How curiosity led CanWMT veteran and Olympic champion Erin McLeod to become the first signing in Halifax Tides history

These days, Erin McLeod — Olympian, analyst, and now officially the first ever player signing in Halifax Tides' history — has a favourite word. It's a word, in her own words, that drives both her body and mind as, at 41-years old, she moves into the twilight of her professional footballing career.

That word, which has become a mantra of sorts, is curiosity.

McLeod is curious in how her body moves. Curious about the people around her and how they work. And, several months ago, she was curious about what her friend Diana Matheson was up to with what would become the Northern Super League (NSL).

"My initial thought was she's just such a boss, if there's anyone who can get (a women's professional league in Canada) done, it's Diana Matheson," said McLeod in an interview with The Wanderers Notebook.

Now, thanks to a bit of curiosity, the former Canadian Women's National Team goalkeeper and 20-year professional is the latest player to join the growing list of announced NSL talent.

“I’ve been really excited about this for the last number of months. Most of my career I’ve been wanting to come home and play professionally and now that it’s possible, I’m just totally thrilled," she said.

“When the Tides contacted me, to be honest, I wasn’t sure if they wanted me as coach or as a player or both but I was ecstatic. I had thought a lot about hanging up the boots this year but when they contacted me, I thought, ‘I can do it one more year, at least.’”

The beginning of a new chapter

It seemed yet another Canadian football legend was in their swan song.

Last year, McLeod wound down her international career after 119 caps and two decades of dedication to Canada. With it came the news that she'd play club football with her wife, Gunny Jonsdottir, for one last year, opting to suit up in Iceland.

However, things didn't go as smoothly as planned.

"Partway through the season, we were really struggling so I thought I was going to switch over to more of an assistant coach role, less of a player role," explained McLeod.

But with the announcement of NSL, and the opportunity to play professionally on Canadian soil, McLeod held off the role change. Soon after, the Tides reached out, as did another club, to gauge the former international's interest. At first, the conversation was academic but McLeod said she quickly felt the thrill of doing something bigger than herself.

"It became where and when do I sign, let's do this," she said with a laugh.

The realization that her career was continuing helped to re-energize her season in Iceland.

"To be honest, ever since I got back in the groove of playing this season, the talk in my mind has shifted. Doubt is such a natural part of human existence. But to be kind of my biggest fan and contribute to that very intentionally, and the way I view myself, and to not be so attached to outcome, these are things I wish I could tell my younger self," said McLeod.

Building a community in Halifax

A sense of community is one of the first reasons McLeod listed when asked about choosing the Tides over other NSL clubs.

For starters, her older sister lives in Halifax, making it convenient given McLeod and her wife are new parents and will need support. But she said she had also spent time in Nova Scotia as a consultant working with community clubs and felt an attachment to the people and place.

"I just fell in love with it," she said. “What I love, and think is a strength of Halifax, is its sense of community. I’ve seen the Wanderers Grounds. What I hope that the fans and the players and all of us create is a really inclusive community and culture around the sport. I hope we can do right by the community.”

But McLeod said she's not taking anything for granted: she's as competitive as ever to contribute on and off the pitch. She's said been busy rehabbing her body and preparing for the NSL's scheduled kickoff in April.

It is, she said, yet another stop in her footballing journey that's taken her all around the world. Only this time, she'll find herself playing at home.

“I think as long as I keep (my curiosity) in a very sincere way, I’ll never stop growing," she said.

Cover Photo Credit: Contributed by Halifax Tides FC