|
 The
Toronto Lynx Soccer Club represents the highest
level of men's amateur soccer in North America,
playing in the United Soccer Leagues Premier
Development League (PDL).
The PDL has 67 teams in four conferences and eight
conferences spread across North America. The
Toronto Lynx will play in the Great Lakes Division
of the Central Conference, joining 2006 PDL Champion
and 2007 finalist Michigan Bucks along with the
Chicago Fire, Cleveland Internationals, Cincinnati
Kings, Forest City London, Indiana Invaders, and
Kalamazoo Outrage. Each team plays a
16-game schedule with a home and away match against
each team in the division.The Lynx are joined in the
PDL by fellow Canadian clubs the Ottawa Fury, 2008
PDL Champions Thunder Bay Chill, the Vancouver
Whitecaps U23's and the Abbotsford Rangers, with the
Victoria Highlanders and Forest City London joining
the PDL for the upcoming 2009 season.
The Toronto Lynx announced its expansion rights at a
Media conference in downtown Toronto on June 24,
1996 and played their first USL First Division game
in Jacksonville, Florida in April 12, 1997. The
Toronto Lynx set an USL First Division record of 10
consecutive wins during their first season in 1997
and continued to field a very competitive franchise
on the field ever since. In 2000, the Lynx proceeded
to the Eastern Conference Finals and a 1-0 loss to
Rochester kept the Lynx just a step away from the
USL First Division Championship game. In 2002, the
Lynx narrowly missed the playoffs on the last night
of the season, following a dramatic and exciting
match against the Atlanta Silverbacks. In 2006
season the Lynx completed their tenth season of
showcasing the magic and excitement of the world's
beautiful game in Toronto and were inducted into the
USL Soccer Hall of Fame for this tremendous
achievement. 2008 saw the Lynx qualify for the
playoffs for the first time since the glorious 2000
run, and set the tone for future successes for the
young and talented players coming through the
Toronto Lynx system.
The Toronto Lynx Soccer Club expanded in the fall of
2004 upon acquiring the W-League franchise
rights for the city of Toronto, who began play as
the Toronto Lady Lynx in the spring of 2005
at Centennial Park Stadium in Toronto. The W-League
represents the highest level of women's soccer in
North America. In 2009, 37 teams will take the
field, in three conferences: Eastern Conference
(Atlantic Division & Northeast Division; Central
Conference (Great Lakes Division and Midwest
Division) and the Western Conference. The Lady Lynx
will be playing in the newly-renamed Great Lakes
Division of the Central Conference along with the
Ottawa Fury, Hamilton Lady Avalanche, Laval Comets,
London Gryphons, Quebec City Arsenal, Buffalo Flash,
and Western New York FC. The Vancouver Whitecaps
of the Western Conference round out the Canadian
content of the league.
Over the years, the Toronto Lynx have produced some
fine talent as attested by Lynx alumni and star
players such as Paul Stalteri, Chris Pozniak, Marco
Reda, Dwayne De Rosario, Pat Onstad, Atiba
Hutchinson and Adrian Serioux, amongst others.
HOME VENUE:
The
Toronto Lynx and Lady Lynx will split the 2009
season between two primary venues: Centennial Park
Stadium and the newly rebuilt Varsity Centre on the
campus of the University of Toronto.
The Lynx played out of Varsity Stadium in downtown
Toronto from 1997 to 2001. Varsity Stadium was
demolished in 2002 to make way for a new proposed
development at the University of Toronto and as a
result, the Lynx moved to picturesque Centennial
Park Stadium in Etobicoke in 2002. This
community stadium is located in Centennial Park in
the west end of the city providing Torontonians with
high quality sports facilities from an Olympic pool,
ski chalet, conservatory, golf, mini-indy, indoor
soccer facility, picnic areas and of course,
Centennial Park Stadium. Centennial Park Stadium has
a full sports complex and can accommodate up to
5,000 fans with lawn seating.
TORONTO LYNX MISSION:
The city of Toronto is a city of nations with many
diverse ethnic communities that have brought a great
passion and knowledge of the game. They have
succeeded in passing this love on to their children
who play the game in greater numbers than ever
before. The Toronto Lynx provides a vehicle for
growing this Canadian soccer talent. Our mission is
to:
-
To develop and showcase Canadian the highest
level of male and female amateur soccer talent
in Canada
-
To develop and inspire youth soccer talent
-
To bring together diverse groups in Toronto
through the passion of the world's beautiful
game
The Lynx provide high quality male and female soccer
play in a family-friendly and entertaining setting
that's very affordable. Many of the male and female
players on the Toronto Lynx roster have played for
Canada's national and Olympic teams. Over the
years, the Toronto Lynx has sent a number of players
to European clubs to further their careers and
showcase the growing talent we have here in our
country.
Soccer has mass appeal and participation because of
its status as the world's game. Soccer is perceived
as being a healthy and non-violent sport and with
the great number of our young that play soccer and
the many young soccer fans that the Toronto Lynx are
attracting, the future looks very bright indeed. The
future augurs well for the sport as the entire North
American soccer scene is growing rapidly. Being at
the apex of the playing hierarchy in Ontario, the
club is effectively bridging the gap between the
recreational/amateur side of the game and
spectatorship in support for the highest level
played.
With committed ownership, enthusiastic community
support and strong corporate sponsors, the Toronto
Lynx continue to build on its past successes. Fans
are treated to world-class male and female soccer
and receive the best sports entertainment value in
the GTA.
The Toronto Lynx aim to reach all age groups in the
soccer community and the many ethnic groups that
call the Toronto area home via the many community
outreach programs that the club has established. The
Lynx have built a foundation of loyal fans via the
following exciting community outreach programs:
The Toronto Lynx School Program allows
educators to enhance their physical education
programs through the delivery of soccer clinics by
Toronto Lynx players and educational presentations
on lifestyle issues. This is capped off every spring
with an educational field trip to witness a Lynx
match and Lady Lynx match.
The Toronto Lynx also partners with many Youth
Soccer Clubs in Southern Ontario providing
mentorship programs and special packages for club
outings to Lynx and Lady Lynx home games. Game day
is often a very exciting time for the many young
teams that come out to games where they have the
opportunity to be a part of the pre-game ceremonies,
to showcase their talent presenting mini scrimmages
at half time and to meet their heroes after the
match. Affiliations with the many youth clubs and
associations in our province is growing stronger
every year with many activities that bring our youth
and their Lynx heroes together on and off the field.
The Toronto Lynx Corporate Care Program
permits charitable organizations serving youth to
attend Toronto Lynx and Lady Lynx home games and
also the popular Summer Fantasy Camps courtesy of
corporate sponsors. The benefit of these outings to
the underprivileged youth is immeasurable.
The Toronto Lynx Theme Days at home games
honour the many diverse groups in our city and
permit these to proudly
and actively showcase their unique culture and
talent during the pre-game ceremonies and at
half-time through choirs, bands, demonstrations,
mini- games, fundraisers and other promotional
activities. Successful community partnerships
through these theme days are paramount to the Lynx'
continued growth and popularity.
The Toronto Lynx Event Team (players/mascot)
take part in many Community Events throughout the
year which are often tied to the many community
partnerships. These may include fairs, conferences,
banquets, tournaments and barbecues in support of
many community groups in our city. The Lynx partner
with many social, corporate and sports groups in
support of their worthwhile causes while receiving
support for the fine Canadian soccer talent being
showcased by the Lynx.
The Toronto Lynx also host International Friendly
Matches which are a source of great pride for
the ethnic communities from which they originate.
These games allow the Toronto Lynx to showcase a
high brand of pro soccer and to establish even
closer ties to the ethnic community from which the
club originates. In the past, visiting
clubs have included:
-
2005: Dungannon Swifts, First Division, Ireland
- 2002: 1860 Munich, German Bundesliga, W 1-0
- 2000: Reggina, Serie A, Italy L 2-0
- 1999: Santa Clara, Division One, Portugal L 2-1
- 1998: Persopolis, First Division, Iran W 2-0 |
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