Calgary’s Cavalry FC set to start 2025 season in Hamilton against Forge FC

For the first time in team history, Cavalry FC go into the regular season as the defending champions in the Canadian Premier League.

Last fall, Calgary’s Cavalry FC beat the Forge FC to win the team’s first-ever Canadian Premier League Championship.

Now, the two teams are set to face each other in the first game of the 2025 regular season.

Goaltender and Cavalry captain Marco Carducci says his team has plenty of hunger to win another title this season.

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“Winning is something you want to continue, it’s addicting right?” said the 28-year-old.

“I know we’ve had years where we’ve been very successful but we hadn’t got that championship down, and achieving that last season was a big moment for this club and everybody involved.

“We want to do it again.”

Cavalry missing two key pieces

As with every season, there will be changes to the lineup, as the Cavalry is missing a couple of big pieces.

Dan Klomp has moved on and is playing in Belgium this season, and Charlie Trafford has retired.

Head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. says it’s time for others to step up.

“When one leader leaves, it gives an opportunity for somebody else to step up,” he said.

“I’ve seen that from day one, when Nick Ledgerwood was our first-ever captain, through to Mason Trafford and through to now Marco Carducci.”

“You know leadership can be passed on, and we talk about that all of the time, and about leaving the jersey in a better place, so I’m looking forward to see who steps up this year.”

Back home

Caniggia Elva may very well be one of those players who steps up.

He wants to be a leader for this team.

Elva moved to Calgary from Saint Lucia when he was 11 and played his youth soccer with Calgary Southwest United.

When he was 17, he moved overseas to play in Germany, where he played in the Bundesliga.

Now 28, Elva is excited to be back home playing.

“Having my family here to support me, because I’ve never really had my family around to watch me play, it’s always been on television,” he said.

Cavalry’s first game is on Saturday, April 3, when they travel to Hamilton to face the Forge

The game gets underway at 3:30 MDT.