The Halifax Wanderers selected a pair of players from two Atlantic University Sport (AUS) programs at the 2024 CPL – U SPORTS Draft presented by Degree, held on Thursday afternoon. 

Halifax drafted goalkeeper Daniel Clarke from Cape Breton University with the 5th overall pick (first round) and defender Max Bodurtha from Saint Francis Xavier University with the 13th pick (second round). This is the second consecutive season where both Wanderers draft picks were selected from AUS schools.

“We’re pleased to have selected Daniel and Max, and both will be welcomed into first-team training camp and given every opportunity to earn CPL U SPORTS contracts for the 2024 season,” Wanderers sporting director Matt Fegan said. 

“Atlantic University Sport continues to retain and attract a high level of talent exemplified by the conference and national titles earned by StFX and Cape Breton University, respectively, this season. We see it as vital to the long-term growth of the game in the Atlantic to support these programs in their recruitment efforts by creating very visible pathways for their top prospects to make the step into the professional game right here.”

Clarke, 20, played a crucial role in Cape Breton University capturing the 2023 U SPORTS National Championship in November. He made a penalty shootout-winning save in the quarterfinals before posting back-to-back clean sheets in the semi-finals and finals. Clarke made six saves to guide CBU to a 1-0 victory over the University of Montreal in the championship match and was named to the end-of-tournament All-Star Team.

“Dan is a young goalkeeper we are really excited about who had a really good performance at the national championships,” Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar said. “The club has been following his development for a while, and we think he has a high ceiling to continue his journey.”

Over his three seasons in Cape Breton, Clarke has been named an AUS First-Team All-Star twice (‘22,’23) while posting 11 clean sheets. He went undefeated during the 2023 regular season and has only lost one regular season match over three years.

Born in Milton Keynes, England, Clarke began his playing career at nearby Northampton Town before moving to Ontario with his family. He has played in League1 Ontario for three clubs, most recently with Woodbridge Strikers in 2023. In the summer of 2022, Clarke was a member of the Wanderers U23 team that played an exhibition series against opposition from League1 Quebec. 

Bodurtha, 20, is a Halifax product selected by his hometown team after a standout third season at StFX in Antigonish, NS. Capable of playing as a central defender or a defensive midfielder, He was named an AUS First Team All-Star in 2023 as StFX conceded a league-low 11 goals en route to a conference championship. Over the past two seasons, Bodurtha has started in every game for the X-men. 

“We’ve had Max on our radar for some time and were really impressed with his recent transition from a midfielder into a centre-back,” Gheisar said. “We believe he is a local player who has the physical and technical tools to develop into a professional. He’s also coming off solid summer and fall seasons in League1 Ontario and AUS.”

Developed locally at Halifax CITY SC and Suburban FC, Bodurtha played for Wanderers U23 in the summer of 2022 alongside Clarke. In the summer of 2023, he played in League1 Ontario for Electric City FC. Bodurtha made 14 appearances for Electric City and was on the ECFC side that played against the Wanderers’ first team in the 2023 pre-season. 

Bodurtha is the second Halifax player to be selected by the club after Christian Oxner was selected in the 2018 CPL – U SPORTS Draft. Clarke is the fourth player selected by the Wanderers from Cape Breton University. 

Both Wanderers draft picks will be invited to preseason training camp, where they

can compete for a roster spot for the 2024 CPL season. Of the Wanderers’ previous 11 draft picks, nine earned first-team contracts and have played a combined 301 games with the club to date. 

BIOS:

Full Name: Daniel Clarke

Age: 20

Position: Goalkeeper

Height: 6’3”

Birth Date: April 17, 2003

Birthplace:  Milton Keynes, England

Nationality: Canada/England

Last Club: Cape Breton University (AUS)

Full Name: Max Bodurtha

Age: 20

Position: Defender

Height: 6’2”

Birth Date: June 13, 2003

Birthplace:  Halifax, Nova Scotia

Nationality: Canada

Last Club: Saint Francis Xavier University (AUS)