VAN TOR Hassli 1-1

Head Coach Martin Rennie joined TEAM1410′s Peter Schaad and David Norman after the match.

Rennie post match comments

A stunning volleyed finish from Eric Hassli in second-half stoppage time denied Toronto FC their first-ever victory in Vancouver after Ryan Johnson gave The Reds the lead midway through the second half.

Though the first leg ended in exciting fashion, Whitecaps FC will be disappointed not to be heading to Toronto’s BMO Field for next week’s decisive second leg with an advantage, as the Southern Ontario outfit have the upper hand of an away goal at the midway stage of this two-leg final.

TEAM1410 has the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship Final Wednesday May 23rd. Coverage gets underway with the pre-match show at 3pm; kickoff is at 5pm.

The first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship aggregate final pits MLS rivals Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps against one another at BC Place to determine which club will represent the country in the CONCACAF Champions’ League.

TEAM1410 prematch show is at 5:00. Pete Schaad and Dave Norman have the call at 7:00.

The Whitecaps coasted through the semis. The side overpowered the NASL’s Edmonton FC by a 5-1 aggregate scoreline to set up a rematch of last year’s final.

Sebastian LeToux was instrumental in the Caps comeback victory in the second leg of the semifinal, scoring a pair of late goals after coming on in the 70 minute to replace Michael Nanchoff.

The Whitecaps have hit the ground running in their sophomore MLS campaign. The club currently sits fourth in the Western Conference thanks in large part to a 3-1-1 home record.

The team had its three-game MLS winning streak snapped last week at the hands of the New England Revolution, but the team’s focus appears to be set on taking the national crown.

The team rested many of its starters in anticipation of the tilt with FC including Martin Bonjour, Camilo, Jay DeMerit and John Thorrington, with the latter three not even making the trip to Foxborough.

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Toronto FC, meanwhile, has won the Voyageurs Cup (presented to the Canadian club champion) in each of the past four seasons and this spring became the first Canadian team in the 50-year history of the North American Club championship to reach the semifinal stage.

But the road back won’t be an easy one.

Toronto FC has been dreadful in league play this season, having lost all eight MLS tilts by a combined score of 18-6.

Making matters worse for the Reds is the fact that they will have to start the championship series without their captain, Torsten Frings.

And while the team will receive a boost from the return of striker Danny Koevermans it must also cope without the services of defender Richard Eckersley, who was red-carded in the team’s 2-0 win over the Montreal Impact at BMO Field on May 9.

Still, the side was able to grind out a win over Montreal thanks to first-half goals from Reggie Lambe and Ryan Johnson despite losing Eckersley in the 16th minute after a reckless challenge.

The two sides played to a 1-1 draw in Vancouver in the opening leg of the 2011 final before Toronto won 2-1 at home in the return leg.

The second leg of this year’s Championship is scheduled for May 23 at BMO Field.

“Dean has quietly developed into a very strong force on the offensive line,” said Lions VP, football operations and GM Wally Buono. “This extension is part of our goal to maintain continuity on the line of scrimmage which is of tremendous importance to our team’s success.” 

Originally drafted by the Leos in 2006 (1^st round, 6^th overall), Valli enters his seventh CFL season after a standout career at Simon Fraser University. The hulking offensive guard and North Vancouver native has played in 95 regular season games in addition to seven post-season appearances including four West Division Finals, one Eastern Final, one West Semi-Final and last year’s Grey Cup win.

“As a six-year veteran and a member of two Grey Cup-winning teams, Dean knows what it takes to win and I look forward to having him as a cornerstone of our offensive line,” said head coach Mike Benevides.

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Offensive line coach Dan Dorazio was a big fan of Valli when the Lions grabbed him in the 2006 draft:  Dorazio – on Dean Valli

NEW YORK (Monday, May 14, 2012) New England Revolution midfielder Lee Nguyen was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 10 of the 2012 MLS season. Nguyen scored two goals on Saturday in a 4-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

After Vancouver took an early lead, Nguyen’s first goal leveled the score, 1-1, in just the sixth minute. The Richardson, Texas native finished on a deflected shot by teammate Blake Brettschneider, placing strong shot into the corner of the net.

Nguyen’s next strike came in the 72nd minute, giving New England the 4-1 lead. From the left side of the field, 25 yards out, Nguyen controlled a throw-in and struck a half-volley into the far corner to notch his second goal of the night.

The goals were his first two of the season and of his MLS career.

New York’s Kenny Cooper and Houston’s Brad Davis received five votes and two votes respectively this week.

The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.

Abdur-Rahim is now the Assistant General Manager with the Sacramento Kings.

Hear the full interview here: ShareefAbdurRahim_with_BMacAndTaylor_May15~

“Akeem continues to develop as a receiver and gives us some very good depth at the position,” said Lions VP, football operations and GM Wally Buono. 

Originally drafted by the Lions in 2010 (4^th round, 25^th overall), Foster has appeared in 24 regular season games entering his third campaign with the club. After dressing for eight games in 2010 and seeing action primarily on special teams, he became a regular in the Leos’ starting offensive lineup in 2011.

“Akeem is an emerging talent who is maturing each year,” said head coach Mike Benevides. “He is proving to be the kind of receiver we felt he could be when we drafted him which is a deep threat who can produce explosive plays.”

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Foster notched his first pro catch as well as his first TD against the Montreal Alouettes in the opening week of action last year and finished the season with 33 receptions for 593 yards and six touchdowns. He posted a career-high of eight catches for 144 yards against the Toronto Argonauts in September. He also hauled in a 12-yard reception in last year’s Grey Cup win over Winnipeg.

The club also announced that three local junior players will be invited to Lions Rookie Camp slated to get underway in Kamloops on Wednesday, May 30^th through Friday, June 1^st.

Jordan Yantz (quarterback – Vancouver Island Raiders), Danny Turek (receiver – Kelowna Sun), Steven Deoge (defensive lineman – Kelowna Sun).

BC Lions Training Camp gets underway in Kamloops, BC on Sunday, June 3^rd.

“Davis was a valued leader during his time with us and we wish him the very best moving forward,” said Lions VP, football operations and GM Wally Buono. 

Originally coming to the Lions as a free agent in 2010, Davis appeared in 20 regular season games over two seasons. Injured in Week 5 last year, he spent the balance of the 2011 campaign on the injured list.

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The Delta, BC native enjoyed a fabulous CFL career that spanned 155 games over 11 seasons with four different clubs. He recorded a total of 28 interceptions and was an East Division All-Star three times (2008, 2004, 2000) as well as CFL All-Star in 2000 in addition to being named the East’s Outstanding Canadian that year.

“Many thanks to all of the great teammates, coaches, fans and people I have met throughout my career in the CFL,” said Sanchez. “A very special thanks to both the Alouettes and Lions organizations. I am going to miss this league, but that being said, I feel so fortunate to have had it be such a huge part of my life thus far.”

Davis also enjoyed a brief NFL stint with San Diego in 2001 and recorded 19 tackles for the Chargers over 16 games. He played four games for San Diego in 2002 and returned to the CFL for good in 2003 with Calgary. He was part of championship teams in Edmonton (2005), Montreal (2008, 2009) and BC (2011).

In this new role de Klerk will be responsible for Toronto FC’s technical program, including advance and international scouting, as well as serving as the technical conduit between the First Team and Academy program. He will also assist players transitioning from the Academy into the First Team and support the education of Toronto FC coaches at all levels.

Brennan joins Toronto FC’s First Team after spending the last 15 months coaching TFC’s (U-17) Junior Academy Team. Brennan became Toronto FC’s first roster player and team captain in club history in September 2006. He retired as a player in 2010. Brennan joins First Team Coach Jason Bent and Goalkeeping Coach Stewart Kerr. Additionally, Director of Player Development Paul Mariner will take a more active role on the pitch, occasionally coaching the team’s strikers, in addition to his regular responsibilities.

“We believe these decisions will benefit our club from top to bottom. Bob’s new position will allow the team to benefit more from his technical expertise and have him play a more active role in the day-to-day operations of the club off-the-pitch,” said Winter. “Our U-17 Academy program has done well under Jimmy’s direction. The goal of our Academy is provide growth and development for our players and our coaches. This promotion is a well-deserved opportunity for Jimmy.”

DeMarco comes to the Lions after an outstanding three-year, 35-game run at Old Dominion University throwing for 5,732 yards and 51 touchdowns on 471 completions with an impressive efficiency rating  of 132.2. The athletic pivot also rushed for 1,456 yards and 30 majors on 346 career attempts. 

“Thomas has a very strong and accurate arm,” said Lions GM Wally Buono. “We were very impressed with his workout in April and we believe he can compete for a spot on our roster.”

The Palm Desert, California native led an Old Dominion squad to a 9-2 record in 2009 following the school’s 68-year absence from competitive football.  Last year, DeMarco guided his team to a 10-3 record and a post-season win over cross-town rival Norfolk State. He departs Old Dominion as the school’s record holder for most rushing yards and TD’s in a game (245,4) as well as the most passing yards in a game with 407.

“We are thrilled with the response from fans to our initial release of the first two home games of 2012 and this is a great opportunity to secure seats for some key match-ups this summer,” said Lions president and CEO Dennis Skulsky. “We’ve got the new-look Tiger-Cats coming in with Henry Burris and Andy Fantuz, as well as a tough divisional tilt with Edmonton and our only Sunday afternoon game of the year versus Saskatchewan.”

There’s plenty for fans to look forward to this summer as the Lions begin defence of their sixth Grey Cup title. On July 6^th, former defensive greats Nick Hebeler and Rick Klassen will be added to the club’s Wall of Fame during a halftime ceremony. On July 20^th, the Lions support the Purolator Tackle Hunger program and honour their all-time sack leader Brent Johnson and to mark the legendary accomplishments of former head coach Wally Buono, the club has pegged Sunday, August 19^th as Family Day at BC Place.

“We’ve got Canada’s best sports and entertainment venue, a retractable roof, a championship-caliber football team with the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player and the best fans in the league,” added Skulsky. “I can’t think of a better way to spend the summer than watching the Lions at BC Place.”

Fans can call 1.855.GO.LIONS or visit bclions.com to purchase tickets beginning at 10:00 am on Tuesday.

BC Lions Training Camp presented by Sun Peaks Resort is just around the corner with rookies taking to the field on Wednesday, June 30^th through Saturday, June 2^nd. The entire squad hits the field on Sunday, June 3^rd.

Fans will get their initial glimpse of the 2012 Leos when they take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a mid-week pre-season tilt on Wednesday, June 13^th. A little more than two weeks later, the Lions begin defence of their 2011 Grey Cup championship with a title rematch versus the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday, June 29^th. Tickets for these two home games are already on sale through Ticketmaster.