There's many years when don't do a year end summary but I want to get one out this year before we start 2015. League 1 Ontario-—(I went to 45 games)...This was a new 10 team league that started this spring with an 18 game schedule and two group Cup competition. Because this league was still organizing well into the spring they didn't get the greatest stadium times for games. As the season wore on many of the teams had roster problems as some of their best players left for University teams in Canada and the USA by August. Attendance with a few exceptions was sparse especially as the season wore on. Glamour team Toronto FC Academy drew only 70 fans when they had over 2000 at a barbecue held at their training facility for their MLS team on this same ground just two hours earlier that day. Highlight for me was being plucked from the sideline in Pickering at the last moment to act as the colour commentator to help the Rogers Community Channel broadcast their game of the week. I'd never done anything like this before and it made a change from taking notes for my webpage. Regrets? I didn't get to see the Internacional de Toronto team play before the league revoked their franchise. Other extreme was Toronto FC Academy whom I went to 14 of their games and spotted before game time in one of their end of season games that they'd only listed ten starters and I saved them from burning off a substitute when I pointed the omission out. A criticism from outsiders about the league is that there are so many GTA (Toronto) area teams but the two outsiders—Kingston Cataraqui Clippers (finished last) and Windsor Stars (only club that had to forfeit for no showing) both rescheduled games on short notice and had trouble bringing enough players to Toronto games as the season wore on to have bench strength. One thing that still bothers me about the season is that the league stats don't add up. 278 goals for and 279 goals against! I told the league chair at the championship game and then the interprovincial cup game and e-mailed their office even showing them the correction and no changes have been made. Canadian Soccer League (only one, the Championship game)...Following League 1 Ontario meant something had to go and that was this league now down to ten teams. I'd followed the league since 1995. They lost two franchises from the previous season—Windsor Stars jumped to League 1 Ontario and St Catharines Roma Wolves were caught between the two leagues when it was time for them to commit and disbanded their pro team. For the first time in league history a team ran through the entire season including playoffs undefeated—York Region Shooters. The most common questions I got asked this year is which league has the better calibre of play? The CSL has in general older, more mature players and the only league so far that has professionals. Right now I'd say the CSL has the advantage but that may/should change if they are starved for young players avoiding them to play for a certified league. Toronto Lynx (six of seven games)...They failed again to make the playoffs in the PDL league of the USL soccer pyramid. Their record in 14 games was 2 wins, 9 losses, 3 ties for one of their worst seasons. I saw them win once and tie twice this year. Because of scheduled repairs to Centennial Stadium (although the Lady Lynx were able to play there), the Lynx ended up playing all but one of their home games at Sheridan College in Oakville. All games had to be matinees or early evenings as there are no lights at this stadium. Best laugh of the year was when a Michigan Bucks player scored the winning goal and 'dove' into the painted sky blue mascot bear in the endzone and 'swam' to celebrate. It really pressed the limits of the distance I want to drive but it is only supposed to be for just the one year. I've followed the team since their beginnings in 1997. Toronto Lady Lynx (four of six games)...I only saw them score one goal in the games I attended—I missed their two games against London where they added more goals. This was the first year they didn't make the playoffs since 2009. Just last year I was writing about over 50% of the current Canadian National teams had played for the Lady Lynx or the previous W-League team Toronto Inferno. This year the only Lady Lynx Nat team player was Ashley Campbell who is listed on the Cdn U-20 team. Two of their best players from 2013—Kadesha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence decided to play for Ottawa Fury. [Late breaking news is the owners of the Fury have decided to no longer operate a W-League team]. Because of my knowledge of Centennial Stadium over the years, I ended up running the stadium clock and making announcements by the time the season was over. Toronto FC (17 league games, 2 Canadian Championship games, 1 exhibition game)...I wasn't as upset that the team did not make the MLS playoffs for their eighth straight season—it was more the frustration that for at least six of their weekend games the transit system (TTC) had part of the subway routes closed for either track or signal upgrading which added hours to my travel times as I detoured onto other routes to get through. Also a streetcar route right from the subway to the stadium was closed for its second straight year and only reopened with two games left in the season. I arrived early enough at each game to be one of the first fans allowed inside and made sure I waved to the Canadian referees who I've followed since my CSL days and TFC assistant coach Jason Bent who I followed since his days as coach of their Academy team. Thanks for waving back guys! Next season brings an additional section to the East side. I certainly hope they add enough extra washrooms and concession stands to handle the larger crowds. One reason the stands look unfilled at the beginning of games and before the first half ends and after the second half starts is that people beat the rush to use the facilities and yet aren't back by the time the game restarts. Canadian National Team (1 game)...I only attended one national team game in Toronto this year. On September 9th I went to the men's Canada vs Jamaica friendly game. Latest breaking news this month is that Toronto will host one of the groups in the 2015 Gold Cup in July. I didn't go to any of the FIFA U-20 Women's tourney games. Toronto hosted two Canadian team games and there were a few other games but I decided months earlier there was little I could add to the coverage and there would be times that conflicted with my other commitments. Attending 76 games across the league's was my limit. Next year there will be even more to watch...Toronto FC has obtained a USL Pro team but at the time of writing, they have not announced where they will play. League 1 Ontario has announced they will start a women's division in 2015. If I do follow these new teams/league it will just cut into my coverage of the teams and leagues I already write about. Many thanks to team officials supplying me official game sheets, game officials that answered my questions to double check yellow cards, and players recapping who gave them assists on their goals. I'd also like to thank my 92 year old father. I went on leave from my other job a few years ago to work as caregiver for him. It is 7 days a week but only half days and flex hours so it gives me time to attend all these games. He is a true Blue Patch Boy—a soldier who served in the Canadian army in WW2 through England-France-Belgium-Holland-Germany and now lives at Sunnybrook Veterans Residence in Toronto. Rocket Robin robing@eol.ca
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