Jet lag could be an issue for the visitors as the HFX Wanderers of Halifax will travel 5,803 kilometres — the third longest distance between teams in a pro soccer domestic Premiership league — to meet Pacific FC in the Tridents’ 2024 Canadian Premier League opener April 13 at Starlight Stadium. PFC made the trip in the other direction last fall to record a 1-0 playoff quarter-final win in Nova Scotia.
The home openers for all eight CPL teams were announced Thursday. Also opening at home April 13 will be Atletico Ottawa, which hosts York United at TD Place, and Forge FC, which hosts Cavalry FC at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton in a re-match of last season’s league final. Vancouver FC opens April 14 in Langley against Valour FC of Winnipeg.
PFC will be part of Cavalry FC’s home opener on April 28 at Atco Field in Calgary in a reprise of last year’s playoff semifinal won 2-1 by Cavalry. It will be a daunting outing for the Tridents as Cavalry was 10-1-3 in wins-losses-ties at home last year in sweeping to the CPL regular-season championship and earning a berth into the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League.
In a bit of a quirk, Cavalry FC will open their CONCACAF Champions League campaign at Starlight Stadium against Orlando City of Major League Soccer on Feb. 21 because of the expected wintery weather at that time in Calgary. Although the Champions League games at Starlight Stadium — including the Vancouver Whitecaps of MLS against Tigres of Liga MX on Feb. 7 due to a scheduling conflict at sa国际传媒 Place — aren’t until next month, pundits might advise CONCACAF to check out snow-covered Starlight this week.
The full 2024 CPL regular-season schedule will be announced on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, PFC announced the transfer of striker Easton Ongaro to Italian side Novara FC of Serie C. The six-foot-six striker, who provided an imposing target up front, mostly came off the bench last season for the Tridents with five goals and two assists in 29 appearances.
“I want to thank … Pacific and its fans for creating an environment that is difficult to walk away from,” Ongaro said in a statement.
But the allure of playing in a famous soccer nation such as Italy was too much to pass up.
“I’m looking forward to taking another step in my football journey as I prepare to continue my career in a country that I grew up dreaming of playing in,” said Ongaro.
