Star goalkeeper set to make colourful home debut for Halifax Wanderers

Marco Carducci has been frustrating the Halifax Wanderers and their fans for years.

Now he's on their side.

The much-decorated goalkeeper was a key off-season acquisition by the Canadian Premier League team, which is getting set for its home opener on Saturday.

After seven seasons starring for Cavalry FC in his hometown of Calgary, Carducci signed in December with the team he has shut out eight times while compiling a career record of 14-5-7 against the Wanderers.

“[I] got to a point where I was excited for a new challenge, a different step in my career,” Carducci said on a cold and wet afternoon at a Dartmouth pitch where the Wanderers were practising.

The 29-year-old has already been a hit for his new team through its first two games, both on the road. He started his tenure by blanking Vancouver FC in a 1-0 triumph, earning CPL player of the week honours, and followed that with a 2-2 draw versus Inter Toronto.

Longtime Wanderer and captain Andre Rampersad said Carducci has already helped the team on and off the field and established himself as a leader guiding younger and newer players.

“It just gives you that comfort, you never have to worry in the net,” Rampersad said.

With Cavalry FC, Carducci twice won the Golden Glove Award as the CPL’s top goalkeeper, the second time in 2022 after being diagnosed with and recovering from testicular cancer. He was a finalist for the award in three other seasons and helped Cavalry win the North Star Cup as CPL champion in 2024.

When his contract expired, he drew interest from Europe. A Canadian with Italian heritage, he said many North American players have the “itch” to chase that dream and while moving across the pond piqued his interest, he found the prospect of playing in