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Christian Oxner cannot believe his good fortune.

The Clayton Park resident, one of the top soccer keepers in the country, stayed home for university and enjoyed a stellar five-year career with the Saint Mary’s Huskies, posting 11 shutouts in 43 appearances.

Between university seasons, Oxner backstopped Western Halifax’s NSSL premiership squad to a national championship in 2017 and had 14 shutouts in league play last year.

His performance on the pitch drew the attention of Stephen Hart, head coach and general manager of HFX Wanderers FC. Hart selected Oxner in the third round of the fledgling Canadian Premier League’s U Sports draft in November.

Two months later, Oxner signed with the Wanderers and now gets to stay home to play professional soccer. He and Jan Michael Williams are the club’s two keepers as the Wanderers open their inaugural CPL season on the road Sunday against Pacific FC in Langford, B.C.

“It’s amazing to be able to play in my hometown,” the 22-year-old Oxner said following the Wanderers’ final practice Thursday before flying to Victoria on Friday.

“Kids overseas can grow up playing for their local team and now we’re able to do that in Halifax. To be one of the first players from Halifax to play on the means so much for me, I hope to pave the way for kids in the future.”

Oxner is not the lone local flavour on the Wanderers squad.

Seventeen-year-old midfielder Scott Firth of Windsor Junction, currently in his last year at Lockview High School, was the first Nova Scotian to be signed by Hart.

Two other players who cut their teeth in the AUS are on the 22-man roster: former Cape Breton Capers defender Peter Schaale, last year’s conference MVP, and Kouame Ouattara, a former standout defender with the Moncton Aigles Bleus.

Hart said each player will have a significant role with the Wanderers.

“We have a lot of games and I have spoken to the squad on several occasions that we’re playing every Wednesday and Saturday and that’s going to mean squad rotation,” Hart said Thursday.

“I told them, ‘I’ve already picked you; you are on the 22(-man) roster, now it’s your responsibility as a player for me to not select you.’ I think their chances are as good as anybody else. We’re in the competition business right now so they just have to fight for it.”

Halifax Wanderers defender Peter Schaale is seen during team practice at the Mainland Common in Halifax on Thursday. - Tim Krochak

Schaale, who won a U Sports banner with Cape Breton in 2017 and a national silver last season, is elated that there’s finally a pro option for homegrown players.

“It’s always been one of my goals obviously to play professionally at some point. Coming from university and now being here is very exciting,” said the six-foot-three Schaale, who hails from Bernkastel-Kues, Germany.

“For me, Nova Scotia is a really special place. It’s been my home for three years now. Going to Cape Breton was probably the best decision I made in my life because it gave me all these new options. Before the CPL, there was nothing for us in the AUS. We went our own way to figure out what was next. Most of the guys just ended their career and went to their jobs because they have their degrees. With the CPL, players have something to work toward.

“To be here and represent Halifax and the province across the country is huge. I’m really looking forward to be part of this professional environment.”

Oxner caught Hart’s eye last July as part of an under-23 Atlantic Selects team which played under the Wanderers FC banner in an exhibition match against Germany’s Fortuna Düsseldorf’s under-21 squad.

Several local players suited up for the host side but only Firth and Oxner eventually secured contracts.

“I came into camp looking to earn a spot,” Oxner recalled, “and a few weeks later, Stephen sat me down and told me he was going to sign me. I was over the moon, I couldn’t believe it.

“This is my first contract and it’s pretty exciting. I can’t even describe the feeling. It is amazing. I called my parents right away and they were more excited than I was. It’s almost unbelievable. And being here every day with the team, I still can’t believe it. It’s my job now. I get to play pro soccer.”

Hart first made his mark in Nova Scotia as a star player for Saint Mary’s and Halifax King of Donair. He later became head coach of both programs before moving on to run Canada’s senior men’s team. He also spent time as Nova Scotia’s technical director in the sport.

While Nova Scotia’s last foray into professional soccer lasted only one summer — the Nova Scotia Clippers played in the Canadian Soccer League in 1991 — Hart sees this incarnation as a positive addition to the sport’s development landscape.

“I’m not a person with lots of anxiety but this is a special moment historically,” said the 59-year-old Hart. “We have waited for this for a long time since the old CSL folded. And now that the games are upon us, it’s going to be a very interesting time.

“I’ve been around here a long time and local soccer was at a peak in the late 80’s through to the early 1990s. It sort of died down a bit after that. Now there’s massive enthusiasm for it again. And I only hope it becomes a springboard for so many young players that play the game, both male and female.”

The CPL’s inaugural season kicks off Saturday afternoon with Forge FC hosting the York 9 in Hamilton, Ont.

The Wanderers will face Pacific FC at 8 p.m. (AT) on Sunday and play their first home match at the Wanderers Grounds on Saturday, May 4 (2 p.m.) against Forge FC.

“All of the lads are excited for the first game,” Oxner said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s a lot of travel but we’re ready and we’ll get to see a lot of the country.”