Published May 08, 2025 • Last updated 18 minutes ago • 3 minute readHalifax Wanderers FC’s Jason Bahamboula, left, defends against Forge FC midfielder Ben Paton during a Canadian Premier League game in Hamilton on Wednesday. Photo by Canadian Premier LeagueThe Halifax Wanderers’ bid to win the Canadian Championship ended early this year.They lost 3-1 to Forge FC in the preliminary round on Wednesday in Hamilton so they won’t get a crack at a Major League Soccer opponent in 2025. Forge advances to the quarter-final for a rematch with CF Montreal.Forge actually ousted Montreal from last year’s competition, which is a national championship for men’s teams from Canada’s pro and top semi-pro leagues.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle content“It’s exciting,” Forge defender Dan Nimick said in a post-game league interview. “It was a grind out there (against the Wanderers). It was a tough game but we got the job done. I think that shows a proper championship team – you’re able to get the job done when it’s a tough game. We’re really excited to face that MLS opposition. This team has a history of doing well against that team so we’re hoping to keep that tradition going.”Despite the result, it wasn’t all negativity for the Wanderers. For one, the result is outside of league play so they remain undefeated in CPL competition.The Wanderers also held their own against historic powerhouse Forge on their pitch and you could even make the case they held the edge in play, despite the outcome. Halifax finished with a 57 per cent advantage in possession and the team’s on-field leaders refused to bow down to the four-time league champions.“First and foremost, there’s Thomas (Meilleur-Giguere’s) experience,” Halifax head coach Patrice Gheisar said in his media session. “Thomas has been in many of these games and he’s gone far in this event so Thomas understands it. I think he came out today and you could tell that he had the calm and composure amongst some of our other players because he felt comfortable.Article content“He has great leadership and I think he knows the league and he knows the opponents. And he knows what he can do so he plays within that. The calmness that he brings in defending and the pride he takes is obviously something that’s really helped us out.”Meilleur-Giguere provided Halifax with its only goal when he scored in the 41st minute to cut Forge’s lead to 2-1. The Wanderers gave up the opening goal to Mo Babouli in the 22nd minute and then got unlucky with an own goal four minutes later. Babouli added an insurance goal in injury time when the Wanderers had opened up to try to push for the equalizer so it was a much closer game than the score indicated.Nimick praised his former team afterwards, saying Forge needed to work hard on adjustments in order to improve on last Saturday’s 0-0 draw between the teams in Halifax.“We were shut out by them last game so we wanted to change that around,” said Nimick, who broke up several dangerous Wanderers’ stretch plays to help swing the game.Article content“We wanted to pose more of a threat in those wide areas and I think we achieved that. We spent long periods without the ball this game and we knew that was going to happen, that was in the game plan. And we wanted to be dangerous when we did have the ball and I think we achieved that.”GHEISAR WINS MONTHLY AWARDThe CPL also recognized Gheisar on Wednesday for Halifax’s tremendous start to the season.The league named him the coach of the month for April after he guided the Wanderers to a 3-0-2 record to open the 2025 campaign. The Wanderers missed the playoffs last year after stumbling badly out of the gate. They’re now in second place, just two points behind Atletico Ottawa so the turnaround is significant.Halifax’s next game is on Saturday at home against Cavalary FC. The 6:30 p.m. game will be televised on TSN and OneSoccer.Article content
Halifax Wanderers bow out of Canadian Championship, head coach Patrice Gheisar wins league award
