They've lifted a CPL Shield, reached a final, and regularly found themselves among the league leaders in the CPL over the past few seasons.
But the TELUS Canadian Championship has always been a challenge for Atlético Ottawa. Heading into 2025, they had never gone past the quarter-final, and had won just two matches in their history in four appearances.
This year Atlético Ottawa has put that history behind them, reaching the tournament's final four for the first time. There, they meet another first-time semi-finalist, Vancouver FC. The first leg is on Wednesday in Langley, BC (10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on OneSoccer).
"It's a huge opportunity," said 20-year-old Atlético Ottawa central defender Noah Abatneh. "Obviously, it's the first time in the club's history that we've reached the semi-final. So it's a massive opportunity for us to reach the final eventually and hopefully to win the cup. That's our goal. Our ambition this year is to win everything."
"But one game at a time," he added. "We're looking at Vancouver FC first."
On paper, Vancouver FC are a bit of a surprise semi-finalist. They have won just twice in the CPL this season, and currently sit at the bottom of the league table. But Abatneh and Ottawa are under no illusions that this has any bearing on what they will face in the semi-final.
In the Canadian Championship this year, Vancouver have proven a juggernaut, scrapping out victories on penalties against rival Pacific FC and defending CPL Champions Cavalry FC on their road to the semi-final.
"They're not an easy opponent to play against at all," said Abatneh. "The cup game is a clean slate. It's completely different from the league. So now I'm expecting a very tough two games, and we have to be at our best if we want to advance."
Opponents in general are increasingly making things difficult for Atleti right now. After the Ottawa club came flying out of the gate in the CPL this season, scoring for fun in the process, they are now consistently facing cagey opponents looking to limit them to as few chances as possible. Teams used to try to press them, now they sit back and wait for Ottawa to attack, meaning that Abatneh is regularly getting 100+ touches on the ball in any given match, but is also learning how important he is to helping his side break down those blocks.
"As a centre back, yeah you have more times on the ball now, that teams drop into more of a low block," said Abatneh. "So it's about dictating the tempo and finding the right passes. Playing quick, looking to break lines."
Wednesday's semi-final will also mean a special reunion for Abatneh. Vancouver is currently being coached by Martin Nash -- the coach who gave the 20-year-old his professional debut back in 2023 with York United. Nash was also the coach who converted Abatneh into a central defender, a position where he has thrived ever since.
"I'm very grateful that Nash is the one who gave me my start in the CPL, and as a professional player," said Abatneh. "I learned a lot from him, you know. And I'm honestly, I'm excited to be seeing him again, to be playing against him. And I have nothing but good things to say about him."
On the pitch, however, there will be no pleasantries. Abatneh and Ottawa are far from content with just a first-ever semi-final appearance. This group knows they are more than good enough to be playing for trophies this season, and winning them.
"That's our goal, we want to play in every final that we could play," said Abatneh. "We want to win every trophy that we can. The opportunity to play a Canadian Championship final would be amazing. And that's what we're trying to do. But we're not just trying to play the final, we're trying to win it."
