Things have come full circle for Adrian LeRoy.

After starting with the Ottawa Fury’s youth team as a 14-year-old, LeRoy is back with the Fury’s professional incarnation, trying out for a spot on the team.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” the 26-year-old said following Thursday’s practice at the Louis-Riel dome.

LeRoy is no stranger to the North American Soccer League (NASL), having last played for Edmonton FC, with whom he signed in 2011.

After coming home to Ottawa last summer, he got in touch with head coach Marc Dos Santos and told him he wanted a shot. Dos Santos got back to him with a spot among eight trialists at camp.

He thinks his aggressiveness on the field is part of what got him invited to camp.

“I know Marc likes intensity and I tend to bring a high level to my game,” he said.

LeRoy also has a great deal of respect for the Fury organization as a whole.

“I’ve kind of graduated through the ranks,” he said. “I’ve seen what the Fury has done for youth (soccer).”

LeRoy, who attended Lisgar Collegiate before moving to the United States for college, also played for the Fury’s Premier Development League team.

“To be part of that here, now, it’s kind of surreal,” he said.

LeRoy knows he can’t take his foot off the gas as camp rolls along.

“I know I just have to keep bringing that intensity,” he said.

Kenny Caceros, a Nepean product who last played for the USL PRO’s Harrisburg City Islanders, is also in camp on a tryout.

TICKETS SELLING

Expect a packed house at Carleton University when the Fury opens its regular season against Minnesota United FC April 19.

The team isn’t yet saying exactly how many tickets they’ve sold after single-game tickets went on sale a week ago, but club president John Pugh is confident the season will kick off with a bang and roll on from there.

“We think we are on track to sell out opening day,” he told the Sun.

The Fury will play six matches at Carleton before moving to TD Place in July.

Pugh said earlier during training camp that season tickets had reached the “four figures,” but expects sales to jump once the team gets into a few exhibition games.

“I don’t think people as yet understand what we’ve got here but they soon will,” he said.

He’s probably right — the team only has a week’s worth of practice under their collective belts, and though they’ve made a number of public appearances, no one has seen them play as a unit.

But there’s no doubt the soccer is going to be good.

“This is by far the highest calibre of soccer we’ve ever had in Ottawa,” Pugh said.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for youth under 16.

LUCK OF THE IRISH

Somebody’s going to have to have to raise a pint or two on Richie Ryan’s behalf next Monday.

Ryan, a native of Clonmel, Ireland, will spend his first St. Patrick’s Day in Ottawa on March 17, but with the Ottawa Fury FC in the midst of training camp, the day will likely be a mellow one.

“We’ve got training the next day so probably not much,” Ryan said last week when asked about his plans for the Irish holiday.

Ryan said St. Patrick’s Day is “massive” back home, but admits he hasn’t really celebrated the day much in the past few years.

It’s been all about the soccer. But he knows what people back home will be doing.

“Obviously the Irish are renowned for enjoying themselves,” he said.

A little luck of the Irish might not be a terrible idea, as the Fury will be playing an exhibition game against York University in Gatineau later that night.

SIDELINES

Starting to see more personality and hear more from the players on the pitch at camp. The communication on the field is good, and the good-natured chirping is ramping up.

At one point last week, Nicki Patterson pointed at Andres Fresenga and singled him out as one of the “clowns” on the team. I asked him what that made him. “The mature one,” said Patterson, 30, with an almost straight face. ... Players don’t have to worry about rent while playing for the Fury — housing is provided by the team. After all, NASL salaries aren’t exactly Tiger Woods territory, and living in and around Ottawa ain’t cheap. Single players room together in a few houses, while players with spouses get their own place. All the accommodations are rented houses or condos, according to the team. ... Seems as though the change to the NASL’s postseason format — starting at four teams, instead of two — has been overwhelmingly positive. ... What’s the over/under on whether it will snow for the team’s final regular season game at TD Place, scheduled for Oct. 26. The odds aren’t quite as good for the regular season finale in Fort Lauderdale.

Twitter: @chrishofley