Wanderers take two AUS stars in 2026 CPL-U SPORTS Draft
AUS standouts Harvey Hughes (Cape Breton University) and Kautchy Andji-Yapi (Université de Moncton) have been selected by the Halifax Wanderers in the 2026 CPL-U SPORTS Draft.
Hughes, a gifted fullback who was named a second team AUS all-star this season, was selected in the first round (6th overall). He led the CAPERS to a first-place finish in conference play with a 9-1-2 record, scoring one goal and added two assists in 11 games played.
“I'm thrilled to have another shot at the CPL because last summer I got injured immediately in Calgary,” said Hughes. “Now I just want to stay fit and healthy and have a second shot in the professional ranks.”
Andji-Yapi, the AUS men’s soccer Rookie of the Year, was selected in the second round (13th overall). He was the Moncton player in program history to be named the conference's top rookie after starting all 12 games for the Aigles Bleus, leading the team and tying for first in the Atlantic conference in goals with eight.
Moncton finished with a 7-4-1 record and a fourth-place finish in the conference standings after narrowly missing the playoffs the last two seasons. Andji-Yapi was also named an AUS first team all-star and earned a place on the AUS all-rookie team.
“It means a lot to me and I've worked a lot to get here,” Yapi said. “My teammates have helped me a lot on the field to improve myself, play better and get to where I am. Now I have to work twice as hard, improve my skills and give my best to help the team.”
It was the 9th edition of the draft by the eight teams in the league from coast to coast. U SPORTS players have played 695 times so far in the league.
Players selected will be invited to pre-season training with their prospective club, where they can compete for a roster spot for the 2026 CPL season. A player signed to a CPL-U SPORTS Contract can maintain his U SPORTS eligibility while earning professional experience in the CPL; each CPL club can sign a maximum of three U SPORTS players to its developmental roster during a single season.
The complete 2026 CPL-U SPORTS Draft results are as follows:
ROUND 1
| PICK # | CLUB | PLAYER | SCHOOL | POS | BIRTHPLACE |
| 1 | FC Supra | Calin Calaidjoglu | Univ. de Montréal | MID | Montreal, Que. |
| 2 | FC Supra | Alexandre Marcoux | UQTR | FOR | Victoriaville, Que. |
| 3 | Vancouver FC | Joseph Green | Mount Royal | DEF | Winnipeg, Man. |
| 4 | Pacific FC | Archie Tugwell | Victoria | DEF | Victoria, B.C. |
| 5 | Vancouver FC | Matheus De Souza | UFV | GK | Surrey, B.C. |
| 6 | Halifax Wanderers FC | Harvey Hughes | Cape Breton | FB | Southhampton, England |
| 7 | Cavalry FC | Emmanuel Dan-Adokiene | Trinity Western | FOR | Calgary, Alba. |
| 8 | Forge FC | Noah Bickford | Toronto Metropolitan | DEF | Milton, Ont. |
| 9 | Atlético Ottawa | Gabriel Tardif | Brock | MID | Ottawa, Ont. |
ROUND 2
| PICK # | CLUB | PLAYER | SCHOOL | POS | BIRTHPLACE |
| 1 | Vancouver FC | Nicolas Nadeau | UBC | FB | Winnipeg, Man. |
| 2 | Pacific FC | Luke Norman | UBC | MID | Vancouver, B.C. |
| 3 | Inter Toronto FC | Michael Williams | York | GK | Kingston, Ont. |
| 4 | Halifax Wanderers FC | Kautchy Andji-Yapi | Univ. de Moncton | FOR | Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire |
| 5 | Cavalry FC | Luc Ihama | Toronto Metropolitan | FB | Barrie, Ont. |
| 6 | Forge FC | Maxime Bourgeois | Univ. de Sherbrooke | MID | Granby, Que. |
| 7 | Atlético Ottawa | Joseph Daher | Carleton | MID | Ottawa, Ont. |
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Source: U SPORTS, Moncton and Cape Breton Communications