Montreal Impact’s Karl Ouimette, Wandrille Lefèvre selected for 2014 Homegrown Game

Montreal Impact first-team members Karl W. Ouimette and Wandrille Lefèvre have been named to the 20-man roster for the 2014 Chiptole MLS Homegrown game. The club confirmed the two players were selected via an official press release. The Chiptole Homegrown game is part of the MLS All-Star festivities.

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Hailing from Repentigny, Que., Ouimette was a member of the Montreal Impact Academy from 2010 to 2012. The defender was used mainly as a substitute last season, but with Montreal’s defensive struggles this year, he has gotten his fair share of playing time.

His first career goal came on October 19th, 2013. Although it took a while to come, it sure was a memorable. Ouimette leaped at the back post to head home a free kick in the dying seconds to complete a dramatic comeback win over the Philadelphia Union. That win clinched the Impact a spot in the playoffs.

The 22-year-old was a member of the Canadian U-21 squad and has earned one cap with the Canadian national senior team.

Apr 19, 2014; Kansas City, KS, USA; Sporting KC forward Dom Dwyer (14) dribbles the ball against Montreal Impact defender Karl Ouimette (34) during the first half at Sporting Park. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Despite being born in Chartes, France, midfielder Wandrille Lefevre is one of the longest serving members on the Montreal Impact. In fact, Lefèvre and Hassoun Camara are the only two members still around from the Impact’s NASL days, prior to 2012.

Lefèvre was with the University of Montreal Carabins for four seasons before joining the Impact. In the past, Lefèvre has played as a defender, but he seems to be most comfortable sitting at the bottom of a diamond midfield or just behind the central mids. The 25-year-old was signed by the senior team on February 26th, 2013.

This will be the inaugural MLS Homegrown Game and it will be played on Monday, August 4th at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon. The game is being held in the lead up to the MLS All-Star game on August 6th. The Homegrown team will face off against the Portland Timbers U-23 squad.

Each player on the 20-man roster is Homegrown. The term defines that the player was signed by his club at a young age and has gone through the team’s youth system. A Homegrown player is usually from the city of the team he is representing and was not selected by his club in the MLS SuperDraft.

As mentioned, both Ouimette and Lefèvre have graduated from the Montreal Impact Academy – Ouimette was actually the first man from the Academy ever to sign a pro contract, doing so back in July, 2012.

There are currently five homegrown players on the Impact’s senior roster; Ouimette and Lefèvre, third-string goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, midfielder Jeremy Gagnon-Laparé and defender/midfielder Maxim Tissot.