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Photo Courtesy: Valour FC
Once A Top CPL Draft Pick, Owen Sheppard Seeks Opportunity Down Under
By When Cape Breton University striker Owen Sheppard was selected first overall in the 2024 CPL-U SPORTS Draft, many had thought the young talent – a reigning U SPORTS national champion – would edge a spot for himself in the Valour FC roster.
Instead, he found himself unsigned by the Winnipeg-based club despite positive feedback and, while he trained with Halifax and even participated in their friendly summertime international showcase, he went unsigned there too.
With opportunity going begging in Canada, the 22-year-old has now signed with Australian semi-pro side Corio SC. Based in Geelong, they ply their trade southwest of Melbourne in the country’s State 1 league.
“I kind of want to go in there and just do my best and hopefully, maybe in the future, there’s a professional trial or contract that’s waiting for me,” the young forward revealed on the St. John’s Morning Show.
Sheppard had been open to resurrecting a second attempt at the Canadian Premier League in 2025, but when the opportunity arose to showcase himself down under, it’s one he carefully considered and felt he couldn’t turn down.
There are growing links between Australia and Canada at all levels of the game: another U SPORTS standout in Jackson Gardner made a similar move in 2023, while in the pro ranks A-League talent like Jesse Daley and Tass Mourdoukoutas landed well in the CPL.
So too has Valour’s Jordi Swibel, who came from Australia’s semi-pro ranks himself.
“I want to use this as a stepping stone,” says Owen of his upcoming spell down under. “I want to progress even further.”
The striker’s last season with the Cape Breton Capers ended after the team bowed out of the Atlantic University Sports semi-final stage ahead of what would have paved way to a national championship title defense.
Interestingly, the bulk of the previous CPL-U SPORTS first overall picks are unattached from today’s pro ranks: Anthony White just had his option declined by Vancouver FC, Jose Cunha is now in USL2, and Cory Bent has left the league, with Thomas Gardner having never gotten a contract within it.
Only the inaugural draft’s first overall pick, Gabriel Bitar, is still playing in Canada’s top flight, and even he had stints outside of the pro game is now on his fourth CPL club.
It remains to be seen is this year’s first overall pick, Jevontae Layne, will land a contract.
While the league brings plenty of opportunity for many, Owen will try his luck on the other side of the world. The young Canadian could suit up in the green and white of Corio SC as soon as January 24 in a preseason match against North Geelong.
Source: CBC
Header Image Photo Courtesy: Valour FC
