The Inaugural Americas Rugby League Nines Championship

This afternoon Teena and I were at the Americas Rugby League Nines Championship at Lamport Stadium in Toronto. This was the first of its kind and will take place every two years.  I am unsure if the location will be rotated.

The men's tournament consisted of four teams, Canada Wolverines, USA Hawks, Latin Heat and the Reggae Warriors competing for the Championship. The women's competition had three teams from Canada, Ontario and Jamaica.

The tournament was over 6 hours long and featured 11 matches. Teena and I wondered if we might take a break and go home in the middle (we live a 10 minute walk away) but enjoyed the action and stayed for the entire afternoon.

The women played a round robin tournament with the winner receiving the silver trophy on the left. The men played a round robin with the top two teams playing a sudden death match for the other.

Canada won the women's division with a 2-0 record. The scores:
Canada 28 - Ontario - 8
Ontario 24 - Jamaica- 4
Canada 26 - Jamaica - 0

Some pictures:

On the men's side, Canada and the USA met in their final game of the round robin and tied 14-14. They headed to the championship game with each team sporting a 2-0-1 record.

The first half was close with the teams tied 4-4 but the USA prevailed in the second half to take the inaugural trophy by a 20-8 score. Jamaica took third place by beating Latin Heat 34-4.

Before looking at some action form this match, I want to show how tough these players are. I'm not sure if this player from Canada was protecting a broken nose but I've never seen a tape job like this. In every game, he never shied away from the action as you can see in Teena's action shot below.

Here are some photos from the men's tournament.

It was a fun afternoon. If the next tournament is back at Lamport Stadium, we'll certainly be there.

Marlies Sweep Rochester in AHL Quarter Finals

Tonight my friends, Roger and Jacob, joined me for game three of the best of five quarter final series between the Toronto Marlies and the Rochester Americans. Toronto came home with a two games to nothing advantage and would clinch the series with a win tonight.

Toronto scored the only goal of the first period. Here is the action a second before Adam Brooks put the puck in.

It was an action packed, exciting and tense game throughout.

Twice a period the ice was cleaned of chewed-up ice and snow.

This gives you the idea where the ice and snow comes from.

Rochester tied it in the second but Toronto took the lead again two minutes later with another Adam Brooks goal.

The final period was a busy one for Marlie goaltender, Kasimir Kaskisuo, as the puck was constantly in Toronto's end for most of the period. During the game, Kaskisuo made 28 saves, most of them very tough. With the Rochester goalie pulled, Adam Brooks, yes, him again, threw the puck down the ice from his own end for an empty net goal to clinch the game 3-1 and take the series 3-0.

Kaskisuo the moment the final bell went at the end of the game.

The team converges to congratulate each other.

It was a hard hitting game but the players still shake after it was over.

A salute to the fans who were all hoarse.

Jacob and I thought goalie Kaskisuo should have been the first star. Roger said Brooks' hattrick should make him the first star. Roger was right.

Here is Brooks being interviewed afterwards.

The Marlies will face the Cleveland Monsters in round two. I'm looking forward to it.

Monster Jam Toronto 2018

Tonight Teena and I went to see Monster Jam at the Rogers Centre. This is our third year going and it's always fun. There are three events that determine in the end an overall winner for the night.

Racing (Head -to-Head) - Competitors report to a starting line. On a green signal, the trucks head along a prescribed course to a finish line with first to legally complete the course advancing in competition. Winners will advance until two trucks remain with the finals determining the racing champion. Racing may be preceded by qualifying to establish brackets.

Two-Wheel Skills Challenge – Monster Jam drivers will have multiple opportunities to perform the best stunt, bringing at least two wheels into the air. This is a judged competition.

Freestyle – Competitors perform tricks and stunts throughout the floor area in a designated time. This is a judged competition.

First up was the racing.

And the winner was Son Uva Digger driven by Ryan Anderson.

Next up was the Two Wheel Challenge. Sometimes things go well, and then sometimes they don't.

More pictures from that event.

And the winner was Mad Scientist driven by Lee O'Donnell

The final and most fun event is the freestyle.

Many trucks broke including this one. Look at the front right wheel while in the air. it wasn't going to end well.

More shots of the event.

An attempted back flip that just didn't work out.

Three cars attempted the back flip. Two were successful including the winner Overkill Evolution driven by Mike Vaters  II.

And the overall champion of the night? Gas Monkey garage driven by B.J. Johnson.

It's was a another fun show and Teena and I will be sure to be back for next years show.