Much like early fall, anticipation is rising as soon all Canadians, both at home and abroad, will be competing with their domestic clubs. North America continues it’s preseason as countries such as Norway, Sweden and Finland prepare for the summer season, and nearly all the leagues on the continent that have Canucks in their roster are back at it save for Romania who will be kicking off again the first week of March. It was a bit of a mixed weekend as there are once again a few players snakebitten with injuries, namely Iain Hume who continues to recover and now Marcel De Jong appears to be out for at least the next two months as his injury last weekend turned out to be worse than originally anticipated.

There were few events that stand apart from the pattern over recent weeks. In Germany Kevin McKenna looks to have returned to full fitness and went the full ninety in FC Koln’s 2-1 loss to Nurnberg. 

Olivier Occean could not help his side past Ingolstadt as a 0-0 draw saw them slip down to a tie for third with Fortuna Dusseldorf. The race for promotion to the Bundesliga will be heated over the next three months as only three points separates fifth from first.

Relearning German might not be that bad the second time around as Josh Simpson looks to settle into his new role with BSC Young Boys. Only a few games in and he was part of a first place battle against Champions League surprise side Basel. Simpson nearly set up the second goal as a late goal from Basel’s Valentin Stocker cost Young Boys a critical three points that would have seen them narrow the gap to first place. The only beacon of light was that Basel have drawn five in a row and should Young Boys take advantage of this run of form, can chip away at the current six point lead for top of the table.

In the Netherlands
With Atiba Hutchinson appearing to have regained fitness, he was not a part of PSV’s weekend 3-0 collapse against Groningen. A midweek Europa League fixture against Turkey’s Trabzonspor and weekend tilt against Feyenoord were likely the reason Hutchinson was rested as fortunately the loss was coupled with AZ Alkmaar also losing 3-0 to Utrecht. This keeps both clubs tied for top of the table, however, now Twente are within a shout as they sit three points behing both clubs with a game in hand..

Josh SImpson nearly sets up the second goal and Young Boys would have needed one more to avoid the 2-2 draw with Basel.:

From Feb 12, 2012, Olivier Occean's assist and subsequent goal as Furth defeat Paderborn 5-1:


Here's how the rest of Canada's Internationals fared across the pond:

Issey Nakajima-Farran – Brisbane Roar (AUS):
Saturday, February 18, subbed in at the 76th minute in a 3-2 victory over Melbourne Victory.

Simeon Jackson – Norwich City (ENG):
Saturday, February 18, played 62 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Leicester City.

David Edgar – Burnley (ENG):
Friday, February 17, played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Reading.

Jamie Peters – Ipswich Town (ENG):
Saturday, February 18, did not play in a 3-0 victory over Cardiff City.

Iain Hume – Preston North End (ENG):
Saturday, February 18, did not play in a 2-1 loss to Sheffield United.

Paul Peschisolido – Burton Albion (ENG):
Saturday, February 18, coached in a 1-1 draw with Rotherham United.

Haidar Al-Shaibani – Nimes (FRA):
Friday, February 17, did not play in a 1-1 draw with Martigues.

Kevin McKenna – FC Koln (GER):
Sunday, February 18, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Nurnberg.

Marcel De Jong – FC Augsburg (GER):
Saturday February 18, did not play in a 4-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen *out indefinitely with an ankle injury*.

Randy Edwini-Bonsu – Eintracht Braunscheiger (GER):
Monday, February 20, did not play in a 1-1 draw with Erzgebirge Aue.

Rob Friend – Eintracht Frankfurt (GER):
Saturday, February 18, subbed in at the 83rd minute in a 6-1 victory over FSV Frankfurt.

Olivier Occean – Greuther Furth (GER):
Sunday, February 19, played all 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw with Ingolstadt.

Adam Straith – Saarbrucken (GER):
Friday, February 17, played all 90 minutes in a 2-0 loss to Osnabruck.

Nik Ledgerwood – Wehen Wiesbaden (GER):
Saturday, February 18, did not play in a 4-0 loss to Sandhausen.
Tuesday, February 21, did not play in a 0-0 draw with Arminia Bielefeld *serving suspension*.

Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault – Preuben Munster (GER):
Saturday, February 18, match postponed v Stuttgart II.

Atiba Hutchinson – PSV Eindoven (NED):
Sunday, February 19, did not play in a 3-0 loss to Groningen.

Andrew Ornoch – Telstar (NED):
Friday, February 17, did not play in a 3-2 loss to Helmond Sport.

Alex Marrello – Veendam (NED):
Friday, February 17, did not play in a 1-1 draw with Dordrecht.

Pedro Pacheco – Santa Clara (POR):
Sunday, February 19, played all 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Penafiel.

Tosaint Ricketts – Timisoara (ROM):
Next match, Saturday March 3 v. Bihor Oradea.

Marcus Haber – St. Johnstone (SCO):
Sunday, February 19, subbed in at the 81st minute in a 0-0 draw with Aberdeen.

Josh Simpson – BSC Young Boys (SWI):
Thursday, February 16, subbed in at the 60th minute in a 2-2 draw with Basel.

Daniel Imhof – St. Gallen (SWI):
Next match, Thursday February 16 v. Delémont.

Mike Klukowski – Manisaspor (TUR):
Saturday, February 18, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Antalyaspor.

Milan Borjan – Sivasspor (TUR):
Saturday, February 18, did not play in a 4-2 loss to Fenerbahce.