Abbotsford's Cortlin Tonn is heading to the Big Apple.
Vancouver FC announced on social media that the team's inaugural head equipment and facilities manager has agreed to join the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.
The 2014 MEI grad joined Vancouver FC when the club launched in 2023 after spending the previous three-plus years as the assistant equipment manager for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Prior to that he was the equipment manager for the Ottawa Fury FC.
鈥淲hile making the move to the Red Bulls is an exciting new chapter in my career, it was a difficult decision to leave Vancouver,鈥� he said in a press release. 鈥淚 am proud of the work that I put in while I was here, and grateful to Vancouver for the opportunity it has provided me to get to where I am going.鈥�
Tonn also currently serves as the assistant equipment manager for the Canadian men's national soccer team.
He initially made headlines with The News back in 2015 when he was named the Whitecaps residency program equipment manager. He served in that role and was also the first team鈥檚 assistant equipment manager for over two years.
He initially got on his equipment manager path when he became a stick boy for the Abbotsford Heat at the age of 14.
that his time with the Heat opened up so many doors.
鈥淭he sports world is very connected,鈥� he said of his time with the former AHL club. 鈥淚 got to know the Vancouver Canucks training staff and when they learned about the Whitecaps opportunity they helped me make that connection.鈥�
鈥淭he sports world is very connected,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 got to know the Vancouver Canucks training staff and when they learned about the Whitecaps opportunity they helped me make that connection.鈥�
Vancouver FC shared some positive words for the work that Tonn has done during his tenure for the club.
"Cortlin鈥檚 dedication, professionalism, and passion for growing the game in Canada left a lasting impact on everyone here," the club posted. "Thank you for everything, Cort 鈥� the Valley will always be cheering you on."
The New York Red Bulls are an original MLS club and began play in the 1996 season of MLS as the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. The team was sold to Red Bull in 2006 and then re-branded. The Red Bulls initially played out of Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., but then moved to what is now known as Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J. in 2010.
New York has advanced to the MLS Cup final twice (2008 and 2024), but lost in both of those appearances. Some of the top historical players to wear Red Bulls colours include Thierry Henry, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Clint Mathis and current star Lewis Morgan. Emil Forsberg has served as the team's captain since 2024.
German Sandro Schawrz is the head coach of the club and he has an all-time record of 18 wins, 13 losses and 20 draws. The club has a record of 4-3-3 so far in 2025 and sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference of the MLS.
For more on the team, visit