As announced by Atletico Ottawa, the club has signed defender Karl Ouimette to a contract that runs until 2024. Ottawa joins six other CPL clubs to have announced a new player. Reigning CPL champions Forge FC have yet to announce a new player. Ouimette, now 30, has earned 18 senior appearances with Canada but has not featured with the national team since 2016.
Karl Ouimette Returns Home to Canada After Eight Years Abroad
With Captain Drew Beckie Retiring, Atletico Ottawa Finds a Reinforcement on the Back End
Most recently playing with USL Championship side Detriot City FC on loan from fellow league side Indy Eleven, Ouimette is coming home. Ouimette is an academy product of Montreal Impact (now CF Montreal). Karl Ouimette has a special place in CF Montreal history, having played for the club in its first MLS season in 2012.
Karl Ouimette was primarily a bench player during his tenure with Montreal until he was waived in 2015 by the club. A month later, he signed with New York Red Bulls. He would split time between the first team and the reserves with New York. Ouimette was a part of the New York Bulls side that won the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2015. Ouimette signed with NASL side San Francisco Deltas on a permanent deal in 2017. When the NASL folded the same year, Ouimette joined USL Championship side Indy Eleven.
Ouimette quickly became a regular in the backline for Indy Eleven and went on to make 100 appearances for the club.
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#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/DPqL1waDis
— Karl Ouimette (@karlouimette) February 2, 2023
Karl Ouimette Re-Connects With Another Former Indy Eleven Player in Ottawa
Karl Ouimette will not be the first Canadian to join Atletico Ottawa from the USLC side. Fullback Carl Haworth, who joined Ottawa last off-season followed the same path. Haworth featured in 24 games last season for Ottawa, finishing first in the CPL regular season. According to Transfermarkt, Haworth, and Ouimette played 959 minutes together in Indiana.
What Type Of Role Could Karl Ouimette Play With Ottawa?
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In an interview with OneSoccer last week, the new Team Manager and recently retired Drew Beckie mentioned some key ideas for next season.
“[Ottawa] have some great prospects coming in and we’re excited to help them come in and use their existing characteristics to help us get better on the field”.
Beckie further states later in the interview about younger players stepping up.
“There’s now opportunities for young players and maybe spots that weren’t available last year that they can step in [to]”.
These quotes might suggest that Ottawa will be looking to be a much more youthful squad next season. Karl Ouimette could play an important veteran role in helping young players pave their way professionally.
More often than not, Ottawa has played a back three under Carlos Gonzalez and the club will be banking on MacDonald Niba to be healthy this year to help strengthen their defensive depth. As last season progressed, natural fullback Miguel Acosra saw himself shifting to centre-back at times. What does this all mean for Karl Ouimette? Including young Spaniard Diego Espejo, Ottawa has four players capable of playing centre-back for next season. Ouimette will likely be an integral part of the backline, allowing Acosta to shift back out wide.
The remainder of the off-season for Ottawa will be one to watch as the club has just 13 players under contract for next season. The CPL announced the schedule for the upcoming season earlier this week.
