The Halifax Wanderers are one of seven teams in the new league

The Raptors parade is over, and the Stanley Cup has been hoisted.

Summer is officially here, and it’s time to focus on Canada’s other favourite sport: soccer.

There are new opportunities to get in on the action at the pro level, especially if you live in one of seven regions in the country that has a team in the new league, the CPL (Canadian Premier League).

There are teams in

Langford, B.C.

Calgary.

Edmonton.

Winnipeg.

Hamilton.

York Region, Ont.

Halifax.

Thousands of kids across Canada play soccer and now have opportunities to watch local professional players.

Halifax Wanderers goalie Christian Oxner prepares to stop a ball during practice. (CBC)

In Halifax, the team is called the Wanderers, and I had the chance to interview some players on the team after their practice last month.

Christian Oxner is the team’s keeper, or goalie, and he’s from Halifax.

“This is an opportunity I never thought I would have,” he said. “And to be able to have it here in Halifax, the city I grew up in, that means the world. It’s amazing.”

Oxner was playing for Saint Mary’s University before this.

Until now, players like Oxner had few opportunities to continue playing after university.

There are only three Canadian teams in the MLS, an American league: Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Otherwise, they would have to find teams in the U.S. or Europe, or stop playing all together.

Isabelle MacNeil, 12, interviews Christian Oxner. (Sabrina Fabian/CBC)

“I don't know what I would have done if it wasn't for this,” Oxner said. “I probably would have been working in an office or something like that, and instead I get to come out here.”

But playing at the pro level comes with a lot of hard work.

“There are always ups and downs but you just gotta go through it and then keep grinding and then you’ll eventually get there,” said Peter Schaale, a defender, from Germany.

Peter Shaale is from Germany and was playing soccer for Cape Breton University before joining the Wanderers. (CBC)

Kids on the field

The Wanderers played their first game at home on May 4 against Forge FC, based in Hamilton, and won 2-1.

Some of the kids at the Farias Soccer Academy have been to the games, working as ball retrievers on the field.

“A ball retriever’s job is to pick up the balls off the sidelines and give it back to the players,” said Melanie Helfenestin, 13.

Melaine Helfenestin is a ball retriever for the Halifax Wanderers and a goalie. (CBC)

She said she loved the atmosphere at the game.

“It was really fun. All the spectators were crazy. It was amazing.”

Gavin Tang, 11, is also excited about the league, because he thinks it gives kids in Canada something to aspire to.

Gavin Tang says it’s "thrilling" to be at a Wanderers game. (CBC)

“I think this team is good for youth because lots of people can be inspired to play at this speed and get better and then you can possibly play in these more professional teams,” Gavin said.

What about girls?

But female soccer players like me and Melanie don’t have as many opportunities.

Even though Canada has a national women’s team competing at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France right now, there is still no pro league in Canada for women.

I spoke to Marie-Soleil Beaudoin about that.

She’s a FIFA-level referee, meaning she refs the CPL games, and she’s currently in France at the Women’s World Cup.

“I think one of the things that has been discussed when they did the Canadian Premier League was at some point having a woman's league along with the men's league,” she said.

Marie-Soleil Beaudoin, a FIFA referee, speaks with Isabelle MacNeil. (CBC)

There’s no timeline for that, Beaudoin said, but she’s optimistic about what it could mean to young female players and refs.

“It'll be cool for, obviously, women players and for us as women referees as well,” she said.

Melanie hopes that will happen one day soon, and she’d love to play in a women’s league.

“Because I like working hard and it just feels like I deserve to be on that team,” she said.