TORONTO LYNX MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LYNX SET TO BEGIN PRE-SEASON TRAINING!
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 (TORONTO, ON) – The Toronto Lynx Soccer Club will kick off pre-season preparations for their ninth season of showcasing the highest level of men's professional soccer in Canada when they take to the field at Soccer World @ The Docks on Monday, March 7th from 10am-12pm. The Soccer World @ The Docks will serve as the primary pre-season training venue as the new head coach, Hubert Busby Jr. prepares his team for the season's opening road trip to take on the Portland Timbers and Canadian rival, the Vancouver Whitecaps, on Saturday, April 23rd and Sunday, April 24th respectively.
"I'm sure that this training camp will see all invitees eager to impress the new coaching staff and earn spot on the 2005 roster," affirmed Busby. "I hope these players force me to make some really difficult selection decisions."
The new-look Lynx roster will be on display for the first time in an intersquad scrimmage taking place on Saturday, March 12th at the Icelands Soccer Centre in Mississauga as Lynx veterans and trialists will be looking to catch the eye of the new coach. The Lynx will get their first taste of competition on Saturday, March 26th at Lamport Stadium with a 2:00pm kick off against the University of Toronto Men's Varsity Team, the runners-up in Ontario University Athletics this season. Former Lynx goalkeeper, Yuri Elkaim, is at the helm of the Varsity Blues and didn't hesitate to give his Blues the opportunity to test their talent against the highest level of play in Canada.
Coach Busby has also planned a USL Division One pre-season tune-up as the Lynx will take to the road for an exhibition match against their arch rivals, the Rochester Raging Rhinos, on Saturday, April 9th. He explains, "This USL season will be extremely competitive.With the standard of play being so high, the USL First Division fans will be treated to some very exciting matches. It's important that we get the opportunity to play a Division One team during the pre-season to give our new players some exposure to the level of play."
The Lynx will make their final pre-season preps as they return to the Icelands Soccer Centre in mid-April before beginning training at their full-time home, Centennial Park in Etobicoke on Monday, May 2nd from 10am-12pm. The 2005 home schedule begins at Centennial Park Stadium with a double-header on Sunday, May 15th featuring the inaugural match for the W-League's, Toronto Lady Lynx, as they battle Vermont Lady Voltage at 1pm before the Lynx take on the defending champion, Montreal Impact, at 4pm.
MOST CAPPED PLAYER IN CANADA IS NAMED ASSISTANT COACH!
The Lynx are also proud to announce the appointment of former player, Lyndon Hooper, as assistant coach for the 2005 season. Hooper, one of the most capped players in Canadian National Team history with 66 appearances between 1986-1998 and ending his professional career with the Lynx in 2001. He has since been involved with the Toronto Sport Council as a Sport Consultant and earned his Level B Coaching License while coaching the U17 Ontario Provincial Team.
"Lyndon brings a great deal of experience with him to the organization," says Busby. "He is one of Canada's most decorated and respected players and will be instrumental in helping to develop the young players on the club."
Hooper was born in Guyana before moving to Ottawa at the age of 11 and playing youth soccer with the Nepean Hotspurs. After turning pro in 1987 with the Ottawa Intrepid of the Canadian Soccer League, Hooper enjoyed a standout career including stints with the Montreal Supra and Toronto Blizzard of the CSL and England's Birmingham City before rounding out his playing days with the Montreal Impact, the Hampton Roads Mariners and the Toronto Lynx of the USL Division One (formerly A-League). In the world of academia, Hooper earned a B.A. in Physical Education from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario in 1990.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
LANCE WINN -- MEDIA & PUBLIC RELATIONS, TORONTO LYNX SOCCER CLUB
416-251-4625 ext. 25
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