Callie Turpin, a standout goalkeeper from View Royal, is moving from provincial success to the national stage. Fresh from winning a provincial title with Spectrum Community School, the soon-to-be Grade 12 athlete has been selected to represent Team BC at the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland, from August 8 to 17.
Turpin is one of two Vancouver Island Wave players chosen for the provincial squad, joining teammate Katharina Cronkhite. Her rise in soccer has been swift, especially given she started playing at age 11.
“I just thought it looked fun, and then I became a goalkeeper,” Turpin said. “I’ve never really been interested in all the running.”
She credits much of her growth to Trevor Stiles at Keeper Culture, the Victoria-based academy where she has trained since age 14. “He’s a really good coach. He’s brought me up to the keeper I am now,” she added.
Turpin competes with the Vancouver Island Wave in the BC Soccer Premier League, the province’s top youth level. She says training with talented players and expert coaches has sharpened her skills. “There’s a lot of talented girls, good coaches, and consistent training. We’re the only team on the Island, so we do a lot of travel, but I really enjoy it.”
Her style is inspired by world-class goalkeepers, including England’s Mary Earps and Germany’s Manuel Neuer. “I really like the way they play, especially Neuer. He’s very aggressive,” Turpin said with a grin. “I’m not 6’4″, but I’d say my style is similar.”
At Spectrum, Turpin and Cronkhite helped lead their senior girls’ team to a dominant season and a provincial championship. Turpin allowed just four goals in five games during the tournament, while Cronkhite added three goals.
“It felt amazing,” Turpin said. “All the senior girls are super talented. We had a lot of fun, and winning in Victoria made it even more special.”
Her training schedule is intense. Turpin practices five days a week, sometimes twice a day, combining academy, club, and personal sessions. Her commitment continues with a month-long Team BC camp in Vancouver before the Canada Games, where players will train five days a week.
“I’ve always loved it,” she said. “Even in pouring rain, I don’t want to miss practice.”
Her dedication is admired at home. “She’s the most insanely dedicated person I know,” said her mother, Kim. “It’s really cool to watch her chase this dream.”
Looking ahead, Turpin hopes to play university soccer in the United States and is considering a future in business or sports management. For now, her focus is on August and representing B.C. on the national stage.
“I never imagined this when I started at 11,” she said. “I just wanted to play for fun. But I’m really excited. I think it’s going to be amazing.”
The biennial Canada Games have showcased some of Canada’s top soccer talent, including Katrina LeBlanc, Diana Matheson, Rhian Wilkinson, and Julia Grosso. Turpin, Cronkhite, and Team BC will start the tournament with matches against Quebec and the Northwest Territories.
