The Vancouver Whitecaps certainly scored well in the PR department Sunday, as it beat the reigning CIS champion University of Victoria Vikes Sunday, in front of 2,831 fans in the B.C capital.

Director of Soccer Operations Joe Petrone said Thursday that FC Edmonton’s training camp roster is very nearly full — and that there are at max four more spots that can be handed out to hopefuls.

Hatchi’s recommendation has brought his French compatriot, Jonathan Joseph-Augustin, to Edmonton on a two-week trial.

“I wasn’t sure if anyone was watching me (at the CIS final),” said Gigolaj. “I had an OK season the year before, too. And there was no news. So I wondered it was going to be the same. But this year, the biggest thing was having it (the CIS final) in the West. Soccer is much bigger in the West than it is in the East. There were more fans and coaches there.”

And St. Mary’s forward Elvir Gigolaj, who was one of the stars of the 2011 CIS Men’s Soccer Championship held in Victoria, wowed in his trial with FC Edmonton and is likely to stick with the team. Gigolaj helped St. Mary’s get all the way to the CIS final. He scored in the championship game, but the Huskies fell to the hosts. Gigolaj scored two extra-time goals in the semifinal win over the University of Alberta.

But, Lam won’t be ready when the NASL team reconvenes Jan. 9 after the Christmas break. He will undergo shoulder surgery. He separated his shoulder playing in Japan, and it’s not the first time he’s had an issue there. Petrone said the club isn’t overly concerned about the injury — but the rehab should delay his reunion with his FCE mates till at least mid-February.

FC Edmonton announced Tuesday night that assistant coach Dave Randall has been released by the club. Randall was not only an assistant to coach Harry Sinkgraven through the 2011 season; Randall also ran the reserve team.

FC Edmonton confirmed that defender Justin Farenik will be on the 2012 roster. The 24-year-old Calgarian has been training with the club from the end of October.

Hans Schrijver is returning to Edmonton. FC Edmonton’s former Dutch assistant coach is the team’s new Dutch assistant coach. The NASL side announced Schrijver’s hiring Thursday afternoon.

If you add the ages of Sadi Jalali and Kianz Froese Gonzalez together, you would still be short of 33 — the age of FC Edmonton veteran midfielder Ilja Van Leerdam. But the two teens were on the same indoor pitch as the veteran at Edmonton’s Victoria Soccer Club Thursday morning.