Christopher Lee (soccer)

Christopher Lee (born August 14, 2001) is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a defender.

Christopher Lee
Personal information
Full name Christopher Lee
Date of birth (2001-08-14) August 14, 2001 (age 22)
Place of birth North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
West Vancouver SC
Mountain United SC
2015–2020 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– UBC Thunderbirds 34 (3)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021 Pacific FC 3 (0)
2022 Whitecaps FC 2 11 (0)
2022Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan) 0 (0)
2023 Nautsa’mawt FC 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 15, 2023

Early life edit

Lee was born in North Vancouver, British Columbia before moving to West Vancouver, British Columbia when he was three, where he began playing youth soccer for West Vancouver SC when he was seven.[1] He later joined Mountain United SC and then joined the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy in August 2015.[2]

College career edit

In 2020, Lee decided to attend the University of British Columbia and join their men's soccer team,[3] although his debut season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he won the Canada West title with UBC,[4] was named to the Canada West All-Rookie Team,[5] and was an Academic All-Canadian.[6] In 2023, he won the Canada West Student-Athlete Community Service Award.[7]

Club career edit

In the 2021 CPL-U Sports Draft, he was selected fifth overall by Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League.[8] In June 2021, he signed a developmental contract with Pacific for the 2021 season, allowing him to retain his university eligibility.[9][10] He made his debut on June 26 against the HFX Wanderers.[11] In August 2020, Pacific coach Pa-Modou Kah confirmed that Lee was returning to the University of British Columbia in the fall, and that the team was interested in having him return to the club for the 2022 season.[12]

In March 2022, he signed for Whitecaps FC 2, ahead of the revived club's inaugural season in MLS Next Pro.[13] In July 2022, he joined the first team on two short-term loans for their matches against Minnesota United FC and FC Cincinnati.[14][15] After the season, Whitecaps 2 declined his club option for 2023.[16]

In 2023, he joined Nautsa’mawt FC in League1 British Columbia.[4]

International career edit

In 2016, he attended a camp for the Canada U15 national team.[1]

Career statistics edit

As of July 15, 2023[17]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Pacific FC 2021 Canadian Premier League 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Whitecaps FC 2 2022 MLS Next Pro 11 0 11 0
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan) 2022 Major League Soccer 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nautsa’mawt FC 2023[18] League1 British Columbia 11 0 11 0
Career total 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 0

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Chris Lee Canada Soccer profile". Canadian Soccer Association.
  2. ^ "Christopher Lee VWFC profile". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021.
  3. ^ Sargeant, Jeff (January 15, 2020). "Chris Lee, Connor Mrazek to join T-Birds this fall". UBC Thunderbirds.
  4. ^ a b @nautsamawtfc (April 25, 2023). "Defender Chris Lee comes to the club with professional pedigree and experience" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ Sargeant, Jeff (October 29, 2021). "'Birds host Dinos in CW quarter-final battle". UBC Thunderbirds.
  6. ^ Sargeant, Jeff (December 14, 2021). "Record 278 Thunderbirds celebrated as Academic All-Canadians". UBC Thunderbirds.
  7. ^ Sargeant, Jeff (November 2, 2023). "Sebastian Dzikowski named Player of the Year, Fuerst and Lee also honoured by Canada West". UBC Thunderbirds.
  8. ^ "Pacific FC Draft Christopher Lee from UBC". Pacific FC. January 29, 2021.
  9. ^ Jacques, John (June 10, 2021). "Pacific FC Signs Left-Back Chris Lee". Northern Tribune.
  10. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (June 10, 2021). "Pacific FC signs CPL-U SPORTS Draft pick Christopher Lee". Canadian Premier League.
  11. ^ Jacques, John (June 26, 2021). "Lightning, Pacific Strike Twice To Sink Wanderers". Northern Tribune.
  12. ^ Canucks At Home [@CA_AtHome] (August 27, 2021). ".@Pacificfccpl head coach Pa-Modou Kah also added that fullback Chris Lee is already heading back to UBC - but plan on retaining him for 2022 as they see a future at the club for him. The club supporting the player's choice to go back for another year at UBC. #ForTheIsle #CanPL" (Tweet). Retrieved September 9, 2021 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ "Five Whitecaps FC BMO Academy products signed to WFC2". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. March 14, 2022.
  14. ^ "Whitecaps FC sign WFC2 wingback Chris Lee to MLS short-term agreement". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. July 8, 2022.
  15. ^ "Whitecaps FC sign WFC2 wingback Chris Lee to second MLS short-term agreement". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. July 13, 2022.
  16. ^ Jacques, John (November 18, 2022). "Antoniuk, Lee Named Amongst Whitecaps FC 2 Releases". Northern Tribune.
  17. ^ Christopher Lee at Soccerway
  18. ^ "Chris Lee 2023 L1BC Stats". League1 British Columbia.

External links edit