Evan Daum, Canada West Communications

EDMONTON – A total of eight Canada West men's soccer players were selected in the first Canadian Premier League-U SPORTS Draft held on Monday, November 12.

Selected players will now receive an invite to their respective club's preseason camp, where they'll be competing for a contract. Graduating student-athletes will be vying for a standard pro contract, while student-athletes with eligibility remaining will be eyeing a standard development agreement.

The CPL-U SPORTS Draft was announced back in October, and will provide the unique opportunity for student-athletes to compete at the pro level, while not losing their eligibility to compete at the university level.

The CPL is set to open play in the spring of 2019, with seven teams competing in the inaugural season. For more on the league, click here.

ROUND 1

PICK / NAME / UNIVERSITY / ELIGIBILITY / CPL TEAM

• 6th / Thomas Gardner / UBC / 1 / Pacific FC
• 7th / Connor James / Alberta / 5 / FC Edmonton

ROUND 2

PICK / NAME / UNIVERSITY / ELIGIBILITY / CPL TEAM

• 8th / Ajeej Sarkaria / Alberta / 3 / FC Edmonton
• 9th / Zach Verhoven / UBC / 3 / Pacific FC
• 14th / Joel Waterman / Trinity Western / 5 / Cavalry FC

ROUND 3

PICK / NAME / UNIVERSITY / ELIGIBILITY / CPL TEAM

• 15th / Easton Ongaro / Alberta / 2 / Cavalry FC
• 20th / Nick Fussell / UBC / 1 / Pacific FC
• 21st / Noah Cunningham / Alberta / 3 / FC Edmonton