Historic CPL Championship Decided in Epic Snowstorm
In what will undoubtedly become one of the most memorable moments in Canadian soccer history, Atletico Ottawa captured its first Canadian Premier League championship with a thrilling 2-1 extra-time victory over Calgary's Cavalry FC at TD Place on Sunday, November 9, 2025. The match, played during a severe winter storm, will be remembered as much for the extraordinary weather conditions as for the dramatic outcome.
The Snowy Battle for the North Star Cup
The championship game transformed into a winter spectacle as heavy, blowing snow blanketed the field throughout the match. Despite the challenging conditions, approximately 10,000 dedicated fans braved the storm from the 13,132 tickets sold, witnessing a contest that required multiple interruptions for field maintenance.
The start time was delayed by 20 minutes due to the worsening conditions, and the match was paused several times for crews to shovel critical areas of the pitch. Following the regulation 90 minutes that ended in a 1-1 deadlock, plows spent nearly an hour clearing the entire field before extra time could begin.
Players struggled with treacherous footing throughout the match, with falls occurring more frequently due to the slippery surface than from attempted fouls. An orange ball replaced the traditional white one to improve visibility, though the colour change did little to help the ball roll smoothly across the snow-covered turf.
International Heroes in Canadian Conditions
The winter conditions presented particular challenges for Atletico Ottawa's international players, including defender Emmanuel Mbomio Angue from Equatorial Guinea in west-central Africa, and midfielders Juan Castro, Kevin Ortega, and forward Antonio Alvarez, all from Mexico.
Yet it was another Mexican player who would become the hero of this winter tale. David Rodriguez, a 23-year-old midfielder from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, scored the championship-winning goal in extra time, then celebrated by diving into a snowbank—creating an iconic image that captured the surreal nature of the event.
The victory adds another chapter to TD Place's history of memorable weather-affected events, joining the 2017 Grey Cup played in snowy conditions and the NHL 100 Classic between the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens, which might be remembered as the coldest professional hockey game ever played.
The timing proved particularly poignant as the Lansdowne 2.0 transformation shovels were scheduled to begin work the following day at noon, meaning the stadium will never be quite the same again. After this historic match, many are suggesting the North Star Cup should be renamed the Great White North Star Cup to commemorate the extraordinary conditions under which it was won.
