Triston Hodge Returns to Hartford Athletic
Triston Hodge Returns to Hartford Athletic
The 28-year-old defender reunites with Brendan Burke after the pair spent two seasons together in Colorado.
In a new season full of fresh faces both on and off the field, Hartford fans will find familiarity in defender Triston Hodge, who will return to Hartford for a second season in 2024.
It was in his first season in Hartford where Hodge saw the most consistent action through his seven seasons in the USL Championship, logging 25 appearances in all competitions totaling more than 1800 minutes. Playing primarily as a left back/center back with occasional appearances as a defensive midfielder throughout 2023, Hodge made 16 of his 21 starts in the backline for the Green and Blue.
While the back line was far from airtight during a 2023 campaign that saw the club concede a league-high 79 goals, Hodge joins a new-look defensive unit in 2024 in hopes to bring back the success he found in his previous stint under Brendan Burke in Colorado — a 2022 season that saw the Colorado Springs Switchbacks make the playoffs for the second consecutive year en route to the Western Conference Finals.
In total, Hodge spent two seasons with Burke in Colorado prior to his time in Hartford, making 47 total appearances across all competitions, including four playoff games. In that sense, Hodge’s return to Hartford hardly comes as a surprise given their need for defensive depth following a disappointing 2023 season.
On the positive end, Hodge continued his international career with his native Trinidad and Tobago last year, starting in all three Gold Cup games prior to their group stage exit in the summer — including 65 minutes in their 6-0 loss to the United States on July 3.
Perhaps the most notable of his 25 international caps came in Trinidad’s famous 2018 win over the Stars and Stripes that saw the U.S. dramatically crash out of World Cup qualification on the final day. Hodge started and played 82 minutes in the victory.
Now, the veteran USL defender brings experience and depth to Burke’s defensive line heading into 2024, alongside new additions in Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Joe Farrell, Rece Buckmaster, and Jordan Scarlett.
“Triston is a great defensive presence with impressive experience both in the USL and internationally,” Burke said in a club release. “He is a technically sound defender, gets into the attack quickly, and will be a veteran presence in our back line.”
The return of Hodge all but solidifies Hartford’s 2023 roster, with more announcements set to come soon. Here is how it looks so far:
Here is a look at how the roster is looks so far:
Goalkeepers: Renan Ribeiro, Brooks Thompson
Defenders: Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Joe Farrell, Rece Buckmaster, Jordan Scarlett, Triston Hodge
Midfielders: Danny Barrera (returning), Beverly Makangila (returning), Jay Chapman, Emmanuel Samadia, Joe Schmidt, Anderson Asiedu, Skage Simonsen, Ian Shaul
Forwards: Marcus Epps, Enoch Mushagalusa, Deshane Beckford, Romario Williams