Posted by

Harjeet Johal ,

January 27, 2015 Twitter

@HarJournalist Read this on your iPhone/iPad or Android device



VANCOUVER, B.C. - The first day of training for Vancouver Whitecaps players took place on a beautiful sunny Monday morning at the University of British Columbia. Carl Robinson and his coaching staff were on hand to put players through the dreaded beep test (Nicolas Mezquida won) and all sorts of fitness testing drills. Erik Hurtado was quickly noticed as a player that returned to the Whitecaps in peak, and outstanding fitness form. Now entering his third season with the Whitecaps, the 24 year-old is expected to make major leaps and bounds with his development on and off the pitch. Hurtado is off to a good start as he described his offseason program and the 10 pounds he was unaware he lost. "Just doing everything, biking, hiking, doing some swimming, laps in the pool. Some core exercises, cross-fit. Just a bit of everything. I haven't weighed myself since last season, so it was a shocker to me that I lost 10 pounds. I didn't even know." Jordan Harvey was another player that was popular with the media on Monday. The MLS veteran left-back is one of two Whitecaps Major League Soccer Player Union representatives along with Steven Beitashour. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires on January 31. Harvey who turns 31 years-old on Wednesday provided an updated on the status of CBA discussions with MLS. “Well, they aren't going great, I'm not going to go into detail on any of the issues but I think a lot of guys have spoken up on some of them and our teams no different. We stand united with all the players who have spoken up, in particular about free agency.” Player free agency and the ability to move around MLS freely and perhaps to other football leagues appears to be a major sticking point with CBA negotiations. When the last CBA was agreed to in 2010, the MLS re-entry draft was put in place as a comprise via MLS. Fast forward to today and Harvey had this to say regarding a possible work stoppage. “Well, if free agency isn't put on the board then absolutely.” Toronto FC's Michael Bradley, FC Dallas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, and Los Angeles Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant are among the many MLS players that have spoken out in favour of MLS adopting free agency in the next CBA. .@ToddDunivant: "Free agency has to be in this deal for the players to play on opening day." #Unity2015 http://t.co/IgooClPKRV — MLS Players Union (@MLSPlayersUnion) January 24, 2015 Nobody wants a strike and everyone would prefer to come to a resolution that both parties can be happy with. Harvey, the recent newlywed had more to add. “Everybody wants a deal to be done. I don’t think anybody goes into negotiations looking for a strike or a work stoppage or a lockout, everybody wants a deal to be done. There are some things that need to change, and as a players group we’re going to stand up for that.” The previous CBA was agreed to just days before the 2010 MLS season. The Players Union and Major League Soccer made significant progress and agreed to start that campaign and continue to negotiate so the season could begin without any strike or interruption. If this is to happen this year before March 6, Harvey would like to see more progress made. “Before that season started there were positive things that went into that and that’s why they were able to make that agreement, so we’ll have to see.” Whitecaps coach, Carl Robinson did not want to get involved in the discussion and offered this remark when asked for his opinion on the CBA talks. "What's a CBA?" Regardless of what happens, the Welsh gaffer vows to prepare and have his team ready for opening night no matter what plays out with CBA negotiations. "Hopefully they'll come to an agreement. I'm sure they will so I'll prepare for January (March) 7, and if a hiccup comes, which it might, or it might not then I'll deal with it." The Whitecaps announced the signing of residency graduate Ben McKendry. The 21 year-old made 61 appearances with the New Mexico Lobos during his 3-year NCAA career in Conference USA. McKendry is the Whitecaps 8th Homegrown Player and he holds both Canadian and New Zealand citizenship. "It's a dream come true to play in my hometown for a team that I have been connected with for such a long time." Notes: Darren Mattocks (Travel), Octavio Rivero (Embassy Paper Work), Ethen Sampson (Travel), and Russell Teibert (Foot Strain) did not train on Monday.