Star goalkeeper set to make colourful home debut for Halifax Wanderers

Ethan Hunt · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 17, 2026 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

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.

'You never have to worry'

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 Halifax "very exciting."

“For one, it's a beautiful place and an amazing city,” said Carducci, who has played professionally since he was 17. “You see the fan base, you see the culture the club has built, you see the work that's being done.”

Carducci was the headliner in an off-season of work for the Wanderers. Seventeen players went out the door while head coach Patrice Gheisar parted ways with the club. In his place came former Vancouver Whitecaps FC head coach Vanni Sartini, whose presence helped attract Carducci to the organization.

Carducci will debut a moon mist-themed jersey on Saturday at the Wanderers Grounds. (Submitted by Ryan Brandt)

The goalkeeper made an instant impression in Halifax even before the season started.

As a part of the team’s yearly jersey kit, Carducci was introduced in a social media post wearing moon mist-themed attire. His colourful keeper's outfit matches the bright yellow, blue and purple found in the signature Nova Scotian ice cream flavour.

“It's really cool to have something that is unique to the community here,” said Carducci, who didn’t know what moon mist was until his arrival in Halifax.

“And as the goalkeepers, a lot of the time we end up just wearing the same cookie-cutter kits as everybody else. So they have something that's unique and that means something.”

The jersey was an instant hit, selling out from the team's shop in only a week. Still, the keeper has yet to try the dessert his look is based on.

“I have to, maybe when the weather is a little warmer,” Carducci said. “I'll make sure I get out there and find a place to try some.”

Carducci and his teammates play Pacific FC from Victoria, B.C., in their first home game of the season Saturday afternoon at the Wanderers Grounds.

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