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Wheeldon Jr.: Cavalry taking ‘different’ approach with internationals

Building something from nothing was the carrot that convinced some Canadian Premier League coaches to take charge of their Founding clubs.

While teams’ preliminary domestic signings have mostly been players with ties to their respective cities and managers, international signings have varied.

HFX Wanderers coach Stephen Hart, for instance, turned to the Caribbean while both Forge FC and York9 FC have added players from Scandinavia and Japan.

Valour FC’s Rob Gale altered course last week by bringing in Josip Golubar, a 32-year-old Croatian midfielder he’ll rely on for veteran leadership.

Further west, though, Cavalry’s Tommy Wheeldon Jr. told Sportsnet 960 The Fan his most recent signing shows his Calgary-based team is taking a “different” approach with its foreign dealings.

Using recent signing Julian Buescher as his example, Wheeldon Jr. confirmed he’s targeting a younger age profile with his seven international roster spots.

Cavalry FC coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. (CPL)
Cavalry FC coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. (CPL)

“It’s about (asking), ‘Have they come from a good pedigree?” Wheeldon Jr. explained to The Fan 960.

Cavalry previously announced the additions of Brazilian striker Oliver Minatel and former England youth international Jordan Brown.

Buescher, 25, a first-round MLS draft pick in 2016, appeared 27 times for DC United before captaining LA Galaxy II last season.

“I don’t want to take players at the top of their game and might get a little better,” Wheeldon Jr. continued.

“These are players who can improve while they’re here and hit their peak years and we can maybe move them on. They’re hungry. I love hungry players.”

He finished: “I want them to leave a better player than when they arrived. That’s my job and the coaching staff and our mandate.”

Though Wheeldon Jr. revealed the club is completing paperwork on multiple signings, Cavalry’s roster currently sits at 14 players ahead of pre-season.

Goalkeepers Marco Carducci and Niko Giantsopoulos, defenders Dominick Zator, Chris Serban, Dean Northover, Nik Ledgerwood and Joel Waterman, midfielders Elijah Adekugbe, Sergio Camargo, Carlos Patino and Julian Buscher and strikers Oliver Minatel, Nico Pasquotti and Jordan Brown.