It wasn’t the kind of match you’d usually hand to a pair of young players making their first CPL starts. Wet, windy, and away at Halifax’s notoriously gritty Wanderers Grounds — the kind of place where even seasoned veterans can disappear.
But Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. doesn’t care much for comfort zones. He cares about opportunity.
And in Saturday’s 3-0 victory over the Wanderers, his young prospects didn’t just step up — they stood out.
Piepgrass steps up as midfield anchor of the future
Twenty-one-year-old Max Piepgrass and 20-year-old Mihail Gherasimencov both started for the first time in league play. Not only did they survive the occasion, they helped shape it.
“That’s what this league is all about, isn’t it?” Wheeldon Jr. said post-match. “You want these young players coming into your team, give them the opportunity, but we always tell them it’s earned.”
Earned is the perfect word for Piepgrass, who has been a long-time development player under Cavalry’s wing and is someone who finally looks ready to take full flight.
Loading ...Injuries in midfield — including a fresh one to Michael Baldisimo — created the opening for Piepgrass in the match against York United and the Canadian walked through it with quiet confidence and a growing authority.
He had already caught eyes with a 40-yard rocket in the Canadian Championship against Edmonton Scottish and slotted in seamlessly. Now, with a full 90 minutes under his belt against Halifax, he’s gone from being a fringe player to regular fixture.
An 82.4% passing rate, four interceptions, and intelligent positioning beside Shamit Shome showed a player not just filling a shirt but understanding the system.
In the York match, he even rotated into left-back during build-up phases when Tom Field surged forward — a subtle but telling detail of his tactical growth. For someone who hadn’t played a CPL game in over three years, his composure was absolutely breathtaking.
Gherasimencov brings the grit to Cavalry FC’s youth movement
Then there’s Gherasimencov — the loanee from Vancouver Whitecaps and natural fullback who played high up the pitch like a man on a mission against the Wanderers.
Tasked with leading the press and stretching Halifax’s tiring lines, he won eight duels and five tackles, showing the kind of work rate and versatility Cavalry crave in their wide players.
Cavalry FC fullback Mihail Gherasimencov celebrates against Edmonton Scottish in Canadian Championship first round action at ATCO Field in Calgary Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Photo: Salman Bhanji/Total Soccer News
With Caniggia Elva unavailable and more experienced options on the bench, this was a bold call from Wheeldon Jr. But Gherasimencov, in just his fifth CPL appearance, vindicated it with a performance full of fire.
“These are the types of environments you want them to learn in,” Wheeldon Jr. noted. “And yeah, it’s great for the future.”
Cavalry FC’s clear commitment to cultivating talent
The CPL’s U-21 minute requirement often sparks debate: is it a box to tick, or a doorway to open? The Cavs have consistently chosen the latter.
In a league that thrives on parity and player development, Cavalry’s commitment to cultivating youth is more than admirable. It’s strategic.
From the early days of Marco Carducci, Victor Loturi and Aribim Pepple to today’s crop of talent, the club has positioned itself as a nurturing ground for players on the rise. In fact, beyond Piepgrass and Gherasimencov, the Cavs have a full stable of promising youngsters.
20-year-old Joseph Holliday waiting in the wings as a goalkeeper, 22-year-old centre-back Levi Laing adding steel to the backline, and midfielders Mael Henry (20) and Niko Myroniuk (19) pushing for time. It’s not just depth. It’s their identity.
So don’t let the baby faces fool you. The kids at Cavalry FC aren’t just here for development. They’re here to contribute. To impact. To win. And based on Saturday, Cavalry aren’t just meeting the U-21 requirement — they’re weaponizing it.
