Hadi Mardikian relocated with his family from North Vancouver, British Columbia, to Petitcodiac, New Brunswick, in August 2024 to be nearer to relatives in Nova Scotia. Upon arriving, he swiftly became a member of Codiac Soccer, where he found a sense of community and achieved success. Reflecting on his move, Mardikian expressed gratitude for the opportunities he has encountered in New Brunswick that were not available to him in British Columbia.
Mardikian played for Codiac’s under-17 team and also represented New Brunswick at the recent Canada Games in Newfoundland and Labrador. However, the team received disappointing news from Soccer Canada that Mardikian would not be able to participate in the upcoming under-17 national championships in Kamloops, British Columbia.
The setback arose because Mardikian was still registered with a club in British Columbia and failed to meet the deadline to transfer to his new team in New Brunswick. While it remains unclear who was responsible for filing the necessary paperwork, Mardikian asserted that Soccer Canada’s decision penalizes him for an error made by an adult, which he believes is unjust.
Despite efforts by the team and Mardikian’s family to rectify the situation by contacting his previous club and the soccer authorities in British Columbia, Soccer Canada deemed it too late to make the transfer. An appeal has been submitted to Soccer Canada, citing the Canadian Sport Dispute Resolution Centre’s stance that minors should not suffer consequences for administrative oversights beyond their control.
As one of the team’s two goalkeepers, Mardikian plays a crucial role in Codiac Soccer. His teammates emphasized his importance during a recent fundraising event for their upcoming trip, expressing disappointment over his exclusion from the national championship tournament. Mardikian remains hopeful for a resolution before the tournament commences, although the team is scheduled to depart on Monday, two days before the tournament begins.
Teammates and coaches alike voiced their support for Mardikian, highlighting his significance as a goalkeeper and integral member of the team. Despite the challenges, Mardikian is determined to appeal the decision and garner support to overturn the ruling by Soccer Canada.
