Finally, someone who might have credibility (or at least class) wants to develop Ottawa Stadium

As someone said in September, the goal for Ottawa Stadium is to get a stable tenant. The sport may be named later, baseball or soccer.

The aim is to keep a stadium out on Coventry Rd., so baseball or soccer, is not such a big deal as far as keeping it from becoming condominiums is concerned. In other words, hearing about Neil Malhotra's intentions to put soccer and be willing to share with a baseball team. It is good news there is interest being expressed by someone who is legitimate. In other words, someone who is does not call .

It is also evidence the commenters are pretty smart, since they cannily anticipated someone would show interest in putting soccer there three months ago. (Of course, there's no parking.)

As for the guy whose initials as the same those for Douche Bag, please. That pathetic little loser (take it away, David Bowie in Extras) is the greatest time-waster since Tetris. Last week he wanted a women's professional baseball team. Next week it will be a team in some other podunk circuit such as the Golden Baseball League, which operates entirely in Western Canada and U.S. and whose teams run on a shoestring, making travel to Ottawa unrealistic. Seriously, sir, you have not been honest with us and worse, you're wasting the time of good people. Any credibility you might have accidentally had is only because of a local media corps that is too time-pressed to do some digging. Go away, and let someone who packs the essential gear between the ears try to make a go out of this. You had your moment, you insult-to-the-word-pitiful glory hog.

Related:

Neil Malhotra Wants to Put Pro Soccer in Ottawa Stadium (Ottawa Citizen)

Previous:
Butler puts true fans in a show-us state (Aug. 24)
Squeaky wheel greases skids for stadium fight (Aug. 22)
Credit him for chutzpah, nothing else (April 14)
This is terrible, this idea (Sept. 3, 2007)

About Ottawa's bid to join an imploding soccer league...

(Not to mention that empty ballpark.)

The mud fight between USL team owners and the league's new corporate overlord will chart the course which determines whether pro soccer comes to Ottawa.

There is more than a cute little juxtaposition involved with Jeff Hunt and the Lansdowne Live gang in Ottawa applying for a franchise in the United Soccer Leagues First Division on the day after several of the league's owners all but declared civil war on USL-1's corporate ownership (and on the day before city council holds a huge meeting to discuss Lansdowne Live's proposal for the derelict stadium).

You could read into that the Ottawa is trying to get into a league several current owners are trying to get out of, but that would just be negative and bitchy. Also worth noting high up is that deep-down, the gut feeling is Hunt wants a USL team in Ottawa and it's not a smoke screen.

First, the mud fight: Several owners, including those of the Montreal and Vancouver teams, have drawn a line in the stand about their desire for "a team-owner controlled league" after Nike sold its controlling stake last week. To put it mildly, it's an interesting variable to throw into the equation. Montreal Impact owner Joey Saputo is also apparently interested in getting the Trois-Rivières Attak into USL-1 if his team leaves the league for MLS.

It wouldn't necessarily hurt the Hunt bid, which is in partnership with John Pugh's grass-roots Ottawa Fury. It will affect it if it turns out the map of pro soccer in "northern North America" is about to get redrawn. It also seemed to be an underplayed element in the initial wave of hometown coverage from Ottawa Business Journal, CBC.ca and Sun Media.

This is not a commentary on the Ottawa bid or Lansdowne Live's motives. It is definitely politic to create the impression with an ever-skeptical public and city council that the stadium is going to be used for more than a CFL team and retail. Hunt's release mentions having the CFL, pro soccer and two university football teams all sharing the stadium, which sounds very promising, but also very busy.

It is a positive to have tapped into Pugh's sweat equity and expertise (although it could have been done 10 months ago). At least Hunt, et al., got the right idea eventually. Your guess is as good as any why this apparently never occurred, far as was reported, to Senators owner Eugene Melnyk.

Meantime, please keep in mind Ottawa still has another stadium dilemma with the ballpark on Coventry Rd., which is going unused. One does idly wonder if Hunt is playing coy and plotting perhaps putting a soccer team at that stadium. That way, they have a hand in control of two venues and keep someone else from developing it as a concert venue.

Triple-A baseball stadiums in Portland, Oregon and San Juan, Puerto Rico, have proven adequate for pro soccer (imagine the first-base line as one sideline, with the third-baseline as one end line), with temporary bleachers out in deep left field). That is a valuable asset the city of Ottawa is not using. The Coventry Rd. stadium could also be used by the W-League Fury and the various youth teams. Far-fetched, I know. Maybe the other site ends up as condos.

Baseball is still in the picture, of course, but the goal is to get a stable tenant using that stadium. If you're a taxpayer, the sport can be named later.

Meantime, good on Hunt and Pugh et al. One would hope the USL's issues don't undermine their goal of attracting a pro soccer team, in any reputable league.

Ottawa stadium debate: Hunt talks USL

It sounds like the USL is on a par with the calibre of the MLS and if things don't work out in Kanata, it might be worth looking into. It certainly represents a way to test the waters of professional soccer in Ottawa at much less risk.

That's Jeff Hunt of Ottawa's CFL bid. Putting aside his absurd assertion that USL-1 is the same calibre as MLS (yes USL-1 fans, it's absurd. The soccer is fine, but it isn't on par with a league that spends roughly four times as much money on salaries), it is the first time that someone from that side of the stadium debate in Ottawa has actually articulated the USL-1 idea. It's been hinted at before, but no one has ever come out and said it.

Clearly MLS is the best option for Canadian soccer. And it would work in Ottawa. It would work in any Canadian city. The country is ready to embrace the sport at the club level. But, if MLS isn't an option another USL-1 team is (literally) the next best thing.

Soccer fans in the capital need to keep the pressure on Hunt et al. to live up to this promise if they win the day on April 22.

The win-loss stat provided in the linked article is misleading because it fails to take into consideration the squad rotation that most MLS teams use when playing USL-1 teams. Essentially, they play the scrubs against a team that is geared up to prove something. When it's best on best, USL wins teams over MLS teams are rare. If you look at the U.S. Open Cup competition (the only competition where the two leagues have met over a long enough period to gauge anything) you'll find that in the semi-finals or later (when MLS starts to take it seriously) of that tournament the USL has not won a game against MLS competition since 1999.

Famously Montreal won the Canadian championship last year against a weak TFC team. However, it is worth pointing out that they did so without actually defeating Toronto and it was Vancouver's win over TFC on Canada Day (combined with Montreal's mastery of Vancouver in the tournament) that handed the championship to the Impact. And the 'Caps win over Toronto was a case of a goaltender standing on his head during a second half onslaught by Toronto. The point being that, yes, upsets happen, but that it's unlikely that it will be a trend. MLS pays roughly four times more salary than USL-1 does. Clearly it's a better league. There is no debate here -- other than by USL-1 partisans in Canada that are as much influenced by wanting to knock big, bad Toronto down a notch than by the cold logic of the situation.

This isn't to say that USL wouldn't be a good fit in Ottawa. In many ways it does make more sense. MLS would have a better chance of capturing the imagination of the city than a league that is clearly minor league.

Related:
Getting their balls in a row; The stadium battle could be shaping up to include a faceoff between competing soccer leagues (Chris Stevenson, Sun Media)
Lansdowne doesn’t need a stadium, mayor says; O'Brien suggests updating Civic Centre, dealing with football/soccer issue separately (Mohamed Adam, Ottawa Citizen)
New plan combines soccer, football (Randall Denley, Ottawa Citizen)

(Cross-posted to The 24th Minute).

Finally! Good news for a Canadian soccer team

For the second time in three years and the seventh in club history (includes play in USL-1, NASL and CSL), the Vancouver Whitecaps are champions.

The 'Caps captured the USL-1 title with a 2-1 win over Puerto Rico in Vancouver Sunday.

It's moments like this that it becomes clear that the Whitecaps deserve to be awarded a MLS franchise (deserve and "are gonna get" are two very different things). The team, which has survived the folding of two leagues, is as close as you can get to a football institution in this country. An argument can be made that the Whitecaps are the only club left that can trace itself directly back to the NASL -- that's something to be proud of.

Who knows whether the 'Caps will get the MLS nod for 2011. But, if they don't it won't be Vancouver that is losing out.

More evidence that I don't know what the hell I'm talking about

So much for Montreal embarrassing themselves in the CONCACAF Champions League. With tonight's 4-1 win over Trinidad's Joe Public they pretty much wrapped up a spot in the quarterfinals, which will take place in February.

Full credit to the USL side. They have been playing effective soccer throughout the tournament and the Canadian qualifying (I'll resist pointing out that the Impact didn't actually beat TFC for now. They went through on the strength of two wins against Vancouver and stealing a point against the Reds on the final match day. I guess I didn't resist, did I?).

Meanwhile it's been a tough go of it for MLS teams (although Toronto's Dwayne DeRosario scored the winner last night for Houston to keep them alive in the competition). Part of it is that the league still puts most of its focus on winning the MLS Cup and teams are putting their energy towards the league title--reserves have dressed for many of the CCL games. But, that's just part of it. What the results have shown is that although MLS teams are generally better than USL teams in those 1 to 11 spots, it gets pretty blurry after that. Middle of the road players can make more money and have a bigger role on in the USL, so they often just stay.

Before making the argument that Montreal and Vancouver might be better off staying in the USL, where they aren't restricted by MLS salary cap and roster size rules, keep in mind that this is a small sample size. Over the past 10 years MLS teams have gotten the better of their USL opponents in about 80 per cent of the games that they have played against each other.

But, none of that matters to Montreal now. Nor, should it. The Impact can fully focus on preparing for the home and home this winter (and do you not think there might be a bit of a home advantage for Montreal against an opponent that will almost certainly be from Central America). And its fans can enjoy the ride.

Edit - DeRo's goal is at 4:37 below. It's worth a watch:

MLS Expansion watch: The Vegas factor - Is relocation the way for more Canadian teams in MLS?

The Columbus Crew are the best team in MLS this season. They may also be headed out of town, relocated to Las Vegas as part of MLS' continued tinkering to get the league to the next level. As outlined in the linked article, Columbus has always been the forgotten one when it comes to the league. Crew fans feel unappreciated by a league that would seemingly rather force a second team into the New York market--even though the first team there barely draws--than help the top team stay in a small market.

It probably isn't fair. OK, it undoubtedly isn't fair, but it 's the way MLS swings. It picked up and left San Jose for Houston just a year removed from that team's second MLS Cup (and they have since won two more and are the favourite to three-peat in seven week's time).

It begs the question. If MLS is open to relocation provided that the right investors and market are in place--and it sure seems like they are--then why shouldn’t those Canucks interested in bringing teams to their respective cities save themselves the $40 million expansion fee and cut to the chase of buying up a struggling team? It appears the casino folks have their eye on the most obvious candidate, but it's unclear who in Kansas City would notice if the Wiz were to leave town. Denver has never really taken for this whole soccer thing. And who knows how long Salt Lake can sustain interest after the novelty of a new stadium (which opens this Thursday) is gone.

Harsh? You bet, but if Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver are serious about joining Toronto then they may want to start putting feelers out to see what American investors are out there looking to get out of the soccer game.

Four Canadian MLS teams by 2011? In the post sub-prime mortgage American world it's not all that absurd of a thought.

Is MLS the ultimate answer?

No, it's 42...

The Globe and Mail's Ben Knight had a very interesting post [On Soccer] the other day on how Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact have gone in drastically different directions since their draw in the final match of the Nutrilite Canadian Championships, which sent Montreal through to the CONCACAF Champions League. As Knight points out, Montreal's gone on to jump from 10th to 3rd in the USL standings (although they trail Seattle 2-1 after one game in the first round of the playoffs, a two-game total-goals series). They've also done very well in the Champions League: many, including Duane, expected they would crash and burn in the group stage (a very reasonable prediction at the time), but they're currently perched atop their group after a draw with Mexican powerhouse side Atalante and a win over Trinidad's Joe Public FC (the same team that embarrassed the New England Revolution of MLS by an aggregate score of 6-1 over two games). Joe Public isn't much of a minnow, either: they also happen to be owned [CBCSports.ca] by FIFA vice-president Jack Warner.*

*Aside: Does this not raise conflict of interest questions to anyone else? I'd certainly be concerned if Gary Bettman or Bill Daly ran an NHL franchise. Keep in mind that Warner's hugely influential in CONCACAF, so it's not like they're a long way removed from the decisions he makes or the impact he has.

For Toronto FC, though, the matches since that fateful July day have been extremely disappointing. They've only earned five points from nine matches, with two draws and one solitary win against six losses. As Knight writes, "The playoffs are gone, the season-long roster rebuild is a bust, and the league's most fanatical fans are looking at their season-ticket renewal forms, many with doubt and sadness in their otherwise lusty, giddy hearts." He then uses the teams' contrasting fortunes, combined with a quote from Randy Phillips' interview with Saputo in the Montreal Gazette, to suggest that Montreal perhaps is only interested in MLS on their terms.

Here's the full relevant quote from Saputo's interview:
Phillips: "Is the future of the franchise necessarily in Major League Soccer?"

Saputo: "There may be other options out there and we have to explore all the different ones. Right now, we're fine where we are. There is the aspect of MLS that's looming and we're going to take a look at that. Does it mean we're going to go into it at all costs? Not necessarily, but the soccer landscape is going to change over the next couple of years and we have to be smart and financially responsible about the decisions we make."

That is a fascinating quote at this point, given how many markets are actively battling for one of the few MLS expansion slots. Any suggestion that Montreal isn't going all-out is something new, and that might hurt them in a drive for one of the two slots in 2011.

There are reasons for Saputo to be cautious, though. MLS isn't looking quite as fantastic as it used to, especially when you take into account the dismal record of its clubs in the CONCACAF Champions League and the spending restrictions cranked so tight that Toronto FC can only spend [Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press via The Globe and Mail, August 19, 2008] $500,000 of the $3 million they got for Maurice Edu on player acquisitions, while the New York Red Bulls aren't even allowed [Ben Knight, On Soccer, August 29, 2008] to buy a USL striker for $200,000. At the same time, after the initial frenzy surrounding Beckham and the other designated players, interest in the league seems to be returning to normal levels, which aren't bad, but also aren't overly in favour of shelling out $40 million for the privilege of buying a franchise.

Moreover, Montreal would have to shell out a lot of dough to get their stadium up to MLS levels and then plenty more on player salaries, so $40 million isn't the entire cost here. When you've got a successful team that's drawing considerable amounts of fans already and gaining continent-wide exposure with their Champions League success, MLS perhaps becomes less imperative. The other thing to consider is that Saputo would have to go up against some great ownership bids in an attempt to gain one of the two slots for 2011, including Steve Nash and Greg Kerfoot in Vancouver, the New York Mets in their push for a second New York team, FC Barcelona's attempt to put a team in Miami and even Eugene Melnyk's surprisingly impressive Ottawa bid. Most of those owners have less options: it's MLS or bust for them, whereas Saputo appears to have a very successful fallback plan. Perhaps his strategy is to take the USL franchise in hand over the MLS ambitions in the bush.

However, that plan bears risks of its own. The USL is extremely viable and producing high-quality soccer at the moment, but who's to say how long that will last? As the number of MLS clubs increases, so will the poaching of the best USL players, decreasing the quality of that league's on-field product. Additionally, many of the strongest USL franchises are already on their way out (Seattle) or hoping to make the jump to MLS (Vancouver, Portland). If you lose your marquee franchises, your league suffers.

Furthermore, there's a certain advantage to being first. Look at the national coverage TFC gets compared to the Impact or the Vancouver Whitecaps. The small amount of attention paid to the Impact at the moment will undoubtedly diminish further if Vancouver and Ottawa get MLS franchises and Montreal remains in the USL: they'll be seen as the minor-league team and will be largely overlooked. The condescension towards the USL is bad enough in this country with only one Canadian MLS franchise: imagine what it would be like with three.

If expansion works out well for MLS and the league captures increasing ratings and exposure, you can bet that the franchise fees will only go up. In this way, if Saputo decides to stay put, it's not necessarily a safe move. He's gambling that the MLS will regress or stay around the same level and that the USL will continue to be viable, which may be as big of a risk as going for it now and shelling out the necessary cash. Staying put is perhaps less dangerous in the short term, but that could come back to haunt the Impact.

I'm not prepared to make another Impact pun here

Arguably for the first time in the competition, the Montreal Impact entered last night’s CONCACAF Champions League game as a clear favourite. And, they lived up to the billing. The Impact were easy 2-0 winners over minnow Joe Public of Trinidad and Tobago.

Montreal’s win was the second by an USL-1 team in two days. On Tuesday, Puerto Rico defeated Panama side Tauro FC 2-1. Meanwhile MLS sides are struggling. With D.C. United’s 2-0 loss to Costa Rician power Deportivo Saprissa on Tuesday, the league’s record fell to 0-4-1 in the competition (and that’s not counting Toronto’s 1-1-2 record in Canadian qualifying against entirely USL competition).

Joe Public had the most shocking result against MLS teams in the previous round, when is won 6-1 on aggregate against New England.

The results are causing many fans of the league to worry. What does it mean? What will the league need to do to improve moving forward? Does anyone really like us?

It isn’t causing the same concerns with the teams themselves, who barely seem interested. With a packed fixture list and restrictive roster rules that don’t allow MLS sides to carry any type of true depth, teams are required to make choices. Some competitions get thrown to the side so that the full focus can be put on other ones. In the MLS, teams are almost always going to focus on the MLS Cup.

It’s possible that Houston might save the day for the league. Certainly the two-time MLS champions are best placed to do so, especially after the Mexican team in their group, UNAM Pumas, dropped points yesterday. Having won back-to-back titles, it’s possible that Houston might view this competition as a more appropriate challenge.

There is no such debate going on in Montreal, where the CCL is clearly the focus. It’s going to get much tougher moving forward, with Mexican side Atlante up next and a solid Honduran team Olimpia. If Atlante takes it seriously, the Impact are unlikely to have a chance. However, if they play a near perfect game there is a chance against the Hondurans. MLS teams have defeated Olimpia in the past, after all.

Canada’s other two pro teams are still playing, of course, albeit in less sexy competition. TFC can’t be mathematically eliminated this weekend, but if the Reds lose to Kansas City they will likely fall more than six points back of the final playoff sport. If that happens, with just five more games left, it’s pretty much over (if they win, however…)

Vancouver, with a 14-7-8 record, has clinched a playoff spot in the USL and can earn the top seed with a win (at Seattle) and if Puerto Rico loses its final two matches. They can finish no lower than second.

The Impact are also in the thick of the playoff battle in the USL. With a 12-11-5 record they have clinched a playoff spot and currently are in third place. They can secure the third place spot with a win at either Minnesota or at home against Puerto Rico. They can finish no lower than sixth.

The top seven teams make the playoffs in the USL, with the top seed receiving a bye through the first round. The other six teams play a home and home (2 v 7, 3 v 6 and 4 v 5) with the winners joing the top team in the semis.

The championship final is Oct 11.

Canadian soccer makes Impact in CONCACAF Champions League

The Montreal Impact continue to do just enough to advance in the CONCACAF Champions League, advancing to the group stage with a 0-0 draw against Nicaraguan champion Real Esteli yesterday. Montreal won the two game total goal series 1-0.

The game was held in Honduras because Nicaragua didn't have an appropriate venue (which says all you really need to know about the quality of Esteli).

Full credit to Montreal. They are playing within their limitations and playing smart--organized and disciplined. They will need to continue that way because the next round gets much tougher.

Although...

They caught a break when MLS' New England Revolution threw in the towel against the best named football team in the world, Trinidad's Joe Public FC. (More on the MLS teams later today...)

Joe Public will be joined by Mexica side Atlante FC and Honduran powerhouse Club Deportivo Olimpia in Montreal's group.

Atlante is likely the favourite to win the whole thing and Olimpia is a former CONCACAF champion that is annually involved in international competition.

The Impact will be hard pressed to finish in the top two in that group, but then again they weren't supposed to get by TFC either.

Regardless, Montreal did Canadian soccer a favour by adcancing to the group stage. Canada is only guranted a spot in the Champions League through to the end of the 2009-10 competition. Results were needed to hold onto that spot.

A cold dose of footy reality for the capital

One of Canada's best soccer writers (a shallow pool, I acknowledge), the Ottawa Citizen's Richard Starnes, nicely breaks down all the reasons why MLS expansion to Ottawa is unlikely.

He outlined some of the issues I did in June, while directly comparing the situation in Montreal and Vancouver with Ottawa's.

However, Starnes didn't bring up the possibility of a USL team. No one appears to be. That's a shame, because the environment for a solid USL franchise in Ottawa is there--especially if the Impact move to MLS (perhaps Montreal's USL team could just be shifted 90 minutes west).

USL is decent soccer. Another pro team in Canada will greatly benefit the domestic game and an Ottawa USL team could be a gateway to eventual inclusion in MLS (because it seems unlikely that MLS will actually stop at 18 teams).

If you love soccer and you live in the capital region you should start to make some USL noise. See the MLS expansion talk through to the fall when the league is expected to announce the next two teams, but realize what the odds are and be ready for the next step.

Update: globesports.com's Ben Knight voices similar sentiments: " before anyone seriously considers top-flight pro soccer on the leafy banks of the Rideau Canal, two essential things have to happen. Ottawa needs to land a second-tier franchise in USL-1 … and find dedicated, rich ownership."

TFC notebook: The bitter, bitter taste of humble pie

As the final seconds of Tuesday’s nights deciding game of the Voyageurs Cup the crowd at BMO field was not in a good mood. A whole bunch of crap was being thrown towards the pitch. Lots of creative words were being directed towards the Reds and if Mo Johnston had walked into the south end he would have likely been ripped into three separate pieces.

The fans were pissed. There ain’t no other way to put it.

And they should have been. There was no excuse whatsoever for Toronto to have lost the competition. They had more resources and more talent. The only thing the USL teams had more of was desire. It was clear in the first two games of the competition that the Whitecaps and the Impact were playing these games with a little more desperation than Toronto.

Before I go on, least I be accused of just being a bitter fan, let me say this: In sports all that matters is one thing. The result. The result was in Montreal’s favour, therefore Montreal is the deserving champion. Period. If you are a USL fan hellbent on holding one over on big, bad Toronto and its fans please re-read this paragraph once more time before you make your comment.

The tournament was lost on Canada Day when TFC couldn’t find the net (well they did actually, but it was incorrectly waved off. But that’s another topic) despite dominating possession and chances. Actually, the last half of the Vancouver game saw Toronto control an opponent in more totality than at any other time in its short history. The Whitecaps bunkered down and got real lucky--there were at least two line clearances and the post was hit once. Oh and the penalty that gave Vancouver its goal was borderline to say the least (if you looked hard enough you could find three or four examples of what Jim Brennan did in every game ever played. It was a tic-tack u-14 foul that is never called in the pro game. But, it was on that day and, well…).

Against Montreal Tuesday it was similar. Anyone that looks at these games and concludes that its evidence of the USL closing that gap with MLS is trying too hard to find it. The USL isn’t closing the gap. Actually, the gap is wider than it was 10 years ago. Much wider. Tyrone Marshall’s “blows” comment aside, you would be hard pressed to find anyone that wouldn’t admit that a USL team was capable of upsetting a MLS team from time to time. By playing organized and taking maximum advantage of limited opportunities a USL team always has a chance. Just like Barnsley had a chance against Chelsea and Liverpool—and no one is going to argue that the Championship is the same quality as the Premiership.

What these four games did illustrate brilliantly are Toronto’s shortcomings. It has a one-dimensional attack that relies way too heavily on an aging target man who could be injured for the rest of the season. Telling was the fact that in TFC’s most important game of its history it started a 16-year-old kid at forward (then aimlessly threw high crosses his way all day where he was hopeless to outfight the bigger, stronger grown men for the ball in the air. Ibee Ibrahim needs the ball at his feet—late in the game as a sub—to be successful). Despite having waves and waves of attack, Toronto just couldn’t score.

To be candid, I fear for Montreal in the actual Champions League. Not so much in the first leg where it’s Nicaraguan opponents are likely of a lower quality than TFC, but in the group stage. There I worry that Montreal will be embarrassed and I worry what that will mean for the Canadian entrant moving forward. But, that’s a topic for another day.

Another worry would be that some less enlightened in Vancouver and Montreal will take the view that those cities don’t need MLS teams. After all, some might say, the USL is just as good. Look at the results in the Voyageurs Cup!

Canada needs Montreal and Vancouver in MLS. The fact that impotent TFC could only manage one win against Vancouver and Montreal this summer doesn’t change that.

The true Impact of the game

Tonight's 1-1 draw between the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC at BMO Field in the final match of the Nutrilite Canadian Championships means a lot for both clubs. On the surface, the only effect is that Montreal claims the championship and will represent Canada in the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League. However, this particular result has deeper meanings for both clubs involved, and also has significance for their leagues and their country.

For Montreal, this is a huge boost. Instead of merely a bright spot, this is rather the only spot with any illumination whatsoever that's been observed in their disappointing season so far. They're 5-8-3 in United Soccer League (USL) play this year and are almost in the league basement, with a record only one point better than the atrocious Minnesota Thunder. That's pretty grim for a team that has plenty of talent, won the USL championship only four years ago and is looking for some good results to fill their sparkling-new stadium.

Enter the Canadian Championships. Cup competitions are always places to watch out for teams expected to do better with the talent on their squad, as it's easier to pull together for a game or two at a time than over a long campaign. Two cases in point come from England this season, where Portsmouth and Tottenham claimed the FA and Carling Cups respectively, but finished 8th and 11th in the Premier League. They may have had to face opposition from a higher league, but it's also tougher for the supposedly-superior team to win, as there's less margin for error: one bad result and you're bounced. As Duane wrote back at the start of these championships, the lack of a single-elimination format reduced this advantage for the USL sides: however, it didn't get rid of it completely. Even the most die-hard USL supporters would likely admit that TFC would in all probability finish ahead of Montreal and Vancouver if they played a whole season against the same opposition.

There's also the matter of media coverage. Much of the mainstream media's coverage of soccer in Canada only sprung up after TFC's formation, and a good deal of the coverage is still Toronto-focused. There are several good reasons for that. First, most of the Canadian media outlets are based in Toronto, so it makes more sense for them to cover a Toronto team than one in Vancouver or Montreal. Second, it's easier to sell MLS soccer than its USL cousin: you can market it as the highest level of the game in North America, and with the designated player rule and the wave of big-name signings that's followed, you can sell it as high-calibre soccer. It's not the Premiership, or La Liga, or Serie A, but it's here, it's pretty good, it's relatively new, it's got some star power and it's got a growing audience and fanbase.

The USL, on the other hand, is much more difficult to sell to readers, viewers, listeners and advertisers, as many of them have no clue what it is. Out here on the West Coast, the Vancouver Whitecaps receive some pretty significant coverage in the local papers and on the local airwaves, but I doubt if many people outside the Vancouver area have heard of them (especially before the launch of this championship). I don't know from first-hand experience, but I'd guess the situation's probably pretty similar in Montreal. It is logical for TFC to get more press, coverage and promotion, and the attention given to them probably helps all soccer in Canada to some degree. Still, you've got to think it sticks in the craw of Joey Saputo, Greg Kerfoot, Bob Lenarduzzi and the other USL owners, executives and fans to see an upstart team like TFC get such extensive coverage while their own storied franchises receive barely a mention on the national stage. This was their chance to strike back, and they did with the strong performances of their teams in this competition. Also, you'd think that the Impact will now probably get some national coverage when they compete in the CONCACAF Champions League.

There's one more key reason why winning this competition was important for Montreal: it allowed them to continue their string of six straight Voyageurs Cup titles as the top team in Canadian soccer. This one in particular provides a lot of respect, as the cup was awarded based on an actual tournament instead of just a couple of regular-season games and the big boys from MLS were involved. They took all the disappointment, abuse and criticism directed at their club and their league, and channeled it into a string of solid on-pitch performances. The last one came right in the notably hostile confines of Toronto's home fortress, where the Reds were 5-1-4 this year (in league and Canadian Championships play), as if to tell Tyrone Marshall, "Hey, whose league blows now?".

For Toronto, the tournament's results tell a different story. This season began with such promise with a talented cast of new players and a fresh head coach. There have been glimpses of brilliance, certainly, but by and large, the utopian future has failed to materialize. All certainly isn't lost yet, and a 6-6-4 record isn't bad, but it's not quite up to the expectations that had been placed upon this side (and the 1-6-0 record away from home is utterly terrible), and as such is disappointing. Losing a tournament where they were clearly favourites, where the format was to their advantage, where their players publicly insulted the other teams and where despite dismal early results, they still only needed a one-goal win in the final, held in the friendly surroundings of BMO Field: well, I'm not sure that disappointment is a strong enough word for that.

The other club that gets a boost out of this is Vancouver. Yes, they were miserable against the Impact, and that's why they didn't claim the championship themselves, but Montreal wouldn't have taken the title without the Whitecaps' surprising victory and draw against TFC. Thus, they get the kingmaker prestige, if not the glory awarded to the monarch himself. They also benefit from the increased fan interest arising from this competition, which will hopefully carry over to their regular-season matches. They and Montreal proved that the USL is not to be trifled with, and that should only help them in the future.

For the leagues involved, the greater positive impact must be for the USL. Their league receives little national press as it is, and when there is any coverage at all, a good bit of it downplays its quality. The performances of Vancouver and Montreal in this competition show that the USL can hold its own, and those performances aren't isolated: consider the US Open Cup, which involves American MLS and USL teams, and has an all-USL semifinal coming up in August between the Seattle Sounders and the Charleston Battery.

Overall, there's no question that MLS has the bigger crowds, the greater exposure, the higher profile, the increased revenues and the better players on the whole, but the gap between the two leagues on the field is not as wide as many have claimed. I don't think that necessarily hurts MLS, though: a strong USL develops players for MLS, builds the soccer fanbase in cities without MLS franchises and provides a good indication of if cities will support soccer to an extent where they'd be a strong candidate for an expansion franchise. A strong USL also builds interest in the Canadian championship and the US Open Cup, as those are now real competitions instead of merely a walkover for the higher league. In Canada in particular, it's not only the on-field quality of the USL franchises has been demonstrated, but also the quality of the front offices and marketing divisions, as well as the interest of the fanbase in high-level soccer: more fans showed up for the Whitecaps - TFC match in Vancouver than I've ever seen at Swangard stadium, and there was a real buzz in the city about the game. That answers some questions the league might have had about the Vancouver and Montreal markets, and it also demonstrates that there are some solid rivalries all ready to go if Vancouver and Montreal get expansion franchises. Thus, in the end, TFC's loss might not be so bad for MLS, and it certainly could prove beneficial for soccer in this country.

The one qualifier that dampens this a bit though is success in the next round. I'm sure Montreal will represent Canada well in the CONCACAF Champions League, but the longer the competition goes on, the higher the chance that they'll revert to their USL form becomes. Based solely on the talent on the roster and their normal level of play, Toronto might have been able to go even further in the next competition, which could have been a bigger boost for soccer across Canada. We'll have to wait and see how that plays out.

Related: I was more concerned in this post about discussing the ramifications of Montreal's win than the on-field action, but it was certainly an exciting and entertaining match in my view, particularly with all of the pressure TFC put on at the end. If you're looking for more details on the match itself, Duane may have some later, but there's also an excellent Canadian Press recap here. It's currently the top story on globesports.com, and that's something that only bodes well for the beautiful game in Canada, regardless of which team's scarf adorns your neck.

An open letter to TFC

Dear Reds,

It’s been a tough few weeks, what with us going eight games without a win. We’re sorry for the nasty words we used Saturday. It was likely the heat talking. But, we think you must understand and share our frustration. It’s time to get out of this funk.

And, tonight is the perfect opportunity. I know that your sports information department called an earlier game in this tournament a friendly, but we hope that you understand that isn’t the case (we also hope someone had words with the intern that made that error. It was an intern, right?). Tonight is most certainly not a friendly. Actually, it’s the most important game we’ve ever played.

We know that this is a new competition to most of you. The Voyageurs is hardly the English FA Cup. We get that. With only three teams competing it might not seem like much to you. But here is the thing: It’s ours. I’m not sure you can appreciate the battle that went into getting even this far. Nothing comes easy for this sport in this country and we take great pride in that trophy you are playing for tonight. You see when no one else would step up we went out and bought the thing ourselves.

If (when, right) you raise it up tonight you will be holding onto the hopes and dreams of every supporter that has ever fought for this game’s acceptance in this city and this country. At the risk of being overly dramatic there is a tiny piece of all of us in the thing.

Those of you that are new to this city must think that things have always been like this. After all you hear every week that we are the best fans in the league. You see it with your own eyes every time you step out on the pitch. Talk to Jimmy. He’ll tell you. For most of us this is still a dream. We go to every game with the understanding that we need to push ourselves to increase the atmosphere. We can’t let up, because we know the critics will pounce: It’s a fad, a novelty. We’ve been through too much to let go of this now.

Which is why we so badly want you to win tonight. We’re Canadian soccer fans. From Toronto. Winning is not something we have much experience in. So, we badly want this. And, if you appreciate what we do you should badly want to win it for us.

If you don’t win we’ll still be back in numbers in two weeks time—and we’d wish Montreal well against the Nicaraguan team (really, we’d try anyway)—but that’s not the way the script should be written. At the risk of being presumptuous, we think we deserve this.

So, we hope you understand just how important tonight is.

Cheers,
The boys (and girls) in the south end.

Notes:

• Danny Dichio will once again miss this one with concussion symptoms. He was acting as a coach during Saturday's MLS game against San Jose.
• Montreal heads into the game coming off of a strong 3-1 win against Miami
  
• It's expected that about 100 Impact supporters will be at BMO for the match
• GolTV is re-broadcasting all televised games of the competition this afternoon
• It was touched on above, but for those that don't know the genesis of the Voyageurs Cup, it was donated by the fans of Canadian soccer to be, at the time, given out to the Canadian based USL team that had the best record against the other Canadian USL teams. Although this is the first year it has been officially recognized by soccer authorities in Canada, it will be the seventh time it is awarded. Montreal has won the six previous additions.
• In keeping with the fan friendly tradition of the trophy a member of the Voyageurs will be involved in its presentation tonight.
• Some previews: The Star; The Globe; The Post; The Gazette; The Sun
  
• It's nice to know that good old fashioned fan smack talk is alive and well in this country (warning: off-colour insults abide galore).
  

Whitecaps score late to earn draw with big league opponents. Doesn't mean a damn thing.

They likely don’t deserve it, but TFC is still the odds on favourite to win the Canadian championship after its 2-2 draw against Vancouver tonight.

The Reds have struggled to finish all year and once again it bit them in the butt. Despite out chancing Vancouver by a wide margin in the two games the two teams played it was the Whitecaps that ended up taking more points against their MLS opponents. But, in the end, Toronto did just enough to remain in control of things as it heads into the final game of the tournament looking to become the first Canadian club champion since the demise of the CSL.


Toronto lead late before Eduardo Sebrango scored his second of the game, against the flow, to tie it up. Toronto was caught with three at the back as it was likely pressing for a third goal. TFC needed a two goal win to have a chance to capture the tournament with a tie in the final game. Vancouver needed to win by four goals to remain alive.

I’m sure most Vancouver fans will view the two games against Toronto as highlights of the season. Indeed, the Vancouver-based television commentators kept making reference to the fact that the Whitecaps were “undefeated against MLS opposition this year.” After all, everyone likes to knock off the big boys and I’m sure Vancouver soccer fans grow tired of the hype surrounding T.O.

However, having to put up with some misguided left coast boasting is a small price to pay for TFC’s fans. Clearly it’s a little embarrassing not to be able to finish the job against a lower league team. But, here is the thing…TFC has played like crap and can still win by just going out and doing what it is supposed to do—win at home.

Montreal will likely bunker down looking for the tie. But, if the Reds can improve in the final third (and rumours are strongly suggesting that former Manchester City striker Paul Dickov will join the team just prior to the Impact game), they will win.

And that, of course, is the bottom line.

More reaction tomorrow...

TFC Notebook: Tradewinds a blowin'

TFC continues to be a different team at home. As I touched upon this week in my Soccer by Ives column, the Reds have only allowed two goals at home all season and are undefeated in seven. It’s heady stuff for a Toronto sports fan, who sees TFC sitting just six points off first overall in MLS (did you ever notice that the success of MLSE-owned teams seems to be inversely related to how knowledgeable the company’s board of directors thinks it is about the sport? Just putting it out there…)

Although the easy answer to why T.O. is so good at home is because of the amazing fan support (and it can’t be stated enough how incredible TFC’s game day experience is. If you get a chance to go, take it. Even if you don’t like soccer. You won’t believe you are watching a sporting event in the same city that the Leafs play in). However, the real answer may be the surface they are playing the game on.

The turf at BMO is lumpy. The ball bounces oddly off it and its just plain wacky to play on when its wet. Toronto is used to it, the opposing teams are not.

Regardless, the advantage has helped the Reds match their win total for all last year already. With six wins and two draws, Toronto sits in third place in the eastern conference. The top three teams make the playoffs, with the next two best records claiming wildcard berths (if both wildcards are from the same conference, the lower ranked team crosses over to play in the opposite conference’s playoffs).

The playoffs are a long ways off yet, but so long as BMO remains a fortress TFC should be in the hunt.

Notes:

• There are whispers that two mid-to-low table EPL teams are in a bidding war for Mo Edu. The 2007 rookie of the year is expected to make the move to Europe as early as next season, but some are suggesting that he may be moved in the summer transfer window. Toronto would receive allocation (money) from the sale of Edu which would likely be used to bring in a significant forward.
• Speaking of allocation, Toronto owns the rights to US international Brian McBride. The player wants to play in his hometown of Chicago, but Toronto is refusing to give him away cheaply to the Fire (nor should they as Chicago is in competition with Toronto for one of the east’s playoff positions). It will be interesting to see what Trader Mo can pull off.
• Montreal evened its record in the Voyageurs Cup tournament with a 2-0 win against Vancouver yesterday. The Impact has now played both its home games in the tournament. The result also ensures that the tournament will not be wrapped up prior to the second to last game day. If the Impact and the Whitecaps had tied both their games with each other Toronto could have clinched the championship with a win against Vancouver on Canada Day.
  
• Canada plays St. Vincent and the Grenadines Friday in Montreal in the second game of their second round World Cup qualifying tie. The Canucks lead 3-0. The game is on Sportsnet if you are interested.
  

TFC Notebook: (Stay) home sweet home edition

The road continues to be an evil place for TFC. Last weekend, John Carver played a conservative style looking for the 0-0 draw. It was a bad idea. Toronto was destroyed in every statistical category and no argument could possibly be made about the stats lying.

Houston was the better team—by far. And, TFC fans were left to wonder whether the early season success was a bit of a mirage.

Toronto is a different team at BMO Field. The crowd is one part of that, but insiders will tell you that the surface, which was supposed to be state of the art but is instead just a lumpy mess, is the bigger issue. Like the old parquet at Boston Garden, BMO Field has little quirks to it that make it difficult to adjust to. Or to play possession soccer, which is the direction most MLS teams are going. Most, but not Toronto, who plays a more direct, British-influenced game far better suited to its home park.

BMO Field has become exceptionally difficult for opposing teams to play in. Toronto has only allowed one goal at home—and that off of a dodgy hand to ball call against New York—and has yet to lose. If the playoffs are to be a realistic goal the Reds will need to continue that run. Three points must be the goal of every game at home—especially against mediocre teams like Colorado, which come to the Big Smoke this weekend.

The hot topic of debate in TFC-land this week is MLS’ refusal to, like every other league in the damn world, to adapt to the international calendar. TFC is particularly hard hit by international call-ups, with Amado Guevera, Carl Robinson, Mo Edu, Jimmy Brennan and Greg Sutton regular call-ups—that’s five starters. Carver was losing it last week that he was forced to give players up that didn’t even end up featuring. Carver is suggesting that TFC will be forced to play hardball with national teams moving forward, making the argument that Toronto doesn’t get any respect in the outside football world—it didn’t take long for Carver to start to think like a Canadian, did it?

Notes:

• Tyler Hemming is back with the team after an unsuccessful trial in Sweden. The young Canadian asked to be released earlier in the year so he could try and upgrade on his $17,700 development salary.
• From the Washington Post’s Soccer Insider Steve Goff: Toronto’s three late arrivals are all paid more than $150k per year (yes, on the same team where many players make $17,700). Amado Guevara ($162,000/185,700- guaranteed/full bonus). Olivier Tebily ($156,960/156,960) and Rohan Ricketts ($200,004/212,500). Although MLS teams do not officially release salary details, it’s been calculated that TFC’s budget sits at $2,909,689, which is about 50 per cent above the league’s soft cap. (Thanks to Al from U-Sector, who just happens to be the North American editor of the world’s most addictive sim game—Football Manager).
• In USL news, Montreal Impact coach Nick De Santis stepped down. The Impact were expected to challenge for top spot in USL-1, but instead have struggled nera the bottom of the table.

TFC Notebook: Minor league trappings

After a 15-day lay-off, TFC finds itself in the middle of an insane four games in 11 day stretch. Only three of those games are against MLS opposition as the CONCACAF Champions League Canadian qualifying tournament starts tonight in Montreal. For those unaware, the tournament involves TFC, the Montreal Impact and the Vancouver Whitecaps. The latter two teams play in the USL-1, North America’s second division.

It’s an historic event. For years, Canadian fans have longed to see a national club champion crowned. And, although the current set-up is far from perfect—only the three teams currently involved will be permitted to enter the competition in its first three years—it’s a start. Go back just four years ago to 2004. The Edmonton Aviators were in administration and destined to be folded after just one year in what was then known as the A-league (now – USL-1). Further south, the Calgary Storm were playing in front of less than 700 fans a game in what was to be that doomed team’s final year as well. The Toronto Lynx were still trying to find a home stadium and, aside from about 100 U-Sector originals, were unloved and ignored in Canada’s biggest city. Ask a Canadian soccer fan in 2004 whether there would be a legitimate Canadian club championship, with the winner moving on to play for a North American title and, possibly, at the World Club Championships, and that fan would rightly assume that you were insane.

But, yet here we are on the eve of that competition. It should be TFC’s to lose, but the USL teams will not roll over. You know that this will be the highlight of the year for players like Adam Braz, who was cut by TFC, and the Impact fans will desperately want to believe that their team is as good as any in MLS.

It isn’t. One only has to look at the evidence of the US Open Cup to see how well USL teams do against MLS sides. Sure, there are upsets from time to time, but on the whole, quality usually wins out. Since MLS teams began to play for the Open Cup, the USL has only won three games against MLS teams in the semi-finals or later (about when MLS teams start to play their full rosters). All three wins were by the same team, the Rochester Rhinos, and occurred more than eight years ago.

The format of the Canadian qualifying tournament works against upsets. In a single knockout cup competition a Barnsley will occasionally rise up to kill a giant. But, in a round-robin there is an opportunity for the higher level side to recover from a bad game. It’s likely too much to suspect that Toronto will run the table in the tournament, but anything less than three wins in its four games will be a major upset.

Regardless, it’s a big day for Canadian soccer and it should be celebrated as such.

Notes:

• Although TFC’s six-game undefeated streak was snapped Saturday in Washington, the Reds remain ahead of where they were expected to be at the start of the season. With a win against Beckham-less LA Saturday, Toronto will sit with 17-points. They only had 25 all last year.
• With International call-ups causing havoc, the next few weeks will be key to the season. TFC did receive some good news on that front this week, when the CSA agreed to allow Jimmy Brennan to stay with the club to play Saturday against LA. Brennan will then go to Panama to play with Canada in its last pre-World Cup Qualifying friendly.
• Speaking of Canada…BRAZIL! You do realize that the Canucks are on a two-game undefeated streak against the South Americans, right?
• If it's Tuesday, it must mean that you can read my drivel at Soccer by Ives and listen to me ramble on Champions Soccer Radio Network's Around the League in 90 Minutes.

TFC Notebook: the "hooligan" edition

Although people are starting to take it for granted, the success of TFC at the box office continues to marvel. History was not with the team when it launched a little more than two years ago. Pro soccer had already died a million deaths in Toronto and in Canada. It didn’t matter what the product on the pitch was, it always paled to the AC Milans and Manchester Uniteds of the soccer fans’ imagination.

But, somehow MLSE managed to find the perfect storm this time and somehow make it work. As Stephen Brunt said on Prime Time Sports last week it was as if all the soccer fans in Toronto said “what the hell, let’s just go out and have a good time.”

And, they are having a good time. If you had to describe what it’s like to watch a TFC game at BMO Field to someone that had never been you would start and finish with that simple concept—it’s fun. An absolute blast.

Inevitably, some observers of the game are beginning to suggest that the crowd is having too good of a time. Starting with the season opening game in Columbus, where 2,600 Toronto fans traveled to support TFC, and continuing through to the most recent outings, Chicken Littles have been busy finding problems that need to be fixed.

What’s especially troubling is the language that is starting to be used. Because the sport is soccer, critics are beginning to utter the H-word—hooligans--to describe TFC’s fans. It’s ludicrous. First off, hooliganism has very little to do with sports. It’s rooted in class politics and it emerged in a culture that simply doesn’t exist in Toronto today. Secondly, hooligans participate in organized violence, often great distances from the stadiums that the actual games are taking place in.

I addressed the concerns in my Soccer by Ives column this week. It’s a fine line that MLSE is trying to walk when it comes to the supporter’s sections at BMO Field. If you have been in Toronto recently you will know that the company is only too happy to market the team around the atmosphere that is created in the stadium—you don’t find players in TFC advertisements. You see images of flag waving, drum beating fans. You can’t try to benefit from something while at the same time trying to crack down on it.

Look, no one is going to justify stupid behaviour at sporting contests. If you run out onto the field you deserve to have your ass arrested. If you vandalize a Go Train I have little time for you. But, what’s happening at BMO has nothing to do with hooliganism, nor is it anything that MLS or MLSE should be afraid of. There are children that sit in the south end of BMO Field and, although they may come home with a more colourful vocabulary, their safety is never going to be a concern. Not even remotely.

In the business of professional sport, teams don’t like things that they can’t control. There is a reason that every second of every NBA, NHL or MLB game is scripted. Nothing is left to chance, the product is made to be as corporate friendly as possible. To their credit, those given the responsibility of launching TFC realized that the corporate model would not work. Bay Street doesn’t watch soccer. They needed to find a way to attract fans of the sport and they quickly realized that those fans were turned off by the fake, vanilla in-stadium atmosphere that dominates pro sport in North America. So, they listened and they delivered something that sorta, kinda resembled what was left behind in the Old World. From that the organic experience that you see in-stadium today—and which has become the talk of the town—emerged.

But, some of the suits are getting nervous now. The supporter’s groups are starting to be more closely monitored and targeted on game day. And, by doing so they are running the risk of alienating the very people that have helped to make TFC such a surprise success.

Notes:

• Oh yeah, TFC played a game this week. The most interesting thing about the 0-0 draw was the post match comments by TFC coach John Carver. Not only did he accuse the league of targeting him, but he also called the Crew’s Guillermo Barros Schelotto a diving Prima Donna, or something to that effect anyway.
• The Montreal Impact opened their new stadium, drawing the Vancouver Whitecaps 0-0 Sunday. The real news here, however, is how the new stadium could pave the way for a second MLS team in Canada in the near future. Montreal will be in tough against expansion rivals from Portland, Atlanta and Miami, but the building of a soccer specific stadium will greatly help the bid.
• Speaking of Saputo Stadium, Canada will open its 2010 World Cup Qualifying campaign a month today at the new ground. Someone—ok, me—is running a bus trip from Toronto to Montreal for the game, which will be the second in a home and away match against Caribbean side St. Vincent and the Grenadines. More information can be seen here.
  
• I talk about TFC's lack of scoring punch in the last segment of CSRN's Around the League in 90 Minutes today.
  

Erin Mills is really, really mad and thinks it's just not fair.

If you have ever been curious as to why Canada struggles to produce elite soccer players, have a look at this letter.

It's got all the ingredients. A petty minor soccer system over zealously protecting its little fiefdom--player development be dammed, we've got an OSL u-18 title to chase--and an unorganized elite system that is scrambling to play catch-up and, in turn, putting undue pressure on the pyramid below.

(sigh)

Should the Toronto FC academy have had its stuff together earlier and signed these five kids prior to the eve of the season. Of course. However, the TFC academy is in start-up mode and some growing pains should be expected. It should also learn from this and there will be no excuses if the same things happen again moving forward.

The truly alarming thing here is the pathetic protectionism of the Erin Mills Soccer Club. Instead of patting its kids on the back and wishing them luck as they pursue a professional dream, Erin Mills is worried about how their loss will affect its Ontario Cup chances. Could you imagine a minor hockey program being compelled to write a nasty letter after it had lost a top player to the CHL?

There is a reason that this country's three professional soccer teams--TFC, the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps--are wrestling elite development away from the minor clubs. The pro teams need young Canadians to develop for their long-term success and the minor clubs are, well, more or less incompetent.

Would someone please think of the scalpers!

Not that TFC needs the help filling the place, but it looks like the most overpaid athlete in the world will once again be AWOL for his only scheduled Toronto appearance.

The guy asking for $1,129 a ticket is going to be awfully disappointed.

However, the hardcore Toronto soccer fans are rejoicing that with Becks out of the line-up, along with (possibly) U.S. international Landon Donovan, three points should be in the bag for The Mighty FC.

Canadians need not fear however. The pop singer's husband is still scheduled to play in the Great White North this season. Tomorrow, actually.