As Ottawa Fury FC goalkeeper Callum Irving stood alongside his Canada teammates at the Bermuda National Sports Centre, minutes before Sunday’s international exhibition and his full national team debut, hearing the playing of the national anthem definitely felt different than previous renditions.

“It’s a bit surreal, you know?” Irving said this week of the experience. “It’s something that’s hard to describe. You’re standing there with a bunch of other people that have worked to get to this point with you that are proud to play for their country. It’s something I’m very proud of, growing up in Canada and being very proud of where I’m from. Hearing that national anthem being played and know I’m representing that country was special.”

Irving’s first start for his country kicked off what could be a big year for the 23-year-old – an offseason signing for Fury FC as the club joins the USL – and also gave him a chance to reflect on how far he had come over the past five years. Alongside fellow goalkeepers Marco Carducci and Sean Melvin, both fellow products of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy, the atmosphere proved a familiar one.

“For me, this past camp training with Sean and Marco, it was just like being back in the Whitecaps Academy system,” said Irving. “It was really nice to see the success both of them are having as well.”

Irving’s path to the national team certainly hasn’t been the most conventional. While he performed well at the Whitecaps Academy, his physical development hadn’t taken him to the point to where a professional contract was in the offing with the MLS club.