The Halifax Wanderers have signed Canadian U-21 goalkeeper Aiden Rushenas to a contract for the 2024 CPL season with a club option for 2025.
Rushenas, 20, was selected by the Wanderers in the 2023 CPL – U SPORTS draft out of Halifax’s Dalhousie University. He later signed a CPL – U SPORTS contract for 2023 and spent the entire season with the Wanderers.
“Aiden has earned this opportunity through his work ethic and hunger to come in and make a statement, his desire is something we’re drawn to,” Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar said. “We feel he’s someone who can come back in and push Yann (Fillion), but also have a great relationship with him and together get the best out of each other.”
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 the 2023 International Summer Series against German side Holstein Kiel.
“We’re pleased to reward Aiden with a new contract to extend his time with us at Wanderers,” sporting director Matt Fegan said. “In 2022, Aiden committed to staying in Halifax as a non-contracted development player, training daily with our first team under keeper coach Jan-Michael Williams. He progressed to earn a CPL – U Sports contract in 2023. Now in 2024, he has a chance to take his career another step further with this contract and continue to challenge for first-team minutes.”
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.
Full Name: Aiden Rushenas
Age: 20
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6’3”
Birth Date: May 23, 2003
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario
Nationality: Canadian