Halifax Adds Former Forge, Edmonton Defender Cale Loughrey

The Halifax Wanderers have recruited Canadian Premier League defender Cale Loughrey, inking the 21-year-old to a one-year deal with club options for 2024 and 2025.

Cale, who stands at six-foot-three, made his professional debut in the Champions League last year for CPL heavyweights Forge FC.

He then underwent a season-long loan to FC Edmonton, where he suited up 25 times under Alan Koch for what panned out to be the club’s final campaign.

The left-footed defender is a familiar face for new Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar, who had brought him into the fold at Seneca College, where he was named the team MVP and a first-team All-Star before his move to the University of Alabama Birmingham.

Loughrey – who grew up next to Fraiser Aird – also played for League1 Ontario sides Darby FC and Unionville SC, and had trained with York United ahead of the inaugural CPL season.

With Forge declining his option in December, it hasn’t taken long for the powerful defender to land elsewhere in the league.

“Cale is a strong, somewhat old-school type of defender with incredible grit and desire that he has displayed in his journey to get here,” said Gheisar. “He’s also left-footed, and I expect him to be our best aerial defender, which compliments our current group on the backline.”

The Ajax-born defender said he was quite excited to join the Wanderers, where he’ll re-unite with former Eddies teammate Wesley Timoteo.

“Patrice played a big role in my career and continues to push me to get better every day. He’s taught me so much about the game and I am very excited to be working with him again,” says Loughrey.

The club parted ways with centre-backs Peter Schaale and Eriks Santos (among many others) earl

Loughrey arrives to Wanderers Grounds on a one-year deal with options for 2024 and 2025.