TORONTO LYNX MEDIA
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
TORONTO POLICE
SERVICE AND LYNX PARTNER FOR AT RISK COMMUNITIES!
Wednesday, August 17,
2005 (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
neighbourhoods 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 access 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.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
DAVE NUTT -- MEDIA & PUBLIC RELATIONS, TORONTO LYNX SOCCER CLUB
416-251-4625 ext.
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