Mason Trafford Joins Ottawa Fury FC

NASL's Ottawa Fury FC announced the club's ninth Canadian signing as Mason Trafford joins from Chinese League One side Guizhou Zhicheng, pending international transfer.

Trafford began his professional career with the Vancouver Whitecaps and would eventually spend two-and-a-half years in the Finnish Premier League with IFK Mariehamn. 

"After spending the last four seasons abroad, I am extremely excited and honored to be returning to North America and play in my Nation's capital," said Trafford. "I have followed the club's development over the past months, and I believe Fury FC is building something special in Ottawa, and I am very much looking forward to being a part of that building process."

Trafford, 27, is a 6'2 defender who was capped for Canada last January when he featured against Denmark. After a season in USL PRO with the Real Maryland Monarchs in 2010, he impressed at a trial with IFK Mariehamn earning a 6 month contract that included a 2-year option which the club would exercise. Trafford would then head to China for the 2013 season featuring in 29 games
for Guizhou Zhicheng. 

"Mason will bring experience to our back line," said Head Coach Marc Dos Santos. "We were looking for another left footed defender and we are very happy to count on a player with very good international experience. I'm sure he will bring a lot to the team."

Born in Boynton Beach, FL, Trafford grew up in Vancouver, BC developing with the North Shore Selects and was a member of the provincial team for two years. Trafford would attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) where he played alongside Nicki Paterson for three seasons. He would captain the Rebels in his final year before signing with the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2008. In his two years with the Whitecaps, he would reach the USL Championship in both years - winning in 2008, alongside then teammate Martin Nash, and falling to the Montreal Impact in 2009 who were coached by Marc Dos Santos. He played alongside current teammate Philippe Davies during the 2009 season in Vancouver. 

Into their third week of training camp at the Complexe Branchaud-Brière in Gatineau, the updated Fury FC roster is as follows: 

Goalkeepers (2): Marcel DeBellis, Chad Bush
Defenders (6): Ramon Soria, Omar Jarun, Andrés Fresenga, Maykon Araujo, Drew Beckie, Mason Trafford
Midfielders (6): Nicki Paterson, Richie Ryan, Mauro Eustaquio, Hamza Elias, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Philippe Davies
Forwards (5): Oliver Minatel, Carl Haworth, Tom Heinemann, Pierre-Rudolph Mayard, Vini Dantas

Trialists (2): Adrian LeRoy (D), Kenny Caceros (M)
Academy Players (3): Nicholas Jeffs (GK), Mitchell O'Brien (M), Thierry Foucher Lemay (F)