highlanders of the PDL.

Yvenson Andre (DF): Another central defender, the 20-year-old Quebec native was runner up to the PLSQ MVP award last season following 18 appearances for CS St-Hubert.

Federico Pena (FW): One more Winnipegger to round out the camp. Pena caught the attention of Belgian side KAA Gent in 2017 after training under current Valour FC goalkeeper coach Patrick Di Stefani. The 19-year-old striker was most recently on the reserve team of Belgian side Standard Liege.

Full Camp Roster:

GK:

Tyson Farago – Canada – St Pats (IRE)
Mathias Janssens – Belgium – La Louviere (BEL)

DF:

Skylar Thomas – Canada – Charleston Battery (USA)
Jordan Murrell – Canada – Reno 1868 (USA)
Raphaël Garcia – Canada – Montreal Impact Academy (MLS)
Martín Arguiñarena – Uruguay – Boston River (URU)

MF:

Dylan Carreiro – Canada – York University (U SPORTS)
Dylan Sacramento – Canada – Vaughan Azzurri (L1O)
Josip Golubar – Croatia – NK Varaždin (CRO)
Glenn Muenkat – Canada – FC Kaiserslautern II (GER)
Raphael Ohin – Canada – WSA Winnipeg (PDL)
Néstor Navia – Columbia – Deportivo Pasto B (COL)
Ali Musse – Canada – Calgary Foothills (PDL)
Diego Gutierrez – Canada – Palestino (CHL)
Nicolás Galvis – Canada – Unattached

FW:

Stephen Hoyle – England – Canterbury United (NZL)
Tyler Attardo – Canada – Unattached

CPL-U SPORTS:

Lewis White – Scotland – Cape Breton University
Jack Simpson – Scotland – Cape Breton University

On Trial:

Svyatik Artemenko (GK) – Canada – WSA Winnipeg (PDL)
Eli Roubos (DEF) – Canada – TFC III (L1O)
Matt Santos (FWD) – Canada – Woodbridge Strikers (L1O)
Kyle Andrade (MID) – Canada – Winnipeg – Unattached
Ezequiel Lubocki (MID) – Canada – Unattached
Mitch Popadynetz – (MID) – Canada – Thompson Rivers University
Yvenson Andre (DEF) – Canada – CS St-Hubert (PLSQ)
Federico Pena (FWD) – Canada – Standard Liege (BEL)

– With files from Ed Tait