VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds men's soccer program has landed a star goalkeeper as its latest recruit, as Chad Bush will join head coach Mike Mosher's team starting this summer.
 
The 6-foot-2 Bush brings a wide range of experience to UBC. He comes to the Thunderbirds from his hometown club, the Ottawa Fury. In 2013, Bush was named the Goalkeeper of the Year in United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League, the youngest player to ever do so at just 19 years of age. That season, he went 8-0-2 for the Fury with a league-best nine shutouts and a goals-against average of 0.104. At one point, Bush held a shutout streak that reached 830 minutes.
 
He was also a finalist for the PDL Young (U21) Player of the Year award, in addition to being named to the PDL All-Conference and All-League Teams. 
 
"I believe UBC is the ideal institution for me to pursue my academic endeavors as well as my soccer career. UBC offers a new experience and the optimal setting for me to excel in both of these spheres," said Bush. "I am very grateful to the UBC soccer coaching staff for giving me the opportunity to join such a renowned soccer program. I look forward to competing at the highest level and to committing my efforts to the success of the team."
 
Before heading to the Fury, Bush was recruited out of high school to play for the Duke University Blue Devils, an NCAA Div. 1 program in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
 
In terms of national team experience, Bush represented Canada at the 2011 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Mexico.
 
"We look forward to Chad coming in and joining our program," said Mosher. "He has the qualifications to be one of the top goalkeepers in CIS and comes highly recommended. With the graduation of our senior goalkeepers, it was important to bring in a quality and experienced keeper to help us to compete for a Canada West championship."
 
Bush enters a UBC squad that graduated three goalkeepers, Chris Beck, Richard Meister and Luke O'Shea, at the end of last season. This year's Thunderbirds team will play its first non-conference games in August against Evergreen State (August 23), Western Washington (August 25) and Simon Fraser (August 28) before opening Canada West regular season play at home on September 5 against the Victoria Vikes.