Ottawa Rapid FC is entering the 2026 Northern Super League season with fresh ownership and renewed ambition. The club announced this week that a new majority ownership group, operating as Arcadia MapleLeaf Soccer, has taken the helm of Ottawa's professional women's soccer team.
Who Are the New Owners?
Leading the group is Nick Sakellariadis, a Harvard-educated former investment banker who previously owned the Dayton Dragons minor league baseball team in the U.S. He's joined by fellow Dragons co-owner Michael Savit and Ellen Shumway, a finance and consulting professional.
The previous ownership group isn't disappearing. They remain involved and have also put additional capital into the club. The arrangement is less a complete changing of the guard and more a significant injection of new resources and expertise.
What They're Promising
The new ownership group says they're "committed to building Ottawa Rapid FC as a fan-focused, family-friendly community institution." They want the team to serve as a vehicle for developing role models and strengthening women's soccer pathways across Canada.
It's the kind of language you'd expect at an ownership announcement, but the pedigree of the incoming group, particularly Sakellariadis's track record in sports ownership, suggests genuine investment interest beyond press release platitudes.
The 2026 Season
Ottawa Rapid is coming off a strong inaugural 2025 NSL season, reaching the league semifinal. Player DB Pridham was named the league's Player of the Year, a strong signal that the talent is already there.
The 2026 season opens April 25 in Halifax, with Ottawa's home opener scheduled for May 2. If you haven't been to a Rapid match yet, this could be the season to start.
Source: CBC Ottawa
