New Zealander to join the CAPERS squad in the fall

By IAIN KING

JAMIE WILDASH-CHAN tackles life the same away he does every soccer match he plays, with a refreshing spirit of adventure.

That's why this fall, the 20-year-old New Zealander will begin a journey of over 15,000 kilometres from his hometown of Wellington to become the next signing in Head Coach Deano Morley's 2026 CBU CAPERS men's soccer program rebuild.

Right full-back Jamie wowed U SPORTS soccer last year when he became the first player in the history of the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) Timberwolves franchise to be named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie team.

When he decided that his return to North America would be at a new school it was the passion and authenticity of his talks with CAPERS coach Morley that sealed the deal.

Jamie, who made 15 starts and played an impressive 1,321 minutes as a wing-back for UNBC last season, reveals: "I have the spirit of adventure in me and when Deano spoke about the team and the history of the program, it excited me.

"I know I will get the chance to meet not just a lot of internationals but also so many Canadians from the other side of the country this time.

"Deano played a big part in me choosing CBU. I was lucky to have options, but the coach felt very genuine.

"I had this belief that he would always have my best interest at heart. My parents as well, they really liked Deano and how much information he would give us.

"He was completely transparent about everything and the experience I can have on the island."

Coach Morley sees Kiwi Jamie as a key piece in the jigsaw as he constructs a new-look squad to excite the CAPERS faithful come the 2026 season.

The Englishman is looking forward to not only the defensive qualities but the attacking flair that Wildash-Chan will bring to the team.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jamie to our program," Deano enthuses.

"Building championship teams is about bringing together young men who share similar ambitions, mindset, passion, discipline and focus.

"Throughout the recruitment process, Jamie showed me that he possesses all the ingredients needed to succeed in our environment and push his development to the highest level.

 "In addition to being a very talented footballer who contributes on both sides of the game, Jamie has a fantastic spirit. He brings great energy, a big smile and a personality that immediately stood out to me. You can sense his ambition, and that kind of character is exactly what we look for when building our dressing-room culture."

Last season, a prominent feature of CAPERS platform on the left side of the line-up was the attacking play of the exciting Harvey Hughes.

His performances have now won him a U SPORTS Development Contract with Halifax Wanderers in the Canadian Premier League.

Now there is the exciting prospect of a similar threat on the right flank and Deano insists: "Anyone who has seen Jamie play will know the quality he brings out wide. He delivers brilliant early balls into the box and has a natural instinct for the right moments to get forward and impact the attack. Equally importantly, he is a strong 1 v 1 defender who understands the balance required to play the game the right way.

"I'm excited to see how Jamie flourishes in our environment where he will be challenged and supported every day to become the best version of himself. Off the field, he is a proven academic and I know he will be a great addition to our university and the Cape Breton community.

"We are proud to welcome Jamie to the CAPERS family."

Jamie is humble about his achievements at UNBC but he relished his time in Prince George.

The city of Wellington in New Zealand has a population of around 210,000 people and the next CAPERS signing admits he is attracted by the "smalltown vibe" of his new home and how much the community get behind the team.

He says, "I had a pretty good season at UNBC even though we didn't make the play-offs.

"We had our best start in program history, and I did some things there that were pretty cool."

As well as that All-Rookie accolade, Jamie stormed forward from his right wing-back role and scored five goals for the Timberwolves.

That threat as a defender bursting forward has always been a trademark of his game and Jamie reflects: "I love being able to see the whole field. I have spent some time as an attacking midfielder and also as a winger. I just prefer being on the sideline and looking at the game and what it gives me.

"As a wing-back in that sense I can do the best of both. I can be the highest man when attacking and the lowest when defending. There's a lot of running but I love to run!

"I always have, ever since I was four years old in this program called Little Dribblers.

"We all had a different national team kit and I was Spain, that's my earliest memory of a ball at my feet."

Jamie will turn 21 by the time he reaches Cape Breton for pre-season in August.

Like many kids with big dreams in soccer, Europe has always beckoned as somewhere to test himself.

He was 18 when he had the chance to be judged in the Academy ranks of current Scottish Premiership leaders Heart of Midlothian.

"I will never forget that trip to Edinburgh," admits Jamie. "It was phrased as a training stint to take the pressure off us, but it was like a trial and it was my first pro experience.

"That was cool because I got to be honest with myself and see what level I was at.

"I felt very encouraged. Those experiences can either discourage you or encourage you and I felt like I was pretty close to them, not too far off."

Jamie will study Business Administration at CBU and hopes to take a minor in psychology to explore another area that fascinates him.

Right now, he's in Christchurch on New Zealand's south island playing for Christchurch United and hoping for a successful season before the next chapter in his adventures.

That epic journey goes like this. Wellington to Fiji then Fiji to Vancouver then Vancouver to Halifax where he will either catch a drive up to Cape Breton or get on the FOURTH flight of his odyssey.

He's undaunted and he smiles: "You reflect on that season at UNBC and you have other opportunities and the fact that it is a proper football environment with superb facilities is another key factor in my choice to come to Cape Breton.

"The CBU CAPERS program just has this appeal of history to it now and I want to help them write more."