Haiden Tracey-Elcombe '26 Recruiting Profile

I’m a versatile and athletic box-to-box midfielder and 4.0 GPA 2026 recruit from Kitchener, Ontario, committed to excellence on the pitch and in the classroom. I currently play for Cambridge United's Ontario League One Reserve (U20) as a 17 year-old and recently finished my first and only Senior High School season for Forest Heights Collegiate where I was named League MVP (WCSSAA) and captained my team to the WCSSAA and CWOSSA (regional) championships. At Provincials (OFSAA) I was named man of the match in all 3 of our competitive pool play games.

I commuted over an hour 5 times a week to play for a top-ranked Canadian club side (London Alliance FC ‘07) in 2024, trained at a Category A Welsh Academy (Fall 2023) and now travel 3.5 hours to train at Aaron Byrd’s Next Level Training (NLT) program in Detroit. At NLT, six different trainers assessed me as a D1 talent.

Off the pitch I’m a 4.0 GPA student graduating this June from Forest Heights Collegiate Institute in Kitchener. I’m looking for opportunities in 2026 (following a gap year/term) to play at a top-quality academic institution committed to soccer excellence. I plan to use the post-grad time to maximize my physical (as a late developer) and technical development as well as research potential academic programs and majors.

My strengths on the pitch include high-end athleticism, tactical flexibility, and technical versatility. Athletically, I use my “great engine” and natural running abilities (4^th at Ontario High School XC Championships in Grade 10; nationally ranked 800/1500/3000m track athlete) to press high and track back defensively, to overlap/underlap wide players, and to intelligently move beyond the defensive line and make late runs into the box. 

Tactically, I’ve played as an undersized centre back (4-3-3) and a wing-back (3-5-2) in Kitchener, and more recently alternated between wide and central midfield roles for London Alliance (4-2-3-1). This April I played as a 6, 8, 10, and fullback (4-3-3) for Strive Academy during a 3 game tour playing Akron, Ohio State, and Xavier. For Cambridge United in 2025, I start as a deeper lying midfielder in a double pivot (3-5-2). I believe '8' is my best position at the next level, while my adaptability reflects my coachability, team-first commitment and leadership abilities.

Technically, my desire to constantly improve and exposure to multiple positions translate into a versatile midfielder’s skillset. I continue to significantly improve my quality in tight spaces, capability to make high level plays with both feet (passing range, dribbling, shooting), skill in winning defensive duels, and ability to attack defences with pace and vision.

I am excited about my future as a student-athlete as I see myself as a dedicated student, versatile player, highly coachable and committed to excellence in all aspects of my life - especially the game of soccer which is my passion.