When Jordan Hamilton scored against the Seattle Sounders last weekend, it fulfilled a dream the young Canadian has held since growing up watching the early days of Toronto FC.

It was his second MLS goal, having scored against Orlando City SC a week before, but it was his first for his hometown team at BMO Field in an MLS game.

“I’ve been at games since I was 12 or 13 years old and seeing guys like Dichio and DeRo score and the atmosphere’s always been incredible there,” Hamilton said after Toronto trained on Thursday.

A regular scorer for Canadian youth teams, Hamilton has really yet to fulfil the potential many have expected since those days, but at just 20 years old he’s got plenty of time yet to grow.

With his first MLS goals, it’s certainly been a step forward this season and a lot of study off the field has been going into his growth.

“I spent a lot of time in the off-season studying myself and other players in the world and just working hard,” he said. “I’ve learned so much and every day I’m still learning but this year I’ve taken a big jump in my development from the off-season.”

Hamilton is paid to score but he’s also been useful in other ways. He’s using his big frame well to hold off opponents and has also created opportunities for teammates. He started a play on Saturday with a nice back-heel that led to a Sebastian Giovinco scoring opportunity.

He’s been getting that playing time while Jozy Altidore was away injured. The big American designated player is back in full training now and seems like he could be ready to go in the short term. Altidore will likely get right back in the starting lineup when he’s fully fit but Hamilton can certainly give his coach some selection headaches.

“Jordan just needs to keep learning and keep adding to these experiences a little bit more,” said head coach Greg Vanney. “He’s a big kid—continuing to learn how to use his size when he can. He did a great job of that in moments in the last game where he bodied and rolled some defenders.”

Roberts very good at playing the waiting game

In over four years as a professional, goalkeeper Quillan Roberts has learned to be patient.

After gaining some international renown when he scored a goal against England at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico in 2011, Roberts signed his first pro contract at just 17 years old but to date, still hasn’t played in a Major League Soccer game.

As the season started, it seemed as though Roberts had beaten out Alex Bono, the team’s sixth overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, for the backup goalkeeper job. But after Clint Irwin went down to an injury a few weeks ago, it was Bono who stepped in, meaning Roberts can only work and hope is time will come.

“To play this position, you have to be confident,” Roberts told Yahoo Canada Sports after Toronto trained on Thursday. “I am confident in myself and I feel like if given the opportunity, I feel like I would do my best.”

Goalkeeper is the toughest position to get meaningful minutes so, at least for now, Roberts can only continue to do what he’s always done: work hard, make the most of the minutes that he gets with Toronto’s USL team and hope that he’ll finally get a first MLS game to reward his patience.

Draw set, now Canada MNT just needs to qualify

Only Mexico has qualified for “the Hex,” the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, but that didn’t stop CONCACAF from holding a draw to determine who could play whom when that round starts in November.

Canada hasn’t qualified for the Hex since the 1998 World Cup cycle, but if this is finally the time, it has an idea of who it could face if that dream is realized. There will be no catching Mexico so if it qualifies it would be as second place in Group A.

The draw determined that second place in Group A will face the second place in Group B and Group C in November. Currently, those spots are held by Panama and the United States, respectively. Obviously those should change as the final games are played in September but it’s a tantalizing look at a stage Canada where Canada hasn’t been involved in almost 20 years.

Now all Canada has to do is survive a trip to San Pedro Sula, Honduras (remember last time), and a home game against El Salvador in September.

Easy, right?