It was football at its frostiest best — a Canadian Premier League final played in a blizzard, with shovels, snowploughs, and a bicycle kick that’s already being called the “icicle kick.”
Ottawa triumph in freezing thriller
In front of a frozen but roaring home crowd, Atletico Ottawa lifted their first-ever North Star Cup after a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Cavalry FC. The temperature plunged to -8°C, turning the final into a snow-covered spectacle that tested every player’s grit.
Snow delays and surreal scenes
The match was repeatedly halted as groundsmen cleared the pitch, with the touchlines repainted every 15 minutes. Goalkeepers used shovels to dig out their penalty boxes, and before extra time, a snowplough had to enter the field to make play possible. Despite the chaos, both teams battled through in true Canadian fashion.
Cavalry strike first in the snowstorm
Former Rangers midfielder Fraser Aird opened the scoring for Cavalry in the 33rd minute with a calm penalty. His celebration — a knee slide on the snow — earned both laughter and snowballs from the Ottawa supporters, who were undeterred by the freezing conditions.
Rodriguez produces an icy masterpiece
Just seven minutes later, 23-year-old David Rodriguez equalised with a moment that will live long in league history. The Mexican midfielder launched into a stunning bicycle kick that rattled the underside of the crossbar before bouncing in — a goal that instantly became known as the “icicle kick.”
Rodriguez wasn’t done. In extra time, he struck again, chipping the ball over Cavalry keeper Marco Carducci in the 107th minute to complete a fairytale finish.
From Mexico to the snowfields
Rodriguez, who joined Ottawa earlier this year, admitted the blizzard was a new experience. “I had zero experience with snow until I came here,” he said with a smile. “When I saw it falling before the match, I thought — it’s going to be a good day.”
‘You play us anywhere, we’ll win’
Atletico goalkeeper Nathan Ingham summed up the spirit of the night perfectly: “The whole night feels unreal. You play us in sand, you play us in snow, you play us on the moon — this team will still win.”
A milestone for Canadian football
Founded in 2020 as a branch of Spain’s Atletico Madrid, Atletico Ottawa’s victory marks their first major title. For the Canadian Premier League — which began in 2017 — it was perhaps the most memorable final yet, where football met a snowstorm and magic followed.
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