As his now-teammates trudged through the blizzard at TD Place, Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau sat on a beach in the Bahamas, taking in the action.
Snowy scenes flashed across the screen from his hometown of Ottawa. It soon became apparent he was far from the only one watching as he started getting messages from friends all over the world, including those in Finland where he had spent much of the 2025 season on loan from the Vancouver Whitecaps.
All of them shared disbelief in what they were seeing. From David Rodríguez's now-iconic icicle kick, to Atlético Ottawa lifting the North Star Cup in the snow, the match made waves across the globe.
"Absolutely electric," Fleuriau Chateau told CPLSoccer.com. "It truly was like a sensational moment, obviously the goal, but the win itself in those conditions."
A year later, he finds himself in the cold of the nation's capital — still dressed in short sleeves showing off his tattooed arms — ready to help Atleti defend their title. As the 2026 CPL Playoffs kick off on Sunday, Nov. 1 at TD Place (2 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT on OneSoccer, CBC, TSN), where Atlético Ottawa will host Forge FC in leg one of their semifinal, Fleuriau Chateau is buzzing with anticipation.
"It’s exciting, man. I think I bring it back to my American football days as well, I’ve always loved that contact and that physical aspect," said Fleuriau Chateau. "In games where it’s a do-or-die type of thing, I just relish that."
Fleuriau Chateau's homecoming came at a perfect time for both team and player.
The 24-year-old spent the first half of 2026 with Galway United in Ireland. He played barely a half-hour the entire season.
Coming out of that rough chapter of his career, he signed with Atlético Ottawa on July 24, 2026, desperate to prove his quality. He joined an Ottawa team going through a coaching transition and a bit of a championship hangover.
"I knew I should have been getting opportunities," said Fleuriau Chateau of his time in Ireland. "I'm blessed to be someone that I have a lot of confidence in myself. Usually that doesn't waver all that much.
"So to be able to come here and remind everyone of what I can do, not only for myself but for the team as well, I think that's extremely important."
His debut for the club was a dream, and he hasn't woken up since. Two days after signing, on July 26, Fleuriau Chateau dribbled the length of the pitch to score a stunning match winner in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time against Pacific FC.
In 16 matches in all competitions, he has scored nine times and added three assists. Many of them have been match winners, often in the most dramatic way possible. Doing it all for his hometown club has only made it more special.
"Sometimes I’ve had 50 friends or family members in the crowd," said Fleuriau Chateau. "It’s just cool to be able have special moments on the field and then after games, go out with your family or talk about it.
"Before, when I was in Finland, Vancouver, Ireland, as a footballer you long for those late-minute winners, but you’re not with your family to celebrate it. So it truly is special."
Speaking of celebrations, Fleuriau Chateau punctuates each of his big goals with an acrobatic backflip, and often without a shirt.
He says he learned how to backflip when he was young. His twin sister was in gymnastics, and having hit her growth spurt first, the competitive Nicolas was always trying to play catch-up.
"I would try to mimic everything that she was doing," said Fleuriau Chateau. "When I was young, for some reason I never had a fear about any of those things, so I just kind of go for and it just stuck around."
That competitiveness has stuck as well, and it's what sets Fleuriau Chateau apart on the field. He's the ultimate self-starter. He doesn't need a lot of service, or a perfect ball in behind, although Atlético Ottawa are more than capable of giving him both. His relentless work rate creates chances on its own.
"I’m not one of those guys who needs to touch the ball all the time," said Fleuriau Chateau. "Obviously it’s nice to get in the flow of things, but I like to think that I stay locked in and if there’s a half chance somewhere I’m never afraid to go for it."
And his impact on this Ottawa team extends far beyond the pitch. Head coach Gustavo Leal says that Fleuriau Chateau's charisma in the locker room has been just as much a gamechanger as his goals.
"It's not just about the goals, about the systems, about the numbers," said Leal, "It's about the heart, It's about the behaviour. And Nick is this kind of guy who doesn't just give us the goals. He gives us a good atmosphere in the dressing room. Everybody likes him all the time."
That self-belief is all the more important when the lights get brighter. And as Atlético Ottawa begin their championship defence, Fleuriau Chateau will play a key role.
"I know what I can do, I know what my teammates can do, and on our day I have all the confidence in the world in us," said Fleuriau Chateau.
"We’re locked and loaded; hopefully we can do something special again."
