Ottawa Atletico launch spring training in Spain ahead of April première
Even as many North American sports leagues and organizations reacted to alarm over the novel coronavirus by cancelling or spending activities, overseas training continued Thursday for Ottawa’s new professional soccer franchise.
Ottawa Atletico of the Canadian Premier League commenced pre-season camp Wednesday at the compound of its Spanish partner, Atlético de Madrid, and is scheduled to return to North America on April 7.
The team’s first four regular-season matches are to be played in other CPL cities between April 18 and May 8, with its first home contest against Halifax Wanderers FC set for April 16 at TD Place stadium.
Jeff Hunt, one of the partners in the Ottawa Sports & Entertainment Group and separately a CPL franchise partner, said from Spain that only team members were on site at Atlético de Madrid’s compound.
Beyond that, he deferred to the CPL for further comment.
In an email, a spokesperson wrote the eight-team league was “working with all our clubs in regards to their pre-season training and will share a statement as soon as we have a clear update on Ottawa.”
A media release said the CPL had established a “working committee” to monitor developments and communicate with clubs regarding appropriate measures.
“The health and safety of our players, staff, fans and partners is of the utmost importance as we manage through this situation,” the statement said. “We will continue following the guidelines set forth by our public health authorities and government agencies.
“It is important to note that the CPL’s season does not start until April 11th and we are not playing in public venues at this time.”
The University of Ottawa GeeGees men’s hockey team is in Halifax for the U Sports championships. Although uOttawa’s first game against the Acadia Axemen is Friday, other teams started play Thursday.
Similarly, the U Sports women’s hockey championship in Charlottetown also began Thursday, as did Canadian Colleges Athletic Association women’s and men’s volleyball championships at Quebec City and Fredericton. However, the CCAA men’s and women’s basketball championships, set for next week at Toronto and Nanaimo, B.C., were cancelled as of Thursday evening.
A Wrestling Canada spokesman said the Pan-American Olympic Qualification Tournament in Ottawa was still expected to proceed, starting Friday, with more than 150 athletes registered.
The Canadian Hockey League — the umbrella organization for the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, whose membership includes the Ottawa 67’s and Gatineau Olympiques — announced Thursday afternoon that it was also suspending regular-season play in all three leagues.
A Central Canada Hockey League playoff game between the Pembroke Lumber Kings and host Rockland Nationals scheduled for Thursday evening was postponed just a couple of hours before the opening faceoff set for 7:30 p.m. In the affiliated CCHL League 2, another playoff game between the Casselman Vikings and host Ottawa West Golden Knights was also postponed indefinitely.
Meanwhile, Doug Gellatly, executive director of the Ontario Federation of School Athletics Associations, said a total of six provincial boys’ basketball and girls’ volleyball championships had concluded Wednesday, with a batch of hockey championships not scheduled to begin until at least March 24, following spring break.