Callum Montgomery at house for Cavalry’s host of Concacaf Champions Cup

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Victory in Victoria.

It could imply rather a lot to Cavalry FC — arguably an important second of the Canadian Premier League membership’s five-plus-year historical past — in its much-anticipated Concacaf Champions Cup debut on Wednesday.

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However how electrical would such a win be for the man from Vancouver Island — the one participant who can declare true home-field benefit at Starlight Stadium?

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“It’s only a cool state of affairs,” stated Cavalry defender Callum Montgomery, a local of close by Nanaimo, B.C. “It’s cool to return and play in entrance of family and friends. I grew up there in Victoria, so I spent lots of minutes on that subject and spent lots of time there. So it’s all the time cool to return and play there.

“Particularly like this towards an MLS opponent. It’ll be an ideal check and actually trying ahead to it.”

The house present late Wednesday (8 p.m. MT, OneSoccer/OneSoccer.ca) for the fullback Montgomery has been made doable by the earliest-ever begin of the Concacaf Champions Cup — identified beforehand as Concacaf Champions League.

Since Cavalry’s house leg of this primary spherical versus Main League Soccer’s Orlando Metropolis SC needs to be performed in February, it was deemed — rightly — unsafe to play in snow-bound Calgary, therefore inflicting the necessity to have the match performed elsewhere.

With year-round situations and temperatures on Vancouver Island rather more appropriate than Alberta, the Cavs’ debut within the much-hyped continental occasion has been moved to Langford, B.C. — only a stone’s throw from Victoria.

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Whereas it isn’t in any respect what the membership — nor the followers — wished, it’s OK by Montgomery.

It’s a little bit of a bonus, actually, for the native lad to play at Starlight Stadium — the Island’s soccer mecca.

“I like it, as a result of it’s an opportunity for younger gamers — like myself once I was rising up — to see the highest stage of North America — the largest event — come to their yard, which I didn’t have the chance to do this rising up,” Montgomery stated. “So it’s an unbelievable probability for that.

“I performed lots of video games rising up there in that stadium,” continued the 26-year-old defender. “So particularly while you’re taking part in at night time — that’s when coaching periods have been — you sort of return to feeling like just a little child taking part in on that pitch. So I believe that feeling will come out for me.”

Montgomery grew up taking part in leisure soccer in Nanaimo.

When he acquired older, he moved 90 minutes south to Victoria to get extra critical concerning the sport, attending a non-public boarding faculty — St. Michaels College — and taking part in soccer for the high-profile Victoria Highlanders academy.

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The Highlanders performed largely in a males’s league in Victoria and travelled to Vancouver and Seattle — amongst different soccer sizzling spots in the USA.

“On the Island, you’re positively a bit remoted from the remainder of British Columbia,” stated Montgomery, who adopted fellow Islander Josh Heard — the captain of Pacific FC — into the skilled ranks. “The provincial workforce, the Whitecaps and all that have been based mostly over in Vancouver, so it was a bit extra of a problem for individuals coming from the Island.

“That being stated, I believe there’s a ton of expertise on the Island,” continued Montgomery. “And to be honest, Pacific and the Canadian Premier League coming in has given smaller communities — like Victoria and Vancouver Island — an opportunity to actually develop gamers and to indicate them that there’s a pathway for them. So I believe having knowledgeable workforce on the Island and having video games like this on the town are solely going to assist encourage the following era.”

It’s actually inspiring to Montgomery himself.

“I’m bringing the individuals out … yeah,” Montgomery stated. “Loads of family and friends can be popping out Wednesday.

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“I wouldn’t say it’s extra strain. Perhaps a bit extra inspiration. It’s just a bit bit extra motivating to play in entrance of your mother and father up within the stands. Clearly, for myself, it’ll be a bit larger of a crowd than I’m used to there and a bit larger occasion. However it ought to be good.”

And Montgomery says he’s able to go after his debut season with Cavalry was marred by harm.

After his three years with the Highlanders, the phenom vaulted to the Main League Soccer ranks with FC Dallas — from 2019-20 — and Minnesota United — from 2021-22 — however by no means acquired into MLS motion, having been loaned by these golf equipment to varied United Soccer League and MLS Subsequent Professional squads.

After sports activities hernia surgical procedure final low season, he signed on with the Cavs however performed simply 14 video games year-long with an harm — suffered satirically at Starlight Stadium in Canadian Championship motion — limiting his motion.

“That sort of set again my 12 months,” stated the 6-foot-3 Montgomery. “However I really feel like proper now in the most effective form of my life. I believe I’ve had a extremely robust pre-season. And a 12 months of sort of understanding the workforce and understanding the teaching employees and being extra cohesive with the group, I believe, goes to assist me have an ideal 12 months.”

Starting, he hopes, with Wednesday’s house sport in Victoria.

“So far as one of many largest video games of my life, I believe it’s gotta be up there for me,” added Montgomery. “I performed with Canada’s under-23s within the Olympic qualifiers down in Mexico (in 2021), so it’s between that sport and this one.

“These video games don’t come round fairly often, so you need to be prepared for them.”

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

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