🗞️ Media Round Up: Telus Canadian Championship Preliminary Round

Atlético Ottawa's hunt for the Voyageurs Cup in the Telus Canadian Championship - the national cup competition bringing together all the best teams in the country - begins on Tuesday night. 

Diego Mejía's side faces Canadian Major League Soccer (MLS) opposition for the first time in club history, travelling to Toronto FC.

Here are the best news pieces ahead of the Preliminary Round clash at BMO Field...

Luck wasn’t on Atleti Ottawa’s side with the Canadian Championship draw

TSN1200 (Gordon Smith)

Atletico Ottawa analyst Gordon Smith on the Atlético's slow start to the season, losing key players, Toronto FC looking to turn things around, and the future of MLS in Vancouver.

Listen to the radio piece here: https://www.tsn.ca/radio/ottawa-1200/article/tsn-mornings-gordon-smith-says-luck-wasnt-on-atleti-ottawas-side-with-the-canadian-championship-draw/

Atletico Ottawa Will Stick To The Plan Against Toronto FC

Northern Tribune (John Jacques)

Atletico Ottawa will be staying true to its identity against Toronto FC. That identity often sees the side suffer through some pressure before striking back with some committed counters, playing out from the back and remaining comfortable both in and out of possession. Undeniably, it’s a high-stakes maneuver against a team with a salary cap multitudes higher than one's own.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/atletico-ottawa-escape-with-1-1-draw-against-vancouver-fc-in-home-opener-9.7177955

Toronto FC treating Atletico Ottawa ‘the same as any other team’ in Canadian Championship

Waking the Red (Benedict Rhodes)

There is no question that Toronto FC are the favourite to advance on Tuesday night when they host Atlético Ottawa in the Canadian Championship preliminary round. Still, the team is not approaching it that way.

Read more: https://wakingthered.com/2026/05/04/23686/toronto-fc-treating-atletico-ottawa-the-same-as-any-other-team-in-canadian-championship/

L’Atlético Ottawa face au Toronto FC: c’est quoi au juste, le Championnat canadien?

Le Droit (Julien Paquette)

L’Atlético Ottawa affrontera le Toronto FC mardi soir. Oui, oui… même si les deux équipes évoluent dans deux ligues différentes! C’est possible grâce au Championnat canadien, un tournoi qui regroupe les meilleures équipes masculines professionnelles et semi-professionnelles d’un océan à l’autre.

Read more: https://www.ledroit.com/sports/soccer/atletico/2026/05/05/latletico-ottawa-face-au-toronto-fc-cest-quoi-au-juste-le-championnat-canadien-DYWDPRRN25AKBKHY2HHITAJ4VQ/

It's hard to replace the players Atlético lost 

TSN1200 (AJ Jakubec)

Atlético Ottawa faces an uphill battle in the 2026 season following some key departures, according to TSN1200's expert AJ Jakubec. 

Listen to the radio piece here: https://post.futurimedia.com/cfgoam/playlist/4/listen-7945.html?cb=1778011644.354526