Soccer is a team sport that requires coordination between 11 players at all times, so the impact of individual stars is lesser than in basketball or baseball. If there is one position that depends on the talents of a single player, it’s the goalkeeper who has a different type of responsibility than the rest of the team. Without an elite keeper, any team would struggle to win consistently against good opponents.
Canada had its fair share of great goalkeepers in its history. Even if the nation is not a powerhouse in global terms, it can still be proud of its development program and top notch goalies that were celebrated beyond Canada’s borders are the best evidence of it. Here are some of the biggest names that every Canadian fan should know.
Milan Borjan
Perhaps the best Canadian goalkeeper in history is an imported product. Borjan was born in ex-Yugoslavia before immigrating to Canada as a young man, but he grew up in the country and achieved his fame as its citizen. He had a long and successful international career in Europe, most notably with Red Star Belgrade. Borjan also appeared in 80 matches for the national team starting in 2010, and his incomparable skills between the posts endeared him forever to local fans. He is still actively playing and last appeared in the national team jersey in 2023.
Craig Forrest
Forrest had a long and prosperous career from 1985 to 2002, and was known as a sure-handed keeper that can always be trusted. His entire club career took place in England, first with Ipswich Town which he joined when he was just 17 and later with West Ham United. When it comes to representing Canada internationally, Forrest has impressive 56 caps to his name. In 2000, he was named the MVP of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which Canada won. Today, he is a widely respected sports commentator passing his soccer knowledge to millions of fans across Canada.
Lars Hirshfield
This is another Canadian-raised goalkeeper who rose to fame while playing for European clubs. Originally from Edmonton, Hirshfield played in Canada from 1998 to 2002, but he spent the bulk of his career defending the goal posts for teams from England, Scotland, Norway, and Romania. During his time, he had some memorable games in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup. He also had an illustrious national team career, taking the field for Canada 48 times. Now happily retired from playing, Hirshfield has returned to his roots and now works as a goalkeeper coach for FC Edmonton.
Paul Dolan
If your definition of the best goalkeeper in Canada requires the player to be associated with local clubs, Dolan is your man. His entire senior career took place in the Canadian Soccer League where he represented Vancouver 86ers and Hamilton Steelers between 1988 and 1998 and won two league championships. Dolan’s status as a national hero was cemented by his dedication to Les Rouges, as he collected 53 caps and performed in 15 World Cup qualifying matches. Dolan remains a part of Canadian soccer, working as a broadcaster for Vancouver Whitecaps FC and educating local fans who want to make a sport bet.
Pat Onstad
One thing that sets Onstad apart from other legendary goalkeepers is his extraordinary longevity. After a decade playing in Canada, he set on a world tour in the later part of his career and played for teams in the United States and Scotland. While in the US, he won three MLS Cups as well as numerous individual recognitions. In addition to club success, he appeared for Canada’s national team 60 times. Debuting as a professional in 1987, he kept defending the goal until 2010, when he retired at the age of 42. Onstad went on to have a notable career in coaching and sports management, so he remains deeply involved with the sport he loves.
Callum Irving
Irving is still an active player at the peak of his powers, so he might end up being remembered as one of the legends when it’s all said and done. He is among the best goalies in the Canadian Soccer League, and has worn the colours or Ottawa FC, Vancouver FC, and Pacific FC. Irving also played college ball in the United States and briefly played professionally there. His resume currently has a gaping hole, as he only represented Canada’s senior team once, way back in 2017. Since he is in his early thirties, he could still make his impact on the national team.
Maxime Crepeau
This is another high-quality goalkeeper who is still adding to his impressive list of accomplishments. Over the last decade he has been one of the most prominent goalies in North America and has played for a number of clubs in both Canada and the US. He first started representing Canada internationally in 2016 and appeared in 24 games so far, a number that could have been greater had he not missed the 2022 World Cup with an injury. At the age of 30 he is relatively young for a keeper, and he could easily have another decade of high-level play ahead of him.
