Toronto Police Service and Lynx Partner
Published on August 17, 2005 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Toronto Lynx News Release
(TORONTO, ON) - The Toronto Lynx Soccer Club along with the Toronto Police Service and Toronto Parks and Recreation teamed up this season to mentor and inspire at-risk youth in the GTA to greater heights through the world's beautiful game. The program named "Kids Involving Cops for Knowledge and Sport" or "For K.I.C.K.S." provides soccer skills and life skills training with a view to enhancing their self confidence and team building skills and challenging their energies into meaningful activities. These highly successful "For K.I.C.K.S." soccer clinics have already been delivered in two neighourhoods this year by police officers from Divisions 31, 51 and 55 along with Lynx coaching staff and Lynx players. On May 14th Lynx veteran, Rick Titus, and Lynx Technical Consultant, Dick Howard, delivered the first soccer clinic in the Division 31 community as part of the Annual Community Barbeque and Open House. Lynx and Lady Lynx players with police officers followed this with two additional clinics at York University on July 21st and in Cabbagetown on August 5th.
This weekend, the For K.I.C.K.S. Program will be capped off with an end of summer clinic/tournament on Sunday, August 21st from 1:00-4:00pm at Centennial Park followed by the Awards Ceremonies and an outing to the Lynx/Puerto Rico match kicking off at 6:00pm. Over 264 children will take part in the tournament and will be mentored by approximately 42 police officers along with Lynx players and coaching staff. Staff Superintendent Peter Sloly from the Toronto Police Service who is a soccer fan himself and played for the Toronto Blizzard alongside Lynx assistant coach, Lyndon Hooper, supports the program wholehearted saying, "These kids, because of limited acess or insufficient opportunity, may not have the chance to get out and participate in extra-curricular activities. For K.I.C.K.S. gives them a chance to try something new and gives us the chance to have a positive influence as mentors to young children." Nicole Hartrell, the owner and Chief Operating Officer of the Toronto Lynx Soccer Club adds, "I would like thank everyone who has made these training sessions possible. In particular, I would like to recognize the dedication and leadership of Dick Howard and Peter Sloly who have initiated this project. Whenever, we can make a difference in the lives of these youth, it's a good thing!"
TORONTO LYNX VERSUS PUERTO RICO THIS SUNDAY
The Toronto Lynx will welcome the Puerto Rico Islanders to Centennial Park Stadium this Sunday, August 28th at 6pm for the Lynx annual Multicultural Night presented by Unico and Lynx media partner CHIN International. Fans in attendance will be treated to the Unico Halftime Shootout moderated by CHIN International personality, Sonya Rea and a ceremonial kickoff by Mr. CHIN Bikini, Justin Cowley. The first 900 fans through the gates will also receive a complimentary CD courtesy of Unico and all fans in attendance will be eligible to win great Unico prizes throughout the game.
On the field, the Lynx will be looking to snap a 6-game winless streak and return to the form that saw them win two-straight matches to begin July. Historically, the Lynx have had success against the Islanders, holding a 3-0-1 edge in the all-time series including a 4-4 draw in Toronto on May 28th. That match may have been the most exciting of the season for the Lynx who battled back from a 3-0 halftime deficit to take a 4-3 lead in injury time, only to have Puerto Rico equalize seconds before the final whistle. In that match, star midfielder Jamie Dodds scored a goal and had two assists to earn the USL Player of the Week, however Lynx Head Coach, Hubert Busby Jr., will be without Dodds and midfielder Sita-Taty Matondo on Sunday due to suspensions. Striker, Dave Simpson, who scored the first two goals of his Lynx career in the first match versus Puerto Rico has shown improvement of late and has been in Busby's starting lineup for the past two matches.
In their second season in the USL First Division, the Puerto Rico Islanders have shown dramatic improvement on the field. After finishing their first season with a 5-17-6 record, the Islanders sit at 7-9-4 this year with matches in Montreal tonight and Rochester on Friday, August 19th before arriving in Toronto. The Islanders are in the thick of the playoff race sitting in 8th place just 3 points behind the Portland Timbers for the 6th and final playoff spot. A big reason for the improvement this season, has been the performances of strikers Mauricio Salles and Corey Woolfolk. Both rank in the USL First Division's top 10 in points with Salles recording 9 goals and 1 assist and Woolfolk contributing 7 goals and 2 assists.
2005 LYNX SILENT AUCTION FOR GAME WORN JERSEYS
Toronto Lynx and Lady Lynx soccer fans will once again be able to bid on the official jersey worn by their favourite player during the 2005 season at the last regular season home game on Monday, September 5th at 4pm. Bidding will begin approximately one hour before kick off at Centennial Park Stadium. Fans will be able to bid for the official jersey right off the back of their favourite Lynx player and have it autographed immediately following the match. Jerseys from the Eastern Conference Finalist Lady Lynx players will also be available for bidding with several of the Lady Lynx players on hand for a meet and greet and autographing session following the match."We expect that interest in bidding for the Lady Lynx jerseys in particular will be high given their exceptional record in an inaugural season, so we encourage fans to set this date aside on their calendar!", says Mike LeBlanc, the Director of Sales and Marketing for the club.
USL First Division Stories from August 17, 2005
- Toronto Police Service and Lynx Partner - Toronto Lynx
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