MONTREAL – The Canadian Soccer Association announced Monday that Montreal Impact midfielder Patrice Bernier has been nominated for the BMO Canadian Player of the Year award.
The award will celebrate Canada’s top-two soccer players – male and female – in recognition of their 2012 achievements with both the national team and their respective club teams.
Voting for the 2012 BMO Canadian Players of the Year will be split evenly by Canadian media and Canadian coaches who have taken the Canadian Soccer Association’s national course at the B and A levels (including national-team coaches).
Media and coaches will also vote for the Canadian U20 and U17 Players of the Year.
Patrice Bernier was named the Impact's 2012 Most Valuable Player in the club’s inaugural season in Major League Soccer. In his first season in MLS, the 33-year-old led the Impact with nine goals and finished second on the team with eight assists. Bernier was one of the league leaders in game-winning assists with four. He made 27 appearances, including 25 starts, totalling 2,194 minutes.
Bernier is tied for fourth all-time in MLS with six goals from the penalty spot in one season.
The Impact’s vice-captain was named the MLS Player of the Month in August, helping the Impact win four straight games, scoring three goals and three assists over that span.
He was also the 2012 Communitarian Award winner, presented to the player most involved with the community.
Internationally, Bernier was recalled to the Canadian national team for recent World Cup qualifying matches, bringing his cap totals to 49. He was named Canada Soccer Player of the Month for July and August 2012. He was also the 2010 CanadaSoccer.com Fan’s Choice.
