Calgary Cavalry FC coach evokes memories of 'Rocky IV' ahead of CONCACAF Champions Cup debut

Cavalry FC coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. cast his mind back to a 1985 Hollywood movie when asked about his CPL team's preparations for Wednesday's CONCACAF Champions Cup first-leg match against Major League Soccer's Orlando City SC.

"We feel a little bit like 'Rocky IV,' to be honest. We're training in the mountains and in the cold, and trying to get together sparring partners to play us," Wheeldon, a two-time CPL coach of the year, told a virtual media availability Tuesday. "They're (training) in Cancun and playing Flamengo down in Orlando.

"So it's a lot different in our preparation. But regardless, when that whistle blows we'll be ready to compete. And I think that's what we've got to do, is make sure that we play the game in front of us. What's happened before is already past us. It's what happens next that matters."

The opening leg of the first-round game is being played on the artificial turf of Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., rather than Cavalry's home venue of ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows due to the Alberta winter.

The return leg is Feb. 27 at Orlando's Inter&Co Stadium.

"Rocky IV" saw Sylvester Stallone's character train in harsh conditions in remote Russia to face Ivan Drago.

While Cavalry came out west a little early to prepare for the game, much of its training beforehand was indoors in Calgary. Cavalry opens the CPL regular season April 13 at Forge with its home opener not until April 28.

Cavalry is the last Canadian team standing in CONCACAF's elite club competition. Forge FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps have already been eliminated by Mexican competition.

Forge, which edged Cavalry 2-1 after extra time to win the 2023 CPL title in October, was ousted 5-2 on aggregate by Chivas Guadalajara last week while