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Leafs Home Schedule:
| Saturday, January 9th, Pittsburgh, 7PM |
| Tuesday, January 12th, Carolina, 7PM |
| Thursday, January 14th, Philadelphia, 7PM |
| Tuesday, January 26th, Los Angeles, 7PM |
| Saturday, January 30th, Vancouver, 7PM |
| Tuesday, February 2nd, New Jersey 7PM |
| Saturday, February 6th, Ottawa 7PM |
| Monday, February 8th, San Jose, 7PM |
| Tuesday, March 2nd, Carolina, 7PM |
| Tuesday, March 9th, Boston, 7PM |
| Thursday, March 11th, Tampa Bay, 7PM |
| Saturday, March 13th, Edmonton 7PM |
| Thursday, March 18th, New Jersey 7:30PM |
| Saturday, March 20th, Montreal, 7PM |
| Tuesday, March 23rd, Florida, 7PM |
| Saturday, March 27th, NY Rangers 7PM |
| Tuesday, March 30th, Atlanta, 7PM |
| Thursday, April 1st, Buffalo, 7PM |
| Saturday, April 3rd, Boston, 7PM |
| Tuesday, April 6th, Philadelphia, 7PM |
Raptors Home Schedule:
| Sunday, January 10th, Boston, 1PM |
| Sunday, January 17th, Dallas 12:30PM |
| Friday, January 22nd, Milwaukee, 7PM |
| Sunday, January 24th, LA Lakers, 6PM |
| Wednesday, January 27th, Miami, 7PM |
| Sunday, January 31st, Indiana, 6PM |
| Wednesday, February 3rd, New Jersey, 7PM |
| Sunday, February 7th, Sacramento, 12PM |
| Wednesday, February 10th, Philadelphia, 7PM |
| Wednesday, February 17th, Memphis, 7PM |
| Saturday, February 20th, Washington, 7PM |
| Wednesday, February 24th, Portland, 7PM |
| Friday, February 26th, Cleveland, 7PM |
| Friday, March 5th, New York, 7PM |
| Sunday, March 7th, Philadelphia, 12PM |
| Wednesday, March 17th, Atlanta, 7PM |
| Friday, March 19th, Oklahoma, 7PM |
| Wednesday, March 24th, Utah, 7PM |
| Friday, March 26th, Denver, 7PM |
| Wednesday, March 31st, LA Clippers, 7PM |
| Sunday, April 4th, Golden State, 6PM |
| Wednesday, April 7th, Boston, 7PM |
| Sunday, April 11th, 6PM |
| Wednesday, April 14th, New York, 8PM |
Good work Boys!
Their one hiccup over the last 2 weeks was the New Years Eve game against the Americans that went to a shoot out, and as fate would have it, they lost out to those same Americans last night.
Despite Edmonton Oiler draft pick Jordan Eberle's clutch 2 goals in the last 5 minutes to tie it, the American's would not be denied in OT and they stopped Canada's Junior hockey Gold Medal run at 5 years.
If I had to choose, I'd pick Silver in Saskatoon if it means Gold in Vancouver.
I love watching the Junior's as much as the next hockey fan, but this tournament, held in Ottawa last year, Saskatchewan this year, and across the border in Buffalo next year, is on the verge of becoming a Junior Canada Cup and not a true international "World" tournament.
I understand that it draws flies when held in Europe or elsewhere not in (or in close proximity) to Canada, and that the IIHF and Hockey Canada stages it here to make money, but it's getting to be a little ridiculous.
16-0 over Latvia? 6-0 over Switzerland? 8-2 over Slovakia?
I get it that it's good for those nations to play Canada to get a sense of where they stack up in international competition, but the round-robin portion of the tournament is hardly worth playing.
All that said, I still look forward to the tournament next year in Buffalo. Should be good for business.
Big Weekend for the Buds
Tonight, the Buds travel down the QEW to take on the Northeast Division leading Buffalo Sabres at HSBC, an arena that historically has not been kind to the Toronto NHL team. With Luke Schenn and Jonas Gustavsson back in the lineup, as well as pre-season sensation Viktor Stalberg being called up from the Marlies (Joey MacDonald has been sent down), one thing that is guaranteed is that the crowd will be at least 50% Leafs fans, probably more.
(It's been said that when the Leafs play in Buffalo, all the fans who are usually up in the greens and purples at the ACC buy all the tickets in the Lower Level at HSBC, thus making it much louder, and much more partisan to the Leafs.)
T
With Sabres goalie (and probable US Olympic team starter) Ryan Miller leading the way, Buffalo has taken the first 2 meetings of the season, so the Leafs will be looking to even the series starting tonight and again on Monday when the Sabres visit the ACC.
After tonight's game, the Leafs will head home to take on the Boston Bruins at the ACC, for the 3rd time in December. The Bruins have owned the Leafs so far this season, but will be flying in from Chicago, where they take on the tough Blackhawks tonight.
As Toskala will start tonight's game in Buffalo, look for Gustavsson to start either tomorrow or Monday when the Sabres come to town for the rematch.
With a renewed sense of confidence, the Leafs have to take 2 of 3 in order to continue their push for 8th place or higher in the tight Eastern Conference.
For tickets to all Leafs home and away games, please contact us today!
Thanks for everything Doc
According to several online pundits, yesterday the Toronto Blue Jays became the Toronto Pirates, and came one step closer to being the Toronto Expos, an allusion to the blue birds current fate of that of a "feeder" team to the real Major League teams (a la the Pittsburgh Pirates) and on the verge of extinction/relocation, much like their former Canadian MLB team, the Montreal Expos.
The reason for this, of course, is the trading of long-time ace pitcher and all around good guy, Roy "Doc" Halladay.
Doc was the Jay's first draft selection in the 1995 Draft, the 17th pick overall. He started in the farm system but made a name for himself late in the 1998 season, when, as a September call-up, (as the Jays' were once again playing out the season with no chance of post-season play a trend that has continued through to the present, with no realistic chance of changing any time soon) in his second major league start, on the final day of the regular season, he pitched a no-hitter into the 9th inning, when, with 2 outs, the bid was broken up by a Bobby Higginson solo home run. The home run was the only hit Halladay would allow in a 2–1 Blue Jays victory, as he recorded his first major league win. The game was completed in 1 hour 45 minutes.
That one outing to close out the '98 season gave Jays fans and management hope that Harry Leroy Halladay would turn out to be something special, and despite struggles over the next 4 seasons, "Doc" would not disappoint.
In 2002, after working with Jays pitching coach Mel Queen, he became the dominant pitcher he is today, and won the 2003 Cy Young Award as the American League's best pitcher.
A six-time All-Star, he compiled a career 148-76 win-loss record for an impressive .661 winning percentage.
Twice he signed in Toronto for less-than his market value, in order to stay here and allow the team to use those funds to build a better team around him. After ex-GM JP Ricciardi added pieces such as #2 pitcher AJ Burnett, closer BJ Ryan, and hitters such as Troy Glaus, Lyle Overbay and later Scott Rolen but was not able to move the team up in the tough AL East standings, the writing was on the wall that Doc would not resign with the Jays after reaching Free Agent status after the 2010 season.
After Ricciardi mis-played his cards in the weeks leading up to the 2009 trade deadline, and the media speculation on (and interrogation of) Halladay made it all but guaranteed that he would not be here following the 2010 season, incoming GM Alex Anthopoulis had literally no choice but to trade Doc in the off-season, when he could maximize the return on him, and get 3 top prospects for our 1 All-Star pitcher.
So who do we get in return?
According to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun:
The Jays will wind up with right-hander Kyle Drabek, a former No. 1 pick, outfielder Michael Taylor and catcher Travis d'Arnaud, also a former No. 1 pick. The Phillies get former No. 1 pick Phillippe Aumont of Gatineau, Que., outfielder Tyson Gillies of Langley, B.C., and right-hander Juan Ramirez.
"The prospects Toronto get are closer to being major-league ready than what Philadelphia will receive," a former American League GM said.
As for Stanford alumn Taylor, selected two picks ahead of Marc Rzepczynski in the fifth round in 2007, he won't be staying with the Jays. The Jays will flip Taylor to the Oakland A's for third baseman Brett Wallace, a former No. 1 pick of the St. Louis Cardinals.
In winding up with Drabek, Wallace and d'Arnaud the Jays added three former No. 1 picks for Halladay.
Below: Friday, July 24th, 2009, what could have been Doc's last game in TO, top of the 9th, none out, Doc still on the mound.
Don't look now...
http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?type=con#&navid=nav-stn-conf
Granted, there are 5 teams between them and the Habs, but at least we've got a game in hand on Montreal!
Here are the highlights from last night's GREAT game against Ottawa!
Tiger Tales
As the Tiger Woods scandal continues to be a Top Story around the globe, Tiger stated on his website that he is taking an indefinite break from golf in order to "focus his attention on being a better husband, father, and person."
Just as the hype of the non-story of Gatorade "phasing out" their Tiger Focus drink started to subside, Gillette announced Saturday that they would be distancing themselves from Tiger indefinitely.
Gillette, which uses the slogan "The best a man can get," said it won't air advertisements featuring Woods or include him in public appearances. Woods was hired by Gillette in 2007 and has been in ads for Gillette Fusion Power razors with titles like "Phenom" and "Champions" with other stars including tennis great Roger Federer and footballer Thierry Henry.
"This is supporting his desire to step out of the public eye and we're going to support him by helping him to take a lower profile," said Damon Jones, a spokesman for Gillette, a unit of Cincinnati-based Procter&Gamble.
Next up was consulting firm Accenture, who's slogan for the past 2 years has been, "Go ahead, be a Tiger" who issued a statement Sunday saying the golfer is “no longer the right representative” after the “circumstances of the last two weeks.”
Other sponsors continue to stick with Woods for the time being.
Watch maker Tag Heuer issued a statement Monday morning saying they will stand behind him.
Company spokeswoman Mariam Sylla said the sponsorship is unchanged because Woods remains the world's best golfer and Tag Heuer does not care about his private life. "We will continue," Sylla told The Associated Press. "He's the best in his domain.
"We respect his performance in the sport," she said, adding that Woods' personal life is "not our business."
Electronic Arts, whose EA Sports division has been selling Tiger Woods video golf games for a decade, said Sunday, “We respect that this is a very difficult, and private, situation for Tiger and his family. At this time, the strategy for our Tiger Woods PGA TOUR business remains unchanged.” The game’s next edition featuring Woods comes out in six months.
Nike Inc. said late Friday it supports Woods’ decision to take time off. AT&T has said it is evaluating its relationship with the golfer.
That Accenture cuts ties seems appropriate. Their sponsorship played off the aspects of Integrity and High Performance, 2 elements of the Tiger Woods brand that are missing right now.
Others, such as Tag, EA, and Nike that are more sports-, golf-, (and dare we say, male-,) focused have so much more to lose by disassociating with Tiger that it only makes sense that they would stick by him longer.
If I was a betting man, I'd say that AT&T is the only other sponsor to drop him in the wake of the recent events.
It seems to me that time heals all wounds, and while Tigers' wounds are fresh, it seems like the politically correct thing to do is drop him, but as has been said many times, he's the first billion dollar athlete, and as time passes, if and when he decides to return to golf, all the companies that stand by him have so much to gain that they can't just drop him now.
And besides, if Kobe can get away with a much more heinous act and still earn millions in endorsements, there's no reason Tiger won't be able to do the same.
The Battle of Ontario means something... again.
Not any more.
Tonight's game between the Eastern Conference's sixth place (with 36 points) and 14th place (with 29 points, just 4 back of 8th place Montreal) has the chance to represent a re-igniting of the once proud rivalry, when the Battle of Ontario once meant something.
(Side bar, most hockey fans will agree that rivalries are cemented come playoff time, and in the early 2000's, when Ottawa's dominance of the Leafs' in the regular season was constantly eclipsed by Toronto's dominance of the higher-seeded Sens teams come spring time, this rivalry was at its peak.)
The Leafs, now winners of 8 of their last 10 and 3 in a row at home on Air Canada Centre ice, have the opportunity to make up some serious ground on there provincial opponents as well as their divisional rivals and the East as a whole, with three Northeast games among four this week, and five of the next seven up to Boxing Day.
If this team is to be taken at all seriously this season, the Leafs have no choice but to start reversing their 1-5-3 record in the division. After the Ottawa Senators drop in tonight, the Leafs are down the QEW in Buffalo on Friday and back here against the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
And with 5 games between now and Boxing Day in the suddenly-much-friendlier confines of the Air Canada Centre, the future is now for the 2009-10 Leafs' squad. They simply can't afford another tailspin.
For ticket pricing and availablility for these or any Leafs home or away games, please contact us.
Maple Leafs Schedule, up to Olympic Break
The Maple Leafs are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games and are
only 5 points out of the playoffs, with
16 games at home before the Olympic Break.
Give the gift of hockey this holiday season.
See Phil Kessel and the Leafs take on:
John Tavares & the
Alex Ovechkin & the
Jason Spezza & the
Shane Doan & the
Marc Savard & the
Ryan Miller & the
Carey Price & the
Bryan McCabe & the
Sidney Crosby & the
Eric Staal & the
Mike Richards & the
Anze Kopitar & the LA Kings… Tues. Jan. 26th
Roberto Luongo & the
Marty Brodeur & the
Daniel Alfredsson & the
Only from… Bay Street Ticket Services...
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Maple Leaf Gardens... Saved by common sense
The big news last week was that the Federal Government has agreed to kick in the last $20 million to fund the $60 million renovation of Maple Leaf Gardens.
I for one applaud the Feds for stepping up to the plate on this one.
Here we have a historical landmark which has been sitting dormant for the last 10 years (which was originally built in the midst of the Great Depression) that has seen 2 private entities, Loblaws & Ryerson, come together to breathe new life into it, that will create hundreds of new jobs and revitalize a semi-depressed area of the countries' biggest city.
As far as "Economic Stimulis" programs go, I'd say this one is Win-Win.
There are some, such as the Star's Rosie DiManno, who say that this is not a great solution, but she really has nothing constructive to suggest what to do with the "Grand old Dame on Carlton Street". Simply yearning for the days of old won't solve the issues that face the Gardens today.
Others suggest that the best use of the building is to move the Hockey Hall of Fame there. While an excellent idea in principle, the Hall could never afford the renovation and upkeep required to do such a thing.
While I wasn't the biggest fan of Loblaws turning MLG into a SuperStore either, the integration of Ryerson and their new Athletics' facility, which incorporates an ice rink, basketball and volleyball courts, exercise rooms, and classroom space, makes the idea much more palatable.
Add in the fact that they are keeping a Heritage space to honour the past of the building and it's hard to find something not to like about the whole deal (nostalgia notwithstanding).
Looking at the artists' rendition of what the renovated facility will look like when completed, and comparing it to the "Before" and "After" pictures of the Montreal Forum below, I for one applaud the results, and look forward to the day I, as a recreational hockey player living downtown, have the opportunity to skate (and hopefully score a goal) under the world famous MLG dome.
The Montreal Forum, Before:
(notice the escalators, crossed to look like hockey sticks.)
The Montreal Forum, After:
Note the tackiness of it all.
Sadness on Bay Street... Carlton the Bear is retiring.
This blog was going to be about the Leafs recent play, however news just broke, via sportsnet, that Carlton the Bear, the Leafs beloved mascot for the last 20 years, is retiring.
For those not familiar with Carlton's origins, from Wikipedia:
Carlton the Bear is a 6'4" anthropomorphic polar bear, and the official mascot of the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL team. His first public appearance was on October 10, 1995 at the Leafs' home-opener in Toronto against the New York Islanders.
Carlton's name and number (#60) comes from the location of Maple Leaf Gardens, 60 Carlton St. in Toronto, the Leafs home arena from 1931 to 1999. They have since moved to the Air Canada Centre on Bay Street. Since his debut, Carlton has gained fame through appearances at Leafs home games. He has also occasionally travelled with the team, having made appearances at 20 different arenas in 17 cities over his career.
To date, Carlton has tossed more than 8,000 shirts into the audience, led various cheers, and spread Maple Leaf spirit to thousands of fans. Carlton is also credited with chairing the first annual Mascot Summit in 2000, which took place at the 50th National Hockey League All-Star Game in Toronto.
The rumour is that Carlton (the mascot) is not actually retiring, but that the human who plays him (who's name I know but will not share due to mascot-blogger confidentiality) and that he will be back at some point in the future.
Four of Carlton's perks.
While the Marlies have Duke, I for one hope that they don't simply call him up from the AHL team, but even moreso, I hope they don't resort to the sunbelt teams' tactic of using T&A to fire up the crowds.
I love T&A as much as the next guy (see above image) but Toronto SHOULDN'T need to resort to this: