As soccer fans rejoiced over Canada at Copa America, one word came to mind for Nik Ledgerwood.
“I’m just proud,” said Ledgerwood, Cavalry FC assistant coach and member of the Canadian National Team from 2007-16. “I had the opportunity to play Argentina, it was different when we played, we got played off the park, it was unbelievable.
"To see how far the program has come with the players, on one side it doesn’t surprise because of the pedigree of players we now have within the program and depth and you can see we’re solidifying that backline even more which was always the question with that national team.”
Ledgerwood, who earned 50 caps with the senior national team during his professional career, said Canada’s fourth-place finish at the Conmebol tournament featuring the top sides in South, Central and North America came at an opportune time with an eye on co-hosting the 2026 World Cup.
“The Copa America was unbelievable for Canadian fans,” Ledgerwood said. “We questioned it after the World Cup, are they out of their league a little bit? Can they compete in big tournaments? And I think everybody got their answer.
“To go to a semifinal, to take teams like Uruguay to penalty shootouts, to get that close to winning third spot in Copa America is unbelievable.
“And it came at a time where I think people were maybe a little bit on the fence of what this team is all about. Now it’s definitely going in the right direction.”
Ledgerwood tipped his cap to Canada head coach Jesse Marsch for proving the doubters wrong, creating buy-in among the players and instituting an aggressive style seamlessly.
Canada defeated Peru, drew with Chile and lost to Argentina to get out of the group stage. In the playoff round, they knocked off Venezuela in penalty kicks, lost 2-0 to the eventual champion Argentina in the semifinal and were downed in penalty kicks to Uruguay in a seesaw bronze medal match.
“I think it’s very important for the people back home to understands that it’s possible to be here more times, we have the team for it,” said Canadian vice-captain Stephen Eustaquio in a TSN interview, following the semifinal loss to Argentina. “I just wish the CPL (Canadian Premier League) starts pushing more so we can grow more Canadian players that can support us going on, 2026 is just around the corner, but we still need more Canadians to come around and be better.
“If everyone is professional, we can have better teams in the future, that’s what I hope.”
Ledgerwood agreed the Canadian Premier League has a huge role in pushing the national program forward.
“Any domestic league in the country is the first step to develop talent,” Ledgerwood said. “That’s where your first stepping stone for all the talent is going to come through. Jesse Marsch said he wanted the 16- to 18-year-olds step up to get those minutes. Unfortunately, we’re probably not there yet because I think the CPL is a level where you need to come in and have that level already and that’s why we have the U21 minutes, which is exceptional for the league because it gives us the ability and accountability to play those young players.
“But I agree 100 per cent with they said about building the depth even more for Canada to find those talents to come through at a younger age.”
Last week, four players from CPL teams — James Cameron of Vancouver FC, Pacific FC’s Christian Greco-Taylor, Forge’s Khadim Kane and Tavio Ciccarelli of the Halifax Wanderers — were selected among the Canadian U20 roster in advance of the Concacaf Cup.
“We have to provide the infrastructure for that,” Ledgerwood said. “You look at the first six years, we’re still in the infancy of what we are as a league, you see the players that have moved through the program and onto the national team, Joel Waterman, Dominick Zator was involved, Victor Loturi was involved. That has been the stepping stone in the past.
“And now it has to be more of them, more often and that’s up to us now as that infrastructure to have better scouting departments, have better recruitment in the younger ages, but also be able to facilitate them to move into our teams.”
Ledgerwood and the Cavs are back in action on July 21 in a marquee meeting with Forge FC, a rematch of the CPL championship.
The Cavalry will be looking for a second straight home victory versus the Hamilton side. Kick-off is 3 p.m. at Spruce Meadows’ ATCO Field.
For more information, go to cavsfc.com.
