There are career years, and then there is the season that Isaiah Johnston is having in Halifax.
The 24-year-old midfielder is now up to 11 goals on the season. His career total coming into 2026, across six seasons in the CPL and the USL Championship, was 10 in all competitions.
He sits second in the CPL's Golden Boot race, as only FC Supra du Québec's Loïc Kwemi has found the back of the net more in 2026.
Four of those goals came in September, as the Halifax Wanderers make a late push for the fifth and final playoff position.
He opened the month by scoring against Cavalry FC, before adding another against FC Supra du Québec in a 2-0 victory at Stade Boréale on Sept. 12.
Johnston then bagged a brace in a massive 4-1 win over Inter Toronto, for which he was named the Canadian Premier League's Player of the Week.
His outstanding September performances also earned Johnston the CPL's Player of the Month award.
He is the first Halifax Wanderers player to be named Player of the Month since Dan Nimick in August 2023.
Johnston has already doubled his CPL career high for shots on target (with 28 in 2026) and nearly tripled his touches in the opposition box (74), demonstrating how a more advanced midfield role under Vanni Sartini has helped to unlock this offensive potential.
He has still maintained, however, the key attributes which made him one of the best defensive midfielders in the league over the past few seasons. In four matches in September, Johnston won 16 duels and won possession 18 times.
Where he is winning possession has changed as well, however, with Johnston among the league leaders this season in balls won in the final third.
As, in order of importance, Johnston helps Halifax make a final push for the playoffs, and aims to earn himself the Golden Boot, it'll be a big end of the season for the Wanderers star. But regardless of what final chapter he writes, there is no doubt that Johnston's play has been one of the biggest stories of the 2026 CPL season.
Previous 2026 Player of the Month winners:
April - Sean Rea (FC Supra du Québec)
May - Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC)
June - Goteh Ntignee (Cavalry FC)
July - Ballou Tabla (Atlético Ottawa)
August - Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau (Atlético Ottawa)
September - Isaiah Johnston (Halifax Wanderers)
