Forge Captain Kyle Bekker Announces Retirement

It’s the end of an era at Forge FC.

The Canadian Premier League powerhouse has confirmed the retirement of club captain Kyle Bekker, Forge’s all-time appearance leader and the man who has worn the armband from the club’s inaugural match through to 2026, his eighth season with the side.

A four-time league champion and three-time regular season winner, Bekker has been an ever-present, hard-working engine in the heart of Forge’s midfield. He made 239 appearances for Forge, racking up 27 goals, 32 assists, and a CPL Player of the Year award in 2020, his sole win in six nominations.

While Bekker has long claimed he wanted to play for as long as possible, the 36-year-old sustained a season-ending knee injury that ultimately forced Forge’s leader to hang up his boots after a 14-year professional career that included chapters in Major League Soccer, the NASL, USL, and with the Canadian men’s national team.

Bekker was unveiled alongside Chris Nanco as Forge’s first-ever player signings in November 2018, quickly becoming an icon for both club and league.

“When we started this journey in 2019, I don’t think I could have imagined what the next eight years would bring or how much this club and this city would come to mean to me,” reflects Bekker.

Hamilton, the day has come…..

Congratulations, Kyle, on an incredible career. 👏 pic.twitter.com/WleMSsk2vx

— Forge FC (@ForgeFCHamilton) October 1, 2026

“Hamilton became home, and being trusted to captain Forge from day one is something I have never taken for granted. I’ve known for some time that this would be my final season, and I can close this chapter proud of what we built and the standards we established, knowing that we’ve left the shirt in a better place for the next generation.”

The Oakville native developed through Forge’s now-affiliate Sigma FC. Drafted third overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, Bekker turned professional with Toronto FC and went on to make 29 appearances for the Canadian MLS side. Moves to FC Dallas and the Montreal Impact followed, with Bekker amassing some 58 appearances at the MLS level.

Bekker would then land at the San Francisco Deltas, winning the league in the club’s first season. Following a season with North Carolina, the birth of the Canadian Premier League allowed him to come home and, as we’ve now seen, become a cultural cornerstone in Hamilton.

“Kyle helped build this club and the CPL from day one,” says Scott Mitchell, the managing partner and CEO of Hamilton Sport Group. “He believed in what Forge FC and the league could become, and he backed that belief with his play and leadership. His contribution to Forge and to the growth of professional soccer in Canada is lasting and we know that his impact will be felt for years to come.”

Flashback: ‘We’re More Than Capable’: Bekker Sets Sights On Doing The Double With Forge

Bekker announced a testicular cancer diagnosis that kept him sidelined at the start of the 2026 season, though thankfully treatment was successful and he was back on the pitch just one month into the campaign. He made 22 appearances for the Hammers this year before suffering what has now been confirmed as a season-ending ACL injury in the club’s Canadian Championship semi-final against FC Supra.

Forge has also confirmed the captain had been moved to the club’s inactive roster ahead of the league’s roster freeze deadline, marking the end of an era in Hamilton: with Bekker at the helm, Forge established a firm legacy throughout the Canadian Premier League’s formative years.

“Kyle has been the heart and soul of Forge FC since the very beginning, living and leading us through so many of our biggest moments,” adds Forge FC head coach and sporting director Bobby Smyrniotis, “but his impact goes beyond Forge – he’s been a standard-bearer for what it means to be a successful player in this league and in this country. Very few have accomplished what he has, and it has been an honour to watch him earn his many achievements.”

“It’s disappointing that Kyle won’t be out there with us for our final games of the season, but he’ll continue to make an impact as our club captain,” said Smyrniotis. “We’ll keep fighting, just as Kyle always has, and carry his example with us well beyond this year.”