Notebooks

Wanderers Thoughts: Volesky's drive, buenos Dias and training camp notes

Not sure if I'll make this a segment (please check out some of my 8 CPL Thoughts columns if you haven't already) but I wanted to jot down some quick Halifax Wanderers takes following a busy week and several player signings. We are officially getting into pre-season territory.

Wanderers to hold coast-to-coast training camp

The club put out a statement on Thursday that their camp will officially open up on Feb. 21 in Halifax. Players are scheduled to report for medicals and physical testing followed by three weeks of training before jettisoning off to Ontario, Washington and British Columbia.

Overall, I think it was clever scheduling to have a roving training camp which builds East to West in anticipation of the club's first matches versus Pacific and Vancouver FC. There's also a fair bit of opportunity for fans to get a sneak peak of this year's Wanderers as the public can attend training on Mar. 12 or take in one of two pre-season matches against U Sports national championship winners Cape Breton University (CBU).

I must say one of the biggest questions I'm looking for clarity on heading into camp is the goalkeeper situation. With the stalwart Yann Fillion back between the sticks, the club will have Daniel Clarke — the club's fifth overall pick in the CPL U Sports Draft — and potentially Aiden Rushenas (we have yet to get an announcement on his status) vying to back him up. The Mar. 15 and 16 matches against CBU (which is of course Clarke's alma mater) would be a good opportunity to let them duke it out.

The Wanderers have also scheduled friendlies against Toronto FC II, Forge and other clubs on the West Coast. Given Daniel Nimick's time at Western Michigan University, I'd love to be a fly on the wall when he faces his friend and former teammate, Charlie Sharpe. Sharpe, who was recently signed to an MLS Next Pro deal with Toronto, was taken the same MLS SuperDraft as Nimick and, in some ways, represents the path not taken for Halifax's young centre-back. I hope to have the chance to ask Nimick about it at a future date.

No Aparicio for you

Given the litany of Wanderers signings in recent weeks (man, did it feel nice to write that), it shouldn't come as a surprise midfield star Manny Aparicio will not be signing for Halifax.

The writing has been on the wall for several weeks but I was able to officially confirm it with sources as the 28-year old Canadian-Argentine prepares to make his decision where to play this year. In the CPL, at least, he holds all the cards.

My understanding is that Aparicio and his camp wanted to be very well compensated and met with most clubs to discuss what they could offer. The Wanderers met with him and pitched their vision; they were told he needed time (and money).

Ultimately, the Wanderers walked away and decided to try and tidy up their transfer business quickly, securing several other attacking midfielder options. We'll get the first chance to see these new players on Mar. 12.

Volesky wants to win

I had the chance to interview Halifax's newest striker, 31-year old Christian Volesky, on Wednesday and was chuffed to discover he was on day two of a road trip that will eventually lead him to Nova Scotia.

Aside from enjoying our conversation, I was impressed by Volesky's profile and what he adds to the Wanderers. First and foremost, he is a goal scorer with 76 tallies to his name. Volesky is also a veteran player and knows he will be leaned on to help 20-year old Tiago Coimbra reach his potential. But above everything else, he wants to win.

I think he and Patrice Gheisar will get along famously.

Dias joins from MLS Next Pro

25-year old Brazilian midfielder Vitor Dias is joining the Wanderers on a two-year deal.

Previous to signing with the CPL's only East Coast club, Dias spent two seasons in MLS Next Pro split between St. Louis City II and Sporting Kansas City II. He also spent his youth football at Sao Paulo FC, one of the most successful clubs in Brazilian football.

All in all, Dias comes with 30 matches of pro experience and a knack for putting the ball into the net. He's left footed, creative and fill's the club's 'Brazilian footballer with cool hair-style' quota to boot. It'll be interesting to see where he's slotted in as Giorgio Probo also typically plays as an attacking midfielder.

Old friends return

If pro experience was the theme for the Volesky and Ryan Telfer signings, commitment is a good way to summarize the returns of midfielder Camilo Vasconcelos and centre-back Kareem Sow. Both players previously spent time developing with the club and, after a couple sojourns each, have signed their first professional contracts with the Wanderers.

There's a lot to like.

I was impressed by Vasconcelos' work ethic and football IQ in his short cameo at the tail end of last season. By all accounts, he's a good kid with potential and has impressed the coaching staff. Sow — albeit a few years older — has shown commitment to his studies since being drafted in 2021 and is paying off Halifax's support by joining after a five-year career at the Université de Montréal.

These signings represent a good piece of business in so much as the Wanderers are going to reap the rewards of the work they've put into developing these players. Importantly, they are also guaranteeing cap certainty by locking them up to multi-year deals.

As the league attracts better and better players, number crunching to fit incoming talent is going to take on a much larger role.

Old friends depart

With all the arrivals and hype around training camp, I was struck by a photo while scrolling Instagram and it reminded me of all the players who have departed and resumed their footballing lives elsewhere.

The photo was posted by San Antonio FC of the USL and featured former Wanderer Mo Omar — who was always a good interview and pleasant fellow to chat with — training with his new club. Football is a business but it's so much more, too, and it made me think about how much I appreciated the chance to start covering the club and league last year. Omar was one of the good ones.

Only a few more days until the ride starts all over again.