Hometown girl Caleigh Boeckx and Vancouver’s Christie Gray join “Call of the Wild”

CALGARY—Calgary’s own Caleigh Boeckx will realize her dream of playing professional soccer on home turf, while Vancouver’s Christie Gray will soar across the Rocky Mountains to join her in lining up for the Calgary Wild FC. 

Boeckx, a standout winger/outside back, becomes the third hometown player to join the Calgary Wild FC roster that will be one of six teams taking the pitch when the Northern Super League debuts in the spring of 2025. Goaltender Sarah Keilty-Dilling and full-back Grace Stordy were the first two Calgarians confirmed last month to suit up for the Calgary Wild FC.

“It’s amazing to share this journey with other talented women from Calgary. There’s a special bond in representing our hometown together, and I know we’ll support and push each other to make this team – and city – proud,” said Boeckx. “Stepping onto McMahon Stadium together for the first time will be an unforgettable moment. It will represent the culmination of so many people’s hard work. The chance to play in front of our hometown fans, surrounded by the community that has supported us throughout this journey, will be both humbling and exhilarating.”

Boeckx, who was involved with the Canadian Women’s National Team program from 2017-2021, played pro last year with Treaty United in Ireland. She headed to Europe following a standout NCAA career with Rice University (2018-22) where she played the most minutes by a field player in her senior year. Boeckx also played semi-professionally with Calgary Foothills in the United Women’s Soccer league.

“The decision to play for the Wild FC is for my younger self,” said Boeckx. “As a young girl in Calgary, I would have loved the chance to watch top-level soccer in my hometown, but that was not a possibility. Having a professional women’s team in Calgary is a game-changer for young girls in our city. This club will show them that dreams are valid and achievable, and it creates a pathway for them to see themselves thriving in the sport. It’s an honour to have the opportunity to give back to the place that shaped me – both as a person and an athlete.”

Part of the team’s leadership group at Rice University, Boeckx helped lead the program to two of its best records of all time. She started all 35 matches in her final two seasons, amassing 3,000 game minutes, and was recognized as all-conference twice, and conference all-tournament player.

“Caleigh is a self-motivated, versatile and skilled player who takes initiative and is tireless in her work ethic. She is extremely fit and can move her way up and down the flank for a full 90 minutes which will be a tremendous asset to our club,” said Alix Bruch, sporting director, Calgary Wild FC.

Christie Gray will also bring her footie skills back to Canada to join the movement sparked by the Calgary Wild FC that is committed to creating immense positive change on the pitch and in the community.

“It has been very motivating hearing the initial player signings and seeing the momentum that is being created in Calgary. The core female leadership group is inspiring and already driving standards across the league with their influential partnerships,” said Gray, who plays wing and wingback. “I (too) feel honoured to have the opportunity to come home to play in Canada and make history in the Northern Super League with Calgary Wild FC. I look forward to supporting the key initiatives that align with myself, the club and our shared values to make a positive impact on the community around us.”  

Gray returns to Canada after celebrating an FAI Cup Championship this year with the Shelbourne Football Club in Dublin, Ireland where she became just the second international player ever to chalk up 50 appearances for the football club. In 2023, she was named Shelbourne’s top goal scorer and travelled to Lithuania with the team to compete in the UEFA Champions League competition. The team were 2023 FAI Cup and Presidents Cup Finalists, finishing second in the Women’s Premier League 2023 and 2024. Gray was first exposed to European football while on an international exchange for a semester at KEDGE Business School in Bordeaux, France in 2020.

“Having the opportunity to train with Girondins de Bordeaux while studying abroad in France, opened my eyes to a whole world of women’s professional football that I never knew existed,” said Gray. “At the time, no one had ever gone on to play after Queen’s when I graduated in the fall of 2021. There were generations of talented players, many legends who achieved far greater things than me, who simply didn’t continue due to a lack of opportunity. I knew that it was going to take work, but I made it my mission once graduating to find a way to show that it was possible. I was given the opportunity to play abroad in Sweden, then in Ireland for two years and now excited to make my way home to play in Canada.”  

Gray made her professional debut in Europe, playing with RIK Karlskoga in Sweden where she was the top goal scorer in 2022. This came following a standout varsity career with Queen’s Golden Gaels where she racked up 28 goals and 16 assists in 54 games. She was co-captain of the squad for the 2020-21 season where she received the OUA East Major Award for Leadership and Community Service after celebrating an OUA Championship title. She was also named a two-time OUA First Team All-Star, USports Second Team All-Canadian and two-time USports Academic All-Canadian.

“Christie is a physical player with superb finishing abilities who exudes a remarkable drive to excel on the pitch and in her community,” said Bruch. “ In addition to her high soccer IQ, she is a team player who is athletic, mobile and physically dominant one-on-one. These skills will make her a key member of our offence, and she will also play an important role in of our club’s ability to build connection with the community.”

Two born and raised Calgarians – Sarah Keilty-Dilling and Grace Stordy – were the first two Canadian born players named to Calgary Wild FC. International stars – Afghan-Canadian humanitarian Farkhunda Muhtaj and New Zealand’s three-time Olympian Meikayla Moore – were the first two players penned to the Calgary Wild FC roster. Last month, the club also welcomed  Jaclyn Sawicki – a British Columbia midfielder who was a member of the Philippines National Team historic run at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

About Calgary Wild FC

Calgary Wild FC is one of six teams in the newly created Northern Super League, which will begin its inaugural season in 2025, featuring some of the best women’s soccer players in the world. Shop our exclusive merch and be one of the early #fansinthewild. For the latest news and information on Calgary Wild FC, visit www.calgarywildfc.com or follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and X.  Follow the league at www.nsl.ca. 

For further information:

Chris Dornan
Calgary Wild FC
T: 403-620-8731
E-mail: hpprchris@shaw.ca