‘It Would Mean The World’: Salter Hungry To Finish ATO Chapter With Trophy Win

This won’t be the first CPL Final that Atletico Ottawa has hosted, but it could go down in history as the club’s first time going all the way across the finish line.

The CPL trophy contender secured hosting rights to next weekend’s 2025 CPL Final after dispatching Forge 2-1 in the play-in semi-final, with TD Place set to host the grand final for the second time since 2023. Back then, a crowd of nearly 15,000 watched on as Forge secured a two-nil victory.

Having just bested Forge to secure hosting rights, Atletico Ottawa is feeling primed and ready to challenge for the North Star Cup. 25-year-old striker Samuel Salter contributed a record 20 goals to the cause in CPL play this year, and while he’s been put on the proverbial pedestal for his individual accolades, he believes the communal effort is what can clinch things for Ottawa this year.

“I think our team this year has been really great,” he tells TSN. “The way we played offensive was great, and defence, our whole team is ticking. I think it’s just a huge part of our success, and hopefully we can keep going.”

Salter has wowed fans with his clinical finishing and, as the season progressed, produced plenty of ‘salt bae’ celebrations – something that he says grew on him after his teammates had pushed him to do it. His 19 regular season goals is a league record and won him the Golden Boot and a Players’ Player of the Year nomination, too.

“I’m very happy. As a striker, you want to score goals, so I’m really happy for that. The success is because of my teammates, they have been so good this year.”

The Laval, Quebec native is wrapping up his third season in the red-and-white of Atletico Ottawa. Having signed a pre-contract with Swedish top-flight side GAIS, setting him up for his lifelong dream of European football – and a familiar face in Matteo de Brienne, his former ATO teammate who made the jump to GAIS just last season. Salter says he hopes the four-year deal he’s committed to will prove to be a huge stepping stone in his career.

If Atletico Ottawa can push for the win next weekend, it would the the first team the team has ever lifted the North Star Shield – and they’d be the first expansion team to complete the feat, too. Those facts aren’t lost on Salter, particularly given that it’ll be his last shift for the club.

“It would mean the world to us. All the hard work we’ve put in this year, the fans have always supported us through the whole season and the whole time I’ve been in Ottawa. We’re really happy to give something back to the fans, so hopefully we can share that moment of joy with them on November 9.”

The visiting team for the CPL Final will be either Forge or Cavalry, depending on who wins the second semi-final in Hamilton this weekend. Forge won the regular season, whilst Cavalry are the reigning playoff champions from 2025. Salter doesn’t care which team he suits up against next weekend, though.

“No preference – obviously, we’re going to watch the game and prepare for whatever opponent we face. We’re ready to face whoever.”

Interested fans can pick up tickets to the 2025 CPL Final here.

Source: TSN

Header Image Photo Credit: Canadian Premier League