Commentating on the Whitecaps Western Conference Semifinal on CKNW was unlike any other match I called before. It had absolutely everything and didn’t leave a single crumb, as the kids would say.

But beyond the drama, one story stood out quietly: Ralph Priso stepping into a centre-back role. When Tristan Blackmon sprained his knee on Sep. 16, few expected the defensive midfielder to become a reliable presence in the back line. Yet from the broadcast booth, Priso’s transition has been one of the most compelling developments of the year. The signs were there all along: composure, distribution, athleticism, and quiet confidence. And when the opportunity arrived, he seized it like someone who had been preparing for it all season.

I first floated the idea on X back in September that Priso

See Full Page