Central Blues alumnus and Northwind head coach Sean Goedheer led Canada to its second 49th Parallel Cup title on August 29, guiding the senior men’s national team to victory over the United States in Kelowna, BC. The historic result also marked a major weekend for the Blues, with 11 current and former players selected across Canada’s senior and development squads. 

Canada returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in 17 years, reclaiming the 49th Parallel Cup for only the second time in competition history. For Goedheer, the result was a significant moment in his campaign leading Northwind, Canada’s senior men’s national team. The longtime Blues coach and alumnus helped guide the squad to the historic victory, with fellow Blues alumnus Obi also contributing to the Northwind side.

From university sport to Team Canada

The Central Blues contingent reflected a range of athletic backgrounds, including university athletes and alumni from rugby, lacrosse and hockey. Katherine Myers was one of the standout stories of the Blues’ international contingent. A York University student and Saint Mary’s University lacrosse alumna, Myers was initially hesitant when she discovered Australian football, joining the Blues in the final week of preseason. Within days, she signed up for the club’s exhibition tournament in Ottawa for her debut, then attended Team Canada camp just a week later. Her rapid progression continued throughout the season, earning her Rookie of the Tournament honours in Montreal before going on to represent Canada at the Northern Lights and 49th Parallel Cup. A natural athlete with a strong commitment to developing her game, Myers quickly established herself as a force in the midfield, combining fitness, ball-clearing and relentless team-first work.

Krista Kent, a York University rugby alumna, brought her trademark physicality and endurance to the national side. Known for her willingness to compete in tough contests and continue working late into games, she has become a key contributor for the Blues. Katrina CP and Nicole Baker both came to Australian football through University of Toronto rugby. CP, also a Concordia University alumna, took on a wing role for Canada, bringing her speed, physicality and veteran experience to her first international selection. Baker, an experienced Blue and University of Toronto rugby alumna, lined up at half-back flank in her second Team Canada selection, bringing her strong marking, long kick and defensive presence to the Canadian side.

Jacqueline Cowling, a recent graduate of the University of Alberta hockey program, first joined the Blues at 16. Her hockey background has translated into a composed and hardworking style of Australian football, with a strong ability to win possession, find the right pass and move the ball forward. Her connection to AFL Canada runs even deeper: her father played for the first Northwind team in the 1990s, making her Team Canada selection a pretty special continuation of the family tradition.

The Canadian selections also included Grace Stein, a first-year Blue who quickly embraced Australian football and earned her first opportunity on the international stage, and Fredriz Cantilado, another emerging Blue whose movement and willingness to compete have marked her as a player with plenty of potential. Michelle Cowling, the Blues’ leading goal kicker in her second season, was also selected for Team Canada but was unable to take part in the weekend.

Watch the games

Missed the action? AFL Canada streamed every match from the 2026 49th Parallel Cup live, with games also available to watch on demand.

About the Central Blues

The 2026 campaign brings the number of Central Blues players who have represented Canada on the international stage to 38, spanning generations of Blues players and multiple Canadian national programs. From the club’s early international representatives through to the current generation, the Blues have continued to provide a pathway for athletes to develop their game and reach the national level.

For players coming from rugby, lacrosse, hockey and other sporting backgrounds, the Central Blues offer an opportunity to continue competing after university sport while developing a new set of skills and challenging themselves at a high level. With 11 current and former Blues selected to represent Canada for the 2026 49th Parallel Cup, the weekend added another chapter to that history.

The Central Blues are a Toronto-based Australian football club built around participation, development and community. The club welcomes players of all experience levels, including athletes coming to Australian football from other sports, and provides opportunities to play, develop and compete at the local, national and international levels. The club has become a home for athletes looking to try something new, as well as experienced players looking for their next competitive challenge.

What is Australian football?

Australian football is a fast-paced field sport that combines elements of soccer, basketball, and rugby. Played on an oval-shaped field with 18 players per side, the game has no fixed positions and flows continuously between attack and defence. Players can move the ball by kicking, handballing or running with it, with points scored by kicking the ball through the four goal posts. For athletes coming from other sports, that combination can provide a natural entry point into the game while opening a pathway to competitive sport after graduation, with regular practices, coaching and opportunities to pursue the national program pathway.