Calgary midfielder Carson Martel commits to Axemen soccer

The Acadia Axemen men’s soccer program has added another talented midfielder with the commitment of Carson Martel of Calgary, Alta., for the 2026 Atlantic University Sport season.

Martel, a six-foot midfielder, will study business at Acadia. He joins the Axemen following a strong youth career with Calgary Villains FC and extensive experience competing at a high level in Alberta.

Martel has played with Calgary Villains since 2020. During that time, the club joined the Alberta Player Development League (APDL), where the team captured league titles at the U15 and U16 levels while finishing as runners-up at the U14 and U17 levels.

In 2025, Martel helped the Villains finish seventh at the PDP National Championships and contributed to two of the team’s four goals during the competition.

He has also begun competing at the senior level with Calgary Villains’ U23 squad. The team opened the 2025–26 season with a 9-0 record, while Martel recorded five goals and eight assists in his first nine games.

Martel also played high school soccer at Bishop O’Byrne High School in Calgary.

Axemen head coach Matt Holton said Martel’s experience in high-level competition will help him transition to the university game.

“We are pleased to welcome Carson to the Axemen soccer program,” said Holton. “He has played his entire youth career at a high level and has big-game experience that will stand him in good stead for the AUS. He is a very coachable and possesses the technical and personal qualities we look for in our new student-athletes.”

Martel said the opportunity to compete at the university level while continuing his development as a player made Acadia an appealing choice.

“The opportunity to join Acadia men’s soccer means a lot to me,” he said. “It’s a chance to continue to challenge myself, to compete in U SPORTS, and to grow as a player within a strong and competitive program.”