Atlético Ottawa set to host Game 1 of CPL semi-final against Hamilton's Forge FC

Atletico Ottawa is making another run for the playoffs for the third year in a row. They won their first ever Canadian Premier League title last season and have their eyes on a repeat. The feeling of last year winning is, it's a feeling that's insane. You can't even put it into words. It's just amazing, right? So that's the feeling I think we're chasing again. It's been a rollercoaster of a season for the squad. New coaching staff, injuries, players coming and going. But amidst it all, they found their way back to the CPL playoffs. And they did so with quite a young crew and several players, like this one, who are local. Any young footballer's dream is to make it pro. And just the fact that I'm able to do that at home, right? Right in front of, like, I've come to TD Place as a kid, right? To watch the Fury. But just being able to represent my hometown is a special feeling for sure. Tier Duhaney Walker was the first player from the club's local development pathway to sign and play professionally for the team. Just the fact that we have young players playing and doing well and growing. It's amazing for the league, it's amazing for the team, and ultimately for their development as well. The league has a rule that each club must play U21 players for 2,000 minutes. Atletico is leading the league in U21 minutes with a total of over 4,000. You need those young players to bring the energy sometimes, the hunger, but also the experience and the older players. It's a good mix to have on each team, and we're lucky to have 50-50 of those. And they're all hungry for the CPL final. They're hoping the fans this weekend give them an extra boost to get there. When you have that support from the home fans and you see a full stadium, man, that's the stuff every player lives for, you know. So it would go a long way for us. And if they're lucky, they'll see another trademark backflip from Nick Fleuriot-Chateau if he scores. He's another local player who's one of the team's top point leaders. Yeah, you know, listen, you just kind of see, right? You don't know what you're doing half the time you celebrate. I guess it's just become second nature now, you know. Atletico will take on Hamilton Forge in the first leg of the semifinals, Sunday at 2 o'clock here at TD Place. Emma Weller, CBC News, Ottawa.