The start of the 2026 Canadian Premier League season is rapidly approaching as Cavalry looks to bring another trophy to ATCO Field. 

Since the 2025 CPL final, where Cavalry fell just short of back-to-back North Star Cups, the roster has undergone a significant overhaul as the club prepares for a new season and fresh challenges.

First, a look at the players who will not be returning this season:

Marco Carducci: Without question, the most significant departure is former captain Marco Carducci, who leaves Calgary after seven seasons, having recorded 162 starts, 90 wins, and 70 clean sheets. The goalkeeper has joined the Halifax Wanderers on a two-year deal through 2027, with Halifax's first visit to ATCO Field scheduled for June 5, a match that promises to be an emotional one.

Mihail Gherasimencov: The 20-year-old Moldovan has signed a multi-year contract with MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps following the conclusion of his loan at Cavalry. Gherasimencov impressed throughout his season with the Cavs, making 30 appearances and contributing four goals.

Fraser Aird: The 31-year-old departs after four solid seasons, having made 85 appearances and scored seven goals for the club.

Shamit Shome: The Bangladeshi international and fan favourite leaves after three seasons, during which he was, when fit, a focal point of the team's midfield.

Diego Gutiérrez: Gutierrez departs after two seasons, the majority of his 38 appearances coming in 2024 when he featured in 27 matches. He has since joined Phnom Penh Crown FC of the Cambodian Premier League.

Callum Montgomery: Montgomery heads to USL Championship side Detroit City FC after three seasons with the Cavs, having made 60 appearances and logged over 4,000 minutes in red and white.

Nicolas Wähling: The 28-year-old German takes his trademark neon green boots back home, signing with FC Carl Zeiss Jena of the German fourth tier after two seasons and 43 appearances across all competitions.

Tom Field: Field has reunited with Martin Nash at Vancouver FC on a one-year deal. He featured in both of the Eagles' Concacaf matches against Cruz Azul and will look to make an impact at the back in 2026.

Ayman Sellouf: The Dutchman's brief stint with Cavalry comes to an end after two starts and 14 appearances, the majority of which came late in matches.

Here are the new arrivals who will be looking to make their mark at the club this season.

James McGlinchey: The 18-year-old homegrown academy product has signed an Exceptional Young Talent contract keeping him at the club through 2027, with an option for 2028. During the offseason, McGlinchey earned a call-up to the Canada U20 squad for their Concacaf qualifiers and will look to build on his limited professional experience in his first full season under a pro contract.

Nathan Ingham: Cavalry have moved swiftly to replace Carducci, signing Ingham on a deal through 2028. The goalkeeper brings 171 appearances across all competitions with CPL sides Atlético Ottawa and York United, now Inter Toronto, and arrives as a proven presence between the sticks.

Amer Didic: Didic joins fellow former Atlético Ottawa man Ingham in making the move west to Calgary. The six-foot-four defender will look to anchor the back line alongside his familiar teammate. Injury limited his involvement in 2025, but he has logged considerable CPL minutes in previous seasons with Ottawa, Pacific FC, and FC Edmonton.

Harry Paton: The 27-year-old midfielder arrives after a brief stint with Forge, having spent the bulk of his career in Scotland and amassing nearly 15,000 minutes across all competitions. The Kitchener, Ontario native will add security and tactical flexibility to the Cavalry midfield over the next two seasons.

Nathaniel Edwards: Edwards joins on a two-year deal with a third-year club option, bringing 50 professional appearances within Toronto FC's system, during which he scored five goals and added six assists in MLS Next Pro.

Curtis Ofori: The 20-year-old Ghanaian left back arrives after several seasons in the New York Red Bulls organization, where he logged significant minutes across five years in the program. He will look to bring pace and energy up the left flank over the next two seasons.

Adam Pearlman: Pearlman joins on loan from Toronto FC for the 2026 season, having spent last year with the Halifax Wanderers back line. The 20-year-old brings consistent attacking potential from the defensive position and looks set to contribute significantly to Cavalry's U21 minutes this season.

Elsewhere, Jay Herdman has returned to the squad following his loan at Vancouver FC and will look to rediscover his 2024 form after a difficult 2025.

Eryk Kobza, Michael Harms, Joseph Holliday, Michael Baldisimo, and Ali Musse have all either signed new contracts or had their options activated, committing them to another season at ATCO Field. They will be joined by several returning faces from 2025, including Goteh Ntignee, Tobias Warschewski, Niko Myroniuk, Maël Henry, Sergio Camargo, Levi Laing, Daan Klomp, and Bradley Kamdem-Fewo.

One outstanding question surrounding Cavalry's 2026 roster is the status of Calgary native Max Piepgrass. The young midfielder has been impressive across his 20 appearances for the club, all while balancing his commitments between Cavalry and his U Sports program at Cape Breton University. Most recently, he was named the 2025 AUS MVP and a U Sports First Team All-Canadian after leading CBU to the conference's best regular season record and a thrilling extra-time runner-up finish in the AUS championship. Cavalry hold his rights for the 2026 season, but nothing has been made official regarding his status with the club.

Cavalry's pre-season included a training camp in Mexico, where the club contested three friendly matches against Mexican opposition.

The trip began positively, with the Cavs defeating Liga de Expansión MX side Leones Negros 3-0 on March 16, with goals from Sergio Camargo, Owen Antoniuk, and Caniggia Elva. Three days later, they faced fellow Liga de Expansión MX side CD Tapatío but fell 3-2, with Goteh Ntignee and Tobias Warschewski on the scoresheet. The Mexican trip concluded on March 23 with the club's toughest test of pre-season, a 1-1 draw against Liga MX side Atlas FC, with Warschewski finding the net once again.

Newcomer Harry Paton registered three assists across the three matches, making an immediate impression among his new teammates. Calgary native Owen Antoniuk also continued his development, earning consistent playing time throughout pre-season. Having been on a U Sports contract last season with his rights retained into 2026, Antoniuk put together a standout U Sports campaign in 2025-26, netting 10 goals, contributing four assists, and registering 55 shots, good enough for second in the nation in that category.

Tommy Wheldon Jr.'s side now returns home to finalize preparations ahead of their 2026 Canadian Premier League opener, with attention turning to Sunday, April 5 and an away trip to Pacific FC to kick off the season, a fixture that also sets the stage for the two sides to meet in the Canadian Championship first round in early May.