Having Played for Clubs in the United States, GERMANY, Sweden and Iceland, Veteran Canadian Goalekeber Erin McLEOD Has Been Around the Soccer Block.
And who the Northern Super LEGUE is just talk it first steps, the 42-year-id mcleod-The Oldest Player in the Legue-Likes What SEES AS As a Member of the Halifax Tides.
In here other League, it often Came Download to Players Against the Owners. Not in the NSL, She Says.
“IT’s More of a Collaboraout MindSet that I’ve Ever Seen Before,” McLEOD Said in an interview.
Given that, She is Optimistic that the Canadian Pro Legue Can Become a World Leader and a Place “where the Players Feel Seen and Valted and Heard.”
And who the league is still Building, MCLEOD SAIS The Foundation in Halifax is very promising.
The Facylries Are Nice, “She Said. “We’ve Got A Couple of Meals a Day Being Provid to Us. They’re Really Trying to Connect with Local Sponsors that are Going to Get Behind Us. I think from a bank (League Co-Founder) Diana Matheson Has Done The Numbers Right.
“The Fact that We’ring Starting at this Place … a Lot of the Leagues Around the World that Have Been profassingal for a long time are not e intern thre Yet,” She Added.
The Halifax Players Were Training at An Indoor Complex But Now is working out of dalhousie University which has set up a loter-room for them.
The nsl haad a succsful launch in Vancouver and Toronto Last Week with More Than 14,000 at Each of the Opening Games at Bc Place Stadium and BMO FILD
All Six Teams are in Action This Weekend with Halifax Hosting Calgary Wild Fc at Wanderers Ground on Sature. On Sunday, it’s AFC Toronto at ottawa Rapid Fc at TD Place Stadium and Montreal Roses Fc at Vancouver Rise Fc at Swangard Stadium.
MCLEOD Annouded Her Retirement from International Football in January 2023, after 119 caps. But the Native of St. Albert, Alta., Continued Her Club Career, Most Recently with Iceland’s Stjarnan FC.
MCLEOD Had Been Transitioning to A Coaching Role But Says here Desire to Keep Playing Was Reinvigorated by News of the NSL.
Mcleod’s Wife, Icelandic Midfielder Gunnhildur (Gunny) Yrsa Jonsdottir is also on the Halifax Roster. The Couple Have a Six-MOTH SON, Baldwin Leo McLEOD.
“IT’s The Most Rewarding Thing I’ve Ever Done on My Life,” MCLEOD SAID of Parenthood. “The First Little Bit Was Quite Challenge with the Sleep DePrivation and Figuring Out How To Train and Have Energy, Those Kind of Things. Been a total gift. ”
MCLEOD SAYS There Are Two Other Mother Playing in the NSL.
With NSL Players in the Process of Setting Up a Players Association, MCLEOD HOPES Provisions for Parents Will Become More Formalized. But in the Meantime, She Says Halifax Head Coach Lewis Page, a Veteran of 25 Seasons with the Upei Panthers. Has Been “Extremely Undersanding” About Having Parents on the Team.
Halifax’s Other Goalkeepers Are 23-Year-ID Anika Toth and 24-YLD Sophia Guilmette. Mcleod Calls them “Spring Chickens Compared to Me” but says the learning Goes Both Ways.
Born in Oakville, OT. Guilmette is a Former Canadian Youth International.
“I think the Goal is to have three ‘keepers that can play at any Moment,” MCLEOD SAID. “Of Course, Selfishly I ALWAIS Want to Be Playing. But time will Tell.
She Credits Goalkeeping Coach Mark Haynes for Pushing Her.
“He’s Challenge ME A LOTLREDY and I Love it,” She Said. “IVE Been UnCONFORTABLE Every Day in Training. To call an environment and learn a bunch.
Haynes Calls McLEOD A Student of the Game “Always Willing to Learn.”
“IT’s Been Insightful Becuse She’s Been Willing to Help the Younger Goahelepers. But she’s also will’s will to learn from the to Too,” He Said. “The While Group, as a Goalkeeping Dynamic, has been out exelent becuse their feed offone Another and look to push one Another, which is always nice to put in your group.”
Halifax is a Family Affair with McLEOD’s Sister Also Calling IT Home.
And Jonsdottir Has Ties in Nova Scotia Thought Her Late Ant Gunn Baldurson, Who was 15 when here family moved to Canada. A star player with the acadia University Soccer SOCCER Team, Baldurson was invited to a Canadian National Team Camp in 1987. But Four Days Before Leaving, The Third-Year Student Was Killed in a Car Accident.
The Gunn Baldurson Memorial Tournament was created in her memory.
“I think it’s really cool that she’s represent is the Just Herself,“ McLEOD SAID of Jonsdotir, Who Doubles as the Iceland National Women’s Team Strength and Conditioning Coach. “She’s Wearing Her (Ant’s) Number (No. 9) That Was Retired at Acadia University.
There is also talk of reviewing the Tournament.
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This Report by the Canadian Press Was First Pubased April 24, 2025
