The Halifax Wanderers have extended the contract of Canadian goalkeeper Aiden Rushenas for the remainder of the 2023 CPL season. 

Rushenas, 20, was selected by the Wanderers in the 2023 CPL – U SPORTS draft out of Halifax’s Dalhousie University. In April, he signed with the club on a U SPORTS contract until August 15. 

“Aiden is a young man that has continued to grow with the team and has progressed quite nicely on the field, and we look forward to his future.” Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar said. “We’re ecstatic to have him for the rest of the season working with goalkeeper coach Jan-Michael Williams and see him continue his journey with the Wanderers.”  

Over his two seasons at Dalhousie, Rushenas led Atlantic University Sport in saves made. He was named the Tigers’ most valuable player in 2022 after making a league-best 81 stops in just 12 appearances. In 2022 and 2023, Rushenas made several appearances for Wanderers U23, including two recent matches during a summer exhibition series against German side Holstein Kiel. 

“He’s an excellent shot-stopper who continues to grow with his distribution and has become a part of our culture in a big way.” 

Rushenas is the fourth Wanderers player to sign with the club after being drafted out of an AUS school, following Peter Schaale (Cape Breton), Christian Oxner (Saint Mary’s) and Cory Bent (Cape Breton). Along with attending Dalhousie, Rushenas has family connections to Nova Scotia, including his mother, who was born and raised in Lower Sackville.

The Wanderers return to action on Monday, Aug. 7, against Pacific FC.