I know all too well that it’s a devastating feeling, watching an upset happen to your team. But darned if it doesn’t make for a compelling game, watching LA Galaxy down 1-0 at the half in Panama. #ConcacafChampionsCup

Dominik does a fine job interviewing Vanni. He spends a lot of time talking about his childhood and his Vancouver days, so Whitecaps fans might want to give it a listen!

With Wanderers Weekly happening tonight, I don’t know if there’ll be an announcement this afternoon — but regardless, it’s a good day to be a fan!

There’s always a lot of talk about #MLS jerseys, but no one ever mentions about how those stripes on the shorts make players look like they’re wearing long baggy shirts that come down to the knees.

Welcome to a new week of CPL offseason news! As cplcontracts.ca shows, there are still signings to announce, Ottawa vs Nashville on Tuesday, possible CSME announcements… and the curious case of the Wanderers primary jersey.

Oh, One Soccer, how could you?

Not that I *want* Pacific to be a good team, but I’m glad for their fans that the club is giving them a few more big reveals.

As much as I appreciate the hfxfootballpost.ca update, I’m still a little surprised to see a Wednesday go past without any more official updates. Oh well, at least practices are underway with a healthy squad. That’s the important thing!

Notes on @hfxwanderersfc.bsky.social training camp, covering everything from: -Halifax's search for a new No. 9 -Meeting the roster minimum (17/20 players signed) -Bahamboula up front? -Footedness with Godinho, a midfield triangle and much more! My latest for hfxfootballpost.ca. #CanPL

When I lived in North Alberta, I knew a coworker from Tumbler Ridge, which was just across the border. She once said proudly that whether it was oil, or mining, or forestry, or agriculture, or adventure tourism, that town would always pivot to whatever it needed to survive. Here’s hoping.

Speed skating is such a pure Olympic sport. It takes a normal winter recreation and pushes its main element to such an extent that the power and skill on display are obvious, amazing, and easily contestable. Speed skating *relay* is pure nonsensical chaos.

Part shirefolk. Part machine. All breakfast.

Ugh. After all seven other teams get their jersey reveals, the CPL releases a video on Facebook that just shuffles the Wanderers jersey into the reel. And in this context, that shirt looks about as fashionable as Fruit of the Loom.

There are very few club presidents who would go on a fan podcast and talk about an idea from two years ago that bombed, saying "We’re not f___ing doing that again." (There are very few podcasts like that, too.) It’s always a great interview when Derek Martin and Anthony Abbott sit down together.

And like Canada’s relationship with the USA, it’s not just about the political decisions. It’s about the fact that X will change policies on a whim and mock criticism. They’re no longer acting like reliable business partners, so why should they get more business?

Not a bad kit, it reminds me of York9’s 2020 primary. The text is “built on unity, elegance, and pride in one’s roots.” That’s probably the best writing yet, but to say Inter Toronto “has pride in their roots”? That’s pretty rich, after rebranding to shake off as many roots as possible.

I’m still not used to thinking of Darryl Fordyce as our assistant coach…

He’s not a transfer I expected from Pacific, but the stats from @cplnumbers.bsky.social back it up.

Cavalry’s kit: nice and classic. The Hummel text: “Red and the Strathcona Horse Sash, worn by the league’s northernmost club with strength and purpose.” That’s better than the others, but still weirdly clunky.

I’m thankful that this match allowed me to quell any false hopes I’d had about a downturn: This year’s Forge, like every other year, is going to be a brutal opponent. Which makes the Wanderers’ job very simple: we have to rise to that challenge.

“Island inspired textures unite supporters, shaped by nature’s power and serenity.” Once again the copywriting is on a near-alien level of artistry. It sounds very pretty, until you start to wonder how “nature’s serenity” is supposed to shape anything.

Oh, and one other conflict: if Canada places third in their group and still qualifies as the best of the third places among Groups B/E/F/I/J, their Round of 32 game will be on Canada Day. I think. World Cups are confusing!

#CanPL schedule release day! I’ll be able to start planning a bit of my summer travel now…

“Pinstripes echo the Capital’s rhythm, built on courage!” It’s like beat poetry combined with a Jaguar ad. Nice jersey, though, Atlético Ottawa!

The #CanPL Hummel kits are all really good so far, by my gosh — who’s writing the copy for these? “Tonal hoops signal the valley rising”? “Digital embers representing the ingenuity of our community?” I’m dreading to see what balderdash they put in front of the Wanderers kit…

Okay, Forge has proven me wrong - the gray is their secondary kit (and it looks really nice).

So, looking at the Supra jersey, I think we can guess what the other seven #CanPL primaries will look like?

Linder and Troisi were Whitecaps youth signings, and now we’ve got a Whitecaps veteran joining Vanni! Welcome to Halifax, Marcus!

Another nice thing about the new #CanPL logo: it’s not for the “Shopify.com Canadian Premier League” or whatever, so I’ll call that a win for as long as it lasts.

And, once again, this is how we find out who Forge has signed.

The Prairie Premier League! 1 from Saskatoon, 1 from Thunder Bay, 2 from Regina, and 3 clubs from Winnipeg. Man, that city’s a real soccer hotbed…

The comparison makes it clear that they didn’t want to write out the entire name of the league - and a monochrome logo will work better with embroidery and embossing and whatnot. I think it’ll look good in action.

I can deal with a new #CanPL logo — it’s not a change I’d make, but it won’t hurt. But the prospect of adopting a new motto really intrigues me. “We Are One” is a nice sentiment, but there’s not a shred of originality to it.

Hominawha?!?

With Rampersad, Coimbra, and now Arilla, I feel like our moustache roster is filling out nicely! #HFXWanderers

EB Games is the debut kit sponsor for #FCSupra! That’s a pretty solid sponsorship. It’s a coast-to-coast Canadian business, a serviceable logo, and it’s probably where a lot of fans bought at least one copy of FIFA.

A Spanish winger! He sounds like a good signing to fit into our offence, and he might have a bit of extra motivation to play Atlético Ottawa. : ) Also — Creighton University again, where we found Giorgio Probo and Callum Watson! It’s a curious connection.

At 2:00 pm Atlantic Time, we welcome our new signing!

Looking at the lovely cplcontracts.ca website, it’s interesting to see that Halifax now has the fewest signings of any CPL team — and yet, it feels more like potential than it feels dangerous.

Last year, Halifax lost the first round of the #CanadianChampionship 3–1 to Forge, who’d already gotten into form months earlier, playing in the ConCha Cup. Same story this year - which means it’ll be the perfect way to show how much we’ve improved.

"I had some other CPL interest as well," says Lucas Olguin, the Wanderers' latest signing alongside Finn Linder. "I've been playing with Adam (Pearlman) for years and he gave me a little push, showing me Halifax is a great spot." Hear from these MLS Next Pro talents on their Maritime adventure.

Welcome to Halifax, Lucas! He’s not a familiar name, but that’s kind of the point of signing U21s, isn’t it? I look forward to seeing him prove himself on the Grounds!

This is a great format: the thrill of the random draw, with consideration for L1C travel budgets, and a nudge to keep the favourites from facing each other too soon.

A new defender wasn’t at the top of my wishlist, but after losing Mekideche, Dunn, Pearlman, etc., we certainly need someone there. And it’s nice for Vanni’s first Whitecaps recruit to be a young guy who needed a chance. I can get behind that. Welcome to Halifax, Finn!

January 14. Time to hear from the Wanderers about their next signing!

And, much like Trump’s tariffs, X has demonstrated that they no longer operate in good faith — they deny problems, blame users, mock complainers, and change plans spuriously. It’s just not wise to trust anything they say anymore. Why do business with them?

Vanni Sartini has named his Halifax Wanderers coaching staff. Here's how his #CanPL technical team takes shape ⤵️

I’m a late arrival to @thevoyageurs.bsky.social’s party, but — I’m going to Vancouver for the Qatar game! Time to get my *other* privateer outfit dusted off…

The Voyageurs World Cup tickets get distributed today — good luck to everyone who entered the draw! I’d be thrilled to go, of course*, but if I don’t get called, I’ll be okay with that.

Sow, Alphonse, and TMG as the back line? That’s some terrific talent, and all three of those players are loved in Halifax. We have a great foundation for lots of new signings — starting next Wednesday!