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Canada's Jordyn Huitema 'excited' to break new ground with PSG

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TORONTO - Jordyn Huitema's budding career is moving along at a historic pace.

With the ink barely dry on a four-year deal signed with French giants Paris Saint-Germain Feminines, Huitema was in training on Friday with the Canadian women's national team ahead of what should be her first World Cup.

Huitema, who turned 18 last week, is eager to take the next step in what's been a swift meteoric rise.

"I'm very excited. I've been waiting a little bit of time to really get going with this," Huitema told theScore following Friday's training session at BMO Field. "Obviously my birthday just recently passed, so turning 18 we're officially able to announce (the professional contract). I'm really just excited for it to actually start."

It's all happened quite quickly for Canada's second-youngest-ever goalscorer. Boasting 11 senior international caps before entering the 12th grade, Huitema has been content to take an unconventional route. The forward made two guest appearances for PSG Feminines last summer as part of the Women's International Cup before refraining to agree on terms with the capital side's academy in order to maintain college eligibility.

Less than a year on, that option is no longer necessary for the Vancouver Whitecaps academy product. Huitema is now the first Canadian women's player to sign a professional deal straight out of high school. Huitema says she's proud "to go off that path, to create my own, and go pro."

Two-time Champions League finalists PSG are one of a handful of clubs at the forefront of the women's game in Europe, and for Huitema, it was an easy decision.

"The whole thing that drew me to it was just the atmosphere of the club," she said. "It's such a football-driven country. I'm just super excited to get there and start playing with these girls."

For the time being, the focus is on next month's World Cup in France. Canada coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller is one of the last to formally announce a 23-woman squad for the quadrennial event. Huitema highlights a quartet of teenagers who have gotten the call for Saturday's World Cup tuneup against Mexico.

"She's good enough," Heiner-Moller said about Huitema's move to PSG. "She's been very good at going from one environment to another."

With six international goals in 19 appearances, Huitema is a virtual lock to make the World Cup squad and help bolster an attack headlined by Canadian legend Christine Sinclair.

Sinclair, 35, enters Saturday's match with Mexico just four goals shy of tying Abby Wambach's all-time international record. Sinclair is approaching the denouement of her decorated career, and Huitema is receiving the unenviable title of heir apparent.

Asked if she could imagine matching Sinclair's current haul of 180 goals for her country, Huitema seemed ready for the challenge.

"Might take me a few years. Maybe one day," she said.

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