Evan Bush Signed To New Contract By Montreal Impact

Evan Bush has been signed to a new contract by the Montreal Impact. The American goalkeeper overtook the starting position from Troy Perkins midway through the 2014 season.

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“I am very happy to be back with the Impact, the club that gave me my first chance in MLS,” said the 28-year-old. “While I had the chance to play more, 2014 was dotted with highs and lows for the team, but we must look ahead. I already look forward to training camp and [to] the new season”

“[Evan] has become an important part of this club over the last four years and we’re glad that he’s staying with our organization,” said Frank Klopas, the man who made the tough decision to start Bush over the underachieving Perkins.

Bush was the long time backup heading into this past season. He was one of a handful of players still around from Montreal’s pre-Major League Soccer days and had been the number two behind Donovan Ricketts and then Perkins.

However, Perkins’ play came under fire from the media after he gave up 29 goals in 17 games to start the season.

Bush was given the majority of the workload after that (he started 13 of the last 17 games, including the last five) and for the most part, impressed, considering the defense he had playing in front of him.

He ended the season with 52 saves (an average of four per game), three clean sheets and a firm grasp on the starting position.

Prior to joining the Impact in 2011, he played university soccer with the Akron Zips from 2005 to 2008. He then played lower division soccer in just about every city being with the letter ‘C’ you can think of, from Chicago to Cape Cod to Cleveland – the latter on two occasions – and he also featured with a club named Crystal Palace Baltimore for good measure. He won the 2011 Golden Gloves Award with the Impact, as the top goalkeeper in the NASL.

This new contract speaks volumes into the future of the Impact. With the expansion draft for New York City FC and Orlando City SC fast approaching and the Impact only being able to protect eleven players, they have guaranteed they will not be letting Bush get snapped up by an expansion team.

In the same sentence, the front office is also saying that, in all likelihood, they will be leaving Troy Perkins exposed. Both teams are looking for veteran leadership and experience in MLS, something the 33-year-old he has quite a bit of.

It seems really hard to believe that not one, but both teams will pass on Perkins. It also seems hard to believe that Montreal will use two of its precious protection slots on goalkeepers.

I really doubt we will be seeing Troy Perkins play another game with the Montreal Impact.

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