Lowry, Thorrington Drafted

The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps today selected two Chicago Fire Soccer Club players in the 2010 Major League Soccer Expansion Draft. The Vancouver Whitecaps acquired midfielder John Thorrington, while the Portland Timbers selected midfielder Peter Lowry. Each of the existing 16 MLS teams was allowed to protect 11 players on its roster from the draft, leaving all others unprotected (with the exception of Generation adidas and Homegrown players) and available for selection by both Portland and Vancouver.
“This is a bittersweet moment for us, but this is part of the game,” said Fire Technical Director, Frank Klopas. “We wish John and Peter the very best and thank them for all they did for the club.”
Drafted by the Portland Timbers as the 13th pick in the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft, midfielder Peter Lowry spent three seasons with the Chicago Fire (2008-10) playing 24 games, including 15 in 2010, scoring five goals for the club. The 25-year-old Santa Clara University alum hails originally from Missoula, MT.
With the 20th and final pick of the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft, the Vancouver Whitecaps selected midfielder John Thorrington. The Palos, Verdes, CA product spent six seasons (2005-10) patrolling the Chicago midfield, appearing in 59 matches while tallying eight goals and two assists.
Thorrington, 31, became the youngest American to sign with an English Premier League team when he inked a deal with Manchester United in 1997 at age 17. The South African born U.S. international also had stints with German club Bayer Leverkusen and English clubs Huddersfield Town and Grimsby before joining the Chicago Fire in 2005.
Complete 2010 MLS Expansion Draft Results are below: