Atlético Ottawa's roster construction continued on Friday with the signing of another familiar name to CPL fans: Malyk Hamilton, formerly of Cavalry FC. Hamilton, a 20-year-old from Calgary, played a variety of roles for the Cavs in 2019, lining up both at right-back and further up the pitch on the wing and at the forward position. He made 20 appearances across all competitions (including two Canadian Championship starts), totalling 1,454 minutes and recording three assists. Born and raised in Alberta, he moved across the pond at age 13 to join the academy of Premier League side West Ham United, after years at various local sides including Calgary Foothills. Hamilton spent eight years at the East London club, playing an important role for their under-18 squad. In 2018, though, he returned to Canada to sign with Toronto FC II, for whom he played twice in the USL. RELATED READING: CPL pre-season roster tracker: How each team is shaping up "I'm definitely looking forward to actually moving there and getting a real taste of what the city has to offer, to see the fans and the way the stadium's put together for us. Now that I'm gonna be on the home team, I'll really feel that support and love from the fans and everyone in the city of Ottawa," Hamilton told CanPL.ca. He visited Ottawa once while playing for TFC II, but didn't see the pitch. "For me personally it's the opportunity to learn, grow, play, and progress," Hamilton said. "Having this opportunity to go to Ottawa, and being backed by Atlético de Madrid, where we can train for pre-season at such good facilities, having great coaches watching you and teaching you things, it can only help you." Hamilton has represented Canada at the youth level, playing under current Valour FC coach Rob Gale for the under-18 side at a showcase event in El Salvador in 2017 (where he was the only player based at a European club), scoring once in two appearances. Much of Hamilton's playing time at Cavalry came in the full-back position, where he often filled in for the injured Dean Northover, but he has the ability to play a much more attacking role. RELATED READING: Atlético Ottawa’s Antoine Coupland finds ‘great honour’ as youngest CPLer "We are delighted to have Malyk with us," Atlético Ottawa CEO Fernando López stated. "He will bring versatility and depth to our defence and his talent and experience playing in the CPL will help us. We are sure he will be a defining player for our squad and together we will achieve all our goals." With three signings in three days, Atlético Ottawa now has a trio of players signed for 2020, with Hamilton joining the club's first-ever signing, Ben Fisk, and the CPL's new youngest player, Antoine Coupland. The squad will join coach Mista in Spain for pre-season camp at the facilities of parent organization Club Atlético de Madrid, where they will train until April 7. Expect Ottawa's roster to continue to grow over the next few weeks as they build their team ahead of their season opener, April 18 in Hamilton versus Forge FC.

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