Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon is hoping to unearth some “gold nuggets” from the Canadian Premier League’s #GotGame Open Trials … provided that he and his fellow CPL coaches sort through some of the “chicken nuggets” first.
The ever-cheery English tactician said as much during his appearance on Sportsnet 960 The Fan with hosts Ryan Pinder & Pat Steinberg, offering that the upcoming coast-to-coast Open Trials – which kick off in Halifax on Thursday and have already seen full registrations in Toronto and Hamilton – are an opportunity to “inspire generations,” while also providing a platform to see and potentially sign players for his inaugural Cavalry FC roster.
“The players who are undrafted are out there and it’s a great opportunity for us, as we enter this as partners and colleagues, to grow something and get the brand out and the awareness out,” Wheeldon Jr. said on Sportsnet 960 The Fan. “If we can inspire generations, that’s what we’re doing it for.”
Wheeldon Jr. talks to Sportsnet 960 The Fan about the ‘Al Classico’ Rivalry. Listen to the full interview here.
Wheeldon Jr. and the rest of the league’s head coaches will be at seven different cities from across Canada, watching and scouting young and talented hopefuls in these two-day trials, spearheaded by former Canada national team striker Alex Bunbury, who appeared on Corner Kicks on TSN 1200 in Ottawa and offered an update on the registrant numbers, as well as his expectations for what he expects
“It’s incredible. Last week I was told that we had over 1,000 players signed up and quite a bit of these players are coming from all parts of the world,” Bunbury told TSN 1200. “That just tells you how important it is and the importance of us having our own league and our own identity in Canada.”
He added: “We’ve had it in the past with the old Canadian Soccer League that I was part of, and that was instrumental in my development as a player … now, this league that has been created by Canadians, for Canadians, we can now say to those players ‘You can stay right here and develop.’ From that, we can now start to see the fruits of our labour in the international play. Now, Canada will be standing out globally on the world stage. This will enhance our global play.”
Wheeldon Jr. also acknowledged the importance of the opportunity for his team, the league, and for young Canadian players, adding that he and his fellow coaches will be cognizant of the journey these trialists have embarked on, and how far successful trialists might reach one day.
“Our knowledge is deep enough to see that there are players that have had professional experience, some that have had Canadian youth national team experience, and maybe haven’t had the opportunity because there had only been the three MLS clubs, FC Edmonton, and the Ottawa Fury,” Wheeldon Jr. offered on Sportsnet 960 The Fan. “What the Canadian Premier League does, because it’s going to be high on the domestic player, it gives more Canadians the chance to play. I like that aspect of it.”
The CPL’s #GotGame trials open Sept. 20 in Halifax before stops in Montreal (Sept. 27-28), Hamilton (Oct. 1-2), Toronto (Oct. 11-12), Winnipeg (Oct. 18-19), Calgary (Oct. 25-26) and Vancouver Island (Nov. 5-6). Think you’ve #GotGame? Register at CanPL.ca/GotGame.