COLORADO RAPIDS SIGN CANADIAN NATIONAL TEAM MIDFIELDER JASON BENT

DENVER (Friday, July 17, 1998) - The Colorado Rapids have acquired Canadian National Team star Jason Bent as a 1998 Discovery Player. A rising star of the Canadian National Team, Bent is a defensive midfielder with the ability to also play an outside defensive position.

The Canadian citizen will fill one of the Rapids' five foreign player slots. Colorado now has four of those allotted slots filled, including Bent, Wolde Harris (Jamaica), Adrian Paz (Uruguay) and Waldir (Peru).

Bent, 21,played in 1997 with FSV Zwickau of the German second division. Most recently he has trained with the Canadian National Team and Olympic squad. He has appeared three times for the full National Team.

Bent made a memorable international debut on October 12, 1997, as Canada battled Mexico to a 2-2 draw in a World Cup qualifier in Edmonton. Bent drew the assignment of shadowing Mexico's dangerous attacking midfielder, Alberto Garcia Aspe, and the Canadian responded by marking Aspe out of the game.

Rapids coach Glenn "Mooch" Myernick said that role is exactly why he made the effort to pursue Bent for Colorado.

"He has shown the ability at several levels to mark an opponent's player out of the game. If we are facing an (Marco) Etcheverry or a (Peter) Nowak, I would feel very confident having Jason on a player like that for the entire game," said Myernick.

Bent has stood out at several Youth National Team levels along his development, including the Under-17 and Under-20 teams. In 1996 through 1997, he led the Under-20 team to win the CONCACAF qualifying champions tournament. At the Under-20 World Cup in Malaysia, he helped the Canadians to surprisingly advance to the tournament's second stage.

Bent has spent time in the U.S. before, playing for the University of Maryland in 1996 and helping to lead the Terapins to the A.C.C. Championship.

Ht:  5'9''
Wt:  165
Born:  March 8, 1977, in Toronto, Ontario
Hometown:  Bramton, Ontario
High School: St. Augustian 
College: Univ. of Maryland 
Citizenship:  Canadian
How Acquired: 1998 Discovery Player 
Pro Outdoor Experience: 
FSV Zwickau, Germany 1997
Canadian National Team (1997-Present)
Under-20 Canadian National Team	
Under-17 Canadian National Team

Full National Team Appearances: 3
Under-20 National Team Appearances: 8

The acquisition of the Canadian star will give the Rapids a versatile element that will be able to fulfill both a defensive midfield and outside back role. Bent is well known for his ability to shut down individual players, but also to contribute offensively for his teammates.

Appeared twice for Canada in World Cup qualifiers, including his debut against Mexico on October 12. Led the Canadian National Youth Under-20 squad to the World Cup in Malaysia. Bent helped the team to a record of one win (Hungary), one tie (Austria) and one loss (Argentina), including recording a goal in the 2-1 loss to Argentina. In the second round, Canada lost to Spain, 2-0.

Played 22 games for the University of Maryland, helped the team win the Atlantic Coast Conference championship.

Jason Bent is the son of Veronica and Velroye Bentand and has one brother Kevin (23). The family resides in Bramton, Ontario. Jason is currently single.