Cavalry FC revealed on Friday that veteran defender Mason Trafford has re-signed with the club for the upcoming Canadian Premier League season.

The 35-year-old has been a key piece of the Cavs’ backline since their inaugural season in 2019, providing defensive stability and experience to Tommy Wheeldon Jr.’s side. Over three seasons, Trafford has played a total of 52 matches for the team across all competitions.

In addition to the re-signing, Cavalry announced that Trafford has also taken on a role with the club as Commercial Director on the business side of things to continue growing the sport and the club in Calgary.

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“I’m looking forward to another year with Cavalry FC, both on and off the pitch,” Trafford said in a statement. “It’s very exciting to get back to a full season, and I’m eager to compete for the trophies again. I’m also very passionate about my role as Commercial Director. I really believe in this club, and I’ve fallen in love with the city of Calgary. The future is bright or our sport, in this city and also across Canada. I’m grateful for my role in it all.”

Cavs head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. added: “Mason is an important part of our club culture. He’s a meticulous professional that takes care of himself on and off the pitch and in turn sets a great example for the young players. He’s a brave and intelligent defender that is very comfortable with the ball during our attacking build up phase. Having his experience on the backline gives us the organization and a big reason why we’ve got one of the best defensive records in the league.”

Cavalry now have 16 players returning from their 2021 roster that finished second in the CPL regular season standings, plus two newcomers in Fraser Aird and Myer Bevan.