Quick Facts
Biography
John Adam Straith (born September 11, 1990) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays for German 3. Liga side Sportfreunde Lotte as well as the Canadian national team.
Early life
Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Straith attended Oak Bay High School in Victoria but left after grade 11 to attend Burnaby Central Secondary School as part of the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency program in the 2007–08 school year. He has an older brother, George Lucas Straith, and a younger brother, Donald Manning Straith.
Career
Youth
Straith has played for numerous other clubs in Victoria such as Bays United, Victoria United and captained his Metro Team in the Lower Island Soccer Association. From July 12 to August 3, 2007, he had a trial with the U-19 Junior Bundesliga side of 1860 Munich along with Antonio Rago. He left Canada in summer 2008 and moved to the German club Energie Cottbus on a season-long loan deal, after impressing the German club during a one-month trial. In the summer of 2009, he left Germany and returned to the Whitecaps but on August 25, 2009 Energie Cottbus used its buy option to acquire him for an undisclosed fee.
Professional
Germany
Straith made his senior debut for FC Energie Cottbus in the 2. Fussball-Bundesliga against FC St. Pauli on October 25, 2009 and scored his first ever goal in Germany in his first game for his club. On December 16, 2009 Straith signed his first professional contract with FC Energie Cottbus tying him to the club until June 30, 2013. He joined 1. FC Saarbrücken on loan in January 2012. He later joined SV Wehen Wiesbaden in 2013.
Frederikstad
After months without a club, Straith joined Norwegian side Fredrikstad in January 2015.
FC Edmonton
After two years in Norway, Straith joined both Inverness Caledonian Thistle and FC Ordabasy on trials in early 2017. Following his trial in Kazakhstan, Straith signed with North American Soccer League club FC Edmonton for the 2017 Spring Season. Upon the conclusion of the 2017 Spring Season, Straith and the club parted ways.
Sportfreunde Lotte
On August 18, 2017, Straith signed a one-year contract with German 3. Liga side Sportfreunde Lotte, making him return to Germany after three years.
International career
Straith was also capped for the Canadian U-17 National team which failed to qualify for the U-17 World Cup, Korea 2007.
He scored his first goal for Canada in Jamaica for the Caribbean Cup, fending off defenders and beating everyone in the air to place the ball in the left corner of the net.
On May 24, 2010, Straith made his senior team debut as an 81st-minute substitute in a 5–0 loss against Argentina at the Estadio Monumental. He played his second game on June 3, 2010 and played 90 minutes vs Venezuela, alongside his teammate Eddy Sidra. He was officially capped by Canada during its World Cup Qualifying match vs St. Lucia on October 7, 2011.
On June 27, 2013 Straith was listed as a part of the confirmed 23-man squad for Colin Miller's Canada squad for 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He also represented Canada at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
On January 22, 2017, following an injury to keeper Sean Melvin, Straith played the final 35 minutes in net for Canada against Bermuda. Canada would win the game 4–2, with Straith making a few saves and keeping a clean sheet. Straith was named to the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad on June 27, 2017.