Alphonso Davies PHOTO: CANADA SOCCER/MEXSPORT

Six years ago, the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps clashed on MLS First Kick weekend. The script was that this was an “all-Canadian” matchup. On that day, the Whitecaps started zero Canadians. The Impact started one… Patrice Bernier.

The two teams met for the First Kick opener at BC Place this past weekend, and what a change. The teams combined to put a total of seven Canadians on the field. There was a goal and an assist from teenager Alphonso Davies.

So, as we begin yet another season of tracking the minutes played by Canadians in North America’s pro leagues, Davies’s first-ever MLS goal highlighted a day which saw the Whitecaps and Impact combine to give 523 combined minutes to Canadians.

As well, we shouldn’t forget that LAFC played its first-ever MLS regular-season match, and won in Seattle. Mark-Anthony Kaye started and got an assist on LAFC’s first-ever goal, and defender Dejan Jakovic played the full 90.

Here are the rankings after the first week of MLS play:

MLS MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

Marcel de Jong, Vancouver, 90 (1) Dejan Jakovic, LAFC, 90 (1) Will Johnson, Orlando, 90 (1) Mark-Anthony Kaye, LAFC, 90 (1) Michael Petrasso, Montreal, 90 (1) Samuel Piette, Montreal, 90 (1) Russell Teibert, Vancouver, 90 (1) Alphonso Davies, Vancouver, 81 (1) Jonathan Osorio, TFC, 71 (1) Raheem Edwards, Montreal, 70 (1) Richie Laryea, Orlando, 24 (1) David Choiniere, Montreal, 12 (1)

TEAM RANKINGS, MLS MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 201

Montreal, 262/1

Vancouver, 261/1

LAFC, 180/1

Orlando City, 114/1

Toronto FC, 71/1