VANCOUVER -- Canadian goalkeeper Marco Carducci signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Tuesday, becoming the eighth player from the teams residency program to graduate to the Major League Soccer squad. "Marco is a product of our youth development setup and were confident that he is ready to make the next step. He is a promising young goalkeeper who is mature beyond his years," Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson said in a release. The 17-year-old goalkeeper from Calgary joined the Whitecaps residency program in September 2011 and has been a standout ever since. The six-foot-one, 185-pounder recorded 14 clean sheets in the 2011-12 United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA). He allowed just two goals in four pre-season appearances last month with the first team. "Spending the last two and-a-half years with the residency program, I saw a lot of the support from the club and fans right from the start. Now to be able to make the next step up to the first team is a huge honour for me," Carducci said. "That was always my goal coming in and Im really excited for the future." Carducci is a two-time Canadian under-17 player of the year, recording eight caps with the U17 team after making his national youth team debut at 15. He started Canadas three matches of the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup, and won a bronze medal with Canada at the 2013 CONCACAF mens U17 championship, starting all four matches and recording a clean sheet in the tournament opener against Trinidad and Tobago. He becomes the Whitecaps first goalkeeper to graduate from the residency program, and joins former residency players Sam Adekugbe, Bryce Alderson, Caleb Clarke, and Russell Teibert on the first team. Kyle Turris Predators Jersey .C. -- Colin Kaepernick raced into the end zone, then pretended to rip open his shirt with both hands imitating Cam Newtons Superman touchdown celebration. Custom Nashville Predators Jerseys . 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The 25-year-old outfielder is set to make $7.8 in the last season of his contract.For me, I hope I love it so much I wont have to leave, Heyward said at the Cardinals fan convention, where he signed autographs Saturday.Thats the way you want to love your job. I love the game of baseball. For me, Im always going to go out there and give 110 per cent. I feel like if I love it that much, its a good fit, he said.Atlanta decided he was not going to be a good fit. The Braves dealt the former first-round pick to be sure to get something in return in case he became a free agent.St. Louis needed a right fielder after top prospect Oscar Taveras was killed in a car crash in the Dominican Republic shortly after the season ended. The Cardinals traded pitcher Shelby Miller and minor league pitcher Tyrell Jenkins to the Braves for Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden.Heyward hit .271 last season with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs. He led off for most of last season but also batted fifth.Heyward is regarded as one of the top defensive outfielders in baseball and got his second Gold Glove last season.The deal, he was, didnt shock him.I wasnt surprised. If I was traded, I knew I could end up anywhere, Heyward said. So for me, it was more common sense that I was going to an organization that has a great mindset, a positive atmosphere, a good fan base that understands the game of baseball. Thats somethingg I feel like can benefit me.ddddddddddddHeyward said he is open to negotiating a new contract during the season.I couldnt tell you how any of that is going to go. Right now, I just know Im looking forward to getting settled in with my teammates, fitting in, Heyward said. The goal for me, and I feel like everyone involved, is to be playing in October for a World Series. If all that takes care of itself, then I feel like a lot of good things will come from it, not any negatives.He said he has no preconceived notions on how contract talks would go with St. Louis.As this point, I dont. They asked me to be here and I was traded into this situation, and its a good situation, Heyward said. For me, I just feel like I need to show up and do my job, kind of follow their lead with certain things. Me, Im going to show up everyday and look to play the game the right way and have fun doing it.After that, well see what happens. Its kind of a unique situation because this is my last year before free agency.Heyward got his introduction to St. Louis and its fans at an event Friday that included manager Mike Matheny, principal owner Bill DeWitt Jr. and team president Bill DeWitt III.Heyward brought his parents, Eugene and Laura, with him to St. Louis for the weekend.It was important, he said, that they accompany him.You dont know how long this is going to last, baseball, Heyward said. This is a dream they helped me realize and made a lot of sacrifices for. They wanted to share that moment with me, a new experience and take a good step going forward. ' ' '