Homegrown Canuck goalies face off

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This article was published 09/07/2021 (1833 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A PAIR of third-year Canadian Premier League goalkeepers are set to represent their respective hometown clubs as FC Edmonton and Halifax Wanderers FC square off Saturday afternoon.

As each club enters its fourth game in the bubble setting, Christian Oxner of Halifax and Connor James of Edmonton remind themselves that doing the little things each week as lead goalkeepers will help inspire confidence to the players in front of them.

“I’m definitely a goalkeeper that doesn’t try to be the hero, the superman of the team,” said James.

“I just give the team confidence that I’m going to make the right play.”

“It’s trying to carry over that confidence and form,” said Oxner.

“I want to keep building on that and show that I’m not just staying with the league, but that I’m getting better.”

Oxner and James both started out at a very young age in the game.

“I’ve just played from a young age and in net from about 10 years old and have stuck with it since,” said Oxner.

“I can remember as early as four I was playing soccer in an outdoor hockey rink,” said James.

“I wasn’t one of those kids that was picking dandelions, I was engaged in the game. After making my first provincial team at 12/13, that’s when I realized this was something I could pursue at a higher level.”

In college, James quickly found his form in net spending five years at the University of Alberta. In 2018, James was a USPORTS 1st Team All-Canadian for his university soccer team. The goalkeeper noted how important building time management skills were to manage both academics and sports.

“It really makes the time that you dedicate to your sport, precious,” said James.

After a stint at playing for Halifax’s local club Dunbrack, Oxner moved on to Saint Mary’s University, where he built up the skill that was needed to join the CPL.

“If we wanted to win games, I had to put in good performances and that’s stuck with me as I’ve moved on to the next level,” said Oxner.

While playing for the Huskies, Oxner built a rapport with then head coach Mesut Mert. Now the assistant coach for the Wanderers in the CPL, Mert has followed Oxner’s game for years and has always been impressed by the young goalkeeper’s potential.

“I hadn’t had the chance to coach him at a level where winning was a little more important at the university level, that’s when I really found out he wanted to make this something and take his game to the next level,” said Mert.

Mert says he believed Oxner was one of the top goalkeepers in the Atlantic University Sport organization prior to joining the CPL.

“To be a part of that for the five years I was there, I thought he was ready to make that next step when the Wanderers came calling,” said Mert.

“He started off in front of the home crowd, took that opportunity and never looked back.”

Alan Koch, in his second year as the head coach of FC Edmonton, has watched James’ game for a few years now and can see why his goalkeeper is a hometown favourite.

“I have no problem saying it to his face, he is one of the top goalkeepers in this league,” said Koch.

“I think the fact that he’s also a good person too, he can relate to all of his teammates and the players in front of him makes him a great goalkeeper on the pitch. Since we’ve been working together I’ve seen him grow even more.”

After Saturday’s matchup, each team will be halfway through the CPL bubble. Both goalkeepers spoke to what it means to return to their home markets and families in a few short weeks and how the jump from college to the CPL was important in their careers.

“It’s definitely a special experience,” said James.

“It’s inspiring for Edmontonians, to be able to play professionally in your own backyard. To be able to be on the pitch at Clark Stadium and see my family in the stands and give them a hug after the game is very special to me.”

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“It’s a dream come true,” said Oxner.

“I think it’s something that people look forward to coming out to all week and get up for it. You know Maritimers are super friendly, everyone gets together, has a laugh and are able to cheer for us and have a great time.”

Halifax looks to earn their first win of the season following one draw and two losses while Edmonton will try to claim their second win after a draw, win and loss to begin their 2021 record. Saturday’s matchup is set for 1 p.m.

jbernacki@freepress.mb.ca

@JosephBernacki