The Stepover

Forging a professional career in Europe as a Canadian is hard, but Ottawa's Kayla Adamek is doing it. Having spent time training with Orlando Pride in the NWSL before playing pro in Serbia and Spain, Adamek recently signed for Vittsjö GIK in Sweden's top division. Kayla provides her insight into what she'd like to see from a professional women's league in Canada, as well as her road-to-pro, sneaki...

Whether you're a casual fan or a die-hard, there's no better way to stay connected to Atletico Ottawa than by following Capital City Supporters Group. Founded shortly after 'Ottleti' was born, CCSG has been a creative and supportive force for Ottawa's pro club, from creating content online, to hosting events, and of course helping create the unbelievable atmosphere at TD Place. Josh chats with CCS...

This episode Josh chats with the Technical Director for West Ottawa Soccer Club, Kwame Telemaque! Kwame is hugely accomplished, having played professionally in Belgium, Ireland and Portugal, and has coached teams across the city, eventually landing at West Ottawa, where he took over as Technical Director in the summer of 2021. We touch on his unique playing career, why Ottawa was the only place he...

In this episode, Jessie Porter-MacLennan of 613 Sports takes on co-hosting duties as she and Josh discuss the recent CPL x USports draft, as well as the 6 new signings that were announced in ONE DAY. PLUS -Draft surprises -Should Ottleti draft local? -Most important new signing -What comes next? -Should Ottleti have a mascot?

In this episode we're chatting with the Executive Director of the Eastern Ontario District Soccer Association, Vicki Lowe! If you're like me, you might not know much about your own district soccer association. For Ottawa, that's the EODSA. We're fixing that by chatting with Vicki to learn the ins and outs of the association. Vicki provides a great perspective as well on the state of the sport in t...

*ahem* ONCE AGAIN, A VERY GOOD EPISODE IF YOU ARE A CPL TEAM   On this episode we're chatting with Jessie Porter-MacLennan, someone who knows the Carleton University men's soccer team better than anyone. Josh chats with Jessie about the Ravens' run in November's USports Men's National Championships, and who are the players you (and CPL teams) need to know about as we look ahead to the 2022 CPL-USp...

THIS EPISODE IS EXCELLENT FOR ANY CPL TEAM THAT CAN'T AFFORD SCOUTS   After a wee break, we visit this chat with 613 Sports' Eddie Benhin, who put on his scouting hat during the USports Mens National Championships (hosted by Carleton in late November), and he gives us his take on the players who impressed him, the "overagers" who should be straight-up signed by CPL teams, and who he thinks might b...

The best university MSOC teams in Canada converge this week at Carleton for the 2021 National Championships. On this episode we have Jayden Dill, writer for Carleton newspaper The Charlatan, to chat about the Ravens 2021 regular season, who are the favourites heading into the tournament, and what the Ravens chances are.   Chat with Jayden starts at 2:26

The uOttawa Gee-Gee's 2021 season came to an end on November 6 at the hands of rivals Queen's in their OUA Semi-Final. The Fulcrum's Jasmine McKnight covered the Gee-Gee's season and joins Josh to talk about the highs and lows for the team in 2021, the future of leader Emma Lefebvre, and looking ahead to 2022.   Chat with Jasmine starts at 5:26

Dylon Powley is the starting goalie for Atletico Ottawa, and he's also the guest for this episode! Josh asks Dylon how he went from wanting to be a striker to becoming a goalie, how talks are going regarding #RecognizePFACan, and what kind of cake he had for his birthday (he just turned 25!)

It's end-of-summer tournament time for all the kiddos, so we're chatting with the Executive Director of the Gloucester Dragons, Bill Coleman! You may know the Dragons as the program where Jonathan David got his start. We talk about their Soccer Days weekend tournament coming up on the last weekend of August, as well as all things Dragons, and the challenges of keeping soccer affordable and accessi...

In this episode we chatted with Ottawa's Miranda Smith as she started her second professional season, this year playing in Akureyri, Iceland. We get to know her a bit, and talk about her university career, which took her from the University of Memphis to uOttawa, with whom she won a University World Cup!   Josh also talks a bit of Atletico Ottawa's first two home games. Who does he think made a br...

Ottawa South United is one of Canada's largest regional soccer clubs, and they recently announced they'll be building a new clubhouse at George Nelms Park in Manotick. Josh took the occasion to learn more about OSU itself from club president Bill Michalopoulos. Bill and Josh chat about OSU's mantra, what a new clubhouse means, return-to-play, and the clubs ambitions for the future.   *Interview wi...

Back from nine weeks training in Spain, Atletico Ottawa midfielders Chris Manella and Antoine Coupland are both former Fury FC teammates, and are now roommates in the Canadian Premier League's Winnipeg-based bubble, dubbed "The Kickoff". Each team will play 8 games there before returning to their home markets.   Among other things, Josh asks Chris and Antoine about their experiences in Spain, Chri...

What do you do as a brand new supporters group for a club that has yet to play a single game at home? Start creating content, for fans, by fans. That's been the mantra for the new Capital City Supporters Group, which hopes to cheer on Atletico Ottawa in person for the first time later this year. We chat with group founder Daniel Duff, as well as prominent members Eddie Benhin and Thomas Stockting,...

We're back! On this episode, Josh chats with former uOttawa Gee-Gee goalkeeper Margot Shore, who now plays professionally with Lecce in Italy. They chat about moving from the NCAA to uSports, winning the first ever FISU Women's World Cup, and her experience so far living and playing professionally in southern Italy.   Reviewing new CPL kits - starts at 2:49 Interview with Margot Shore - starts at...

We'll, Ontario is under a stay-at-home order, and even playgrounds are now closed, but should they?   Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt, also a prominent coach for Ontario Soccer, wrote an op-ed for the Globe and Mail advocating that kids need to be able to play and be physically active. It's an important read, and a great chat!   Interview starts at 2:45

This week we have the pride of Stittsville, Ontario, Clarissa Larisey! Clarissa plays forward for the University of Memphis and has been tearing it up in the NCAA. Josh chats with her about pizza toppings, good bridges and TikTok dances.   Prior to that chat, Josh lists 10 cities near Ottawa he hopes get pro soccer, for road trip purposes.   3:07 - Josh's nearby CPL expansion wishlist 9:30 - chat...

Packed episode featuring chats with Eddie Benhin, co-founder of 613 Sports, and Nic Ryan, Director of Ticketing with Atletico Ottawa!   Eddie talks about founding 613 Sports and the growth of the website; pro soccer in Ottawa; and he and Josh solve the Hans Island Dispute.   Then, Nic joins the show to talk about the new "Powered by Atletico" program, open to all regional clubs in Ottawa, and then...

In the debut of The Stepover Podcast, Josh chats with Atlético Ottawa's first ever USports draft pick Cris Malekos, as well as Cris' coach at Carleton University, Kwesi Loney. They chat about why fans should get excited to see Cris in action, pathways available to players in Ottawa, and most importantly, what's in Kwesi's cup?   Points of interest: 3:38 - What is a CPL developmental contract? 5:56...

A new soccer podcast for Canada's capital! We'll talk all things soccer in Ottawa, chat with players and people building the sport in this city.