Torpar

Oxygen thief

Saw my first Toronto Wolfpack game at the weekend. The week previous they played part time side Barrow who I believe came over with 14 players and had to borrow local amateurs, winning 64-0. Saturday though was against full time side and preseason league favourites Leigh Centurions and I expected a much closer game. Maybe it was the extreme heat, humidity made it feel like 42 at kick off, but Leigh were very flat first half were 24-0 down after 40 minutes. Second half was a lot better for Leigh, winning the half 28-22. final score 46-28 Toronto. I was actually quite pleased Leigh played so well second half as they had around 600 fans there. The overall match experience makes it's a good afternoon out. The stadium is a quick streetcar/tram ride from the downtown core, the crowd was closed to 7,000, no doubt swelled a little by it being kids go free day. The crowd itself seemed to a good mix of Canadians, Aussies and English. Compared to other sporting events in the city the beer was fairly cheap. My only slight complaint with the beer is that they only sell craft beers. I get that they are trying to do something different but when it's really hot and I'm just watching sports I'd much rather have a bog standard lager. The stadium itself isn't great imo, it's a city owned facility that's rented out during the week for football, hockey, flag football etc. The stands were two identical concert terraces with metal benches bolted on top, they also open a beer garden where you can watch the game from behind the goal. They could do with raising the fence/netting behind both goals as more than one kick ended up in the street at one end and the car park the other. There's a strong chance Toronto will be promoted to Super League next season, haven't heard any plans about upgrading or moving stadiums, so their current ground would probably be one of the worst in the league. Overall a good experience and I hope they do make the Super League next season, the seethe from raging Northerns will be worth it alone

New schedule is now out. Draft starts tonight, the past few years I've made a point of watching it but not too fussed this year. Fairly obviously Dahlin is going to Buffalo, apart from him and Andrei Svechnikov don't really know many of the other players and not even sure where or if the Leafs have a first round pick. I will be keeping an eye on the later rounds tomorrow though and hoping Liam Kirk from Sheffield gets drafted

So you didn't grow up in Ontario? For years on April 20th they have had the Weed March here called for the legalisation of Cannabis, this year they marched because the Ontario government wants to regulate and control the sale of it, the same as they do with the sale of alcohol. No pleasing some people. I also don't mind the smell of it, my missus smokes it on our balcony almost every day. But I really don't want to be on the subway at 8 am with someone reeking of it, much the same as someone reeking of booze or fags

Where art thou pen? - Statement time

Ridiculously hot day on Saturday, humidity made it feel like 40 degrees, we took the dogs from one end of the city to the other on the subway and bus, very pleased with how they both behaved. Had a picnic at the beach and apparently half the dogs in Toronto were also there, every dog that pasted us had to be growled and barked at but again pretty well behaved. Managed to get a picture combing two of my favourite things while we were there.

I have a craving for German sausage after reading this post (insert Kenneth Williams gif)

Glory hunter! I was at game 1 of the finals and a game from each of the previous rounds. Watched the game on TSN last game, Texas' "goal" was bizarre, whistle had gone and puck didn't cross the line. I believe in the AHL the refs can only use the overhead camera so not sure what they saw.

Ottawa are turning into the Sevco of the NHL. Not NHL I know but the Toronto Marlies beat the Texas Stars in game 7 last night to win the AHL Calder Cup. I'm a big fan of the Marlies, compared to the corporate suits world of the Leafs, the Marlies seem more like the people's team, cheap tickets, beautiful arena, down to earth fans. Shame the beer costs the same as the ACC though.

I think that would depend on whether or not he wrote his name on the stapler in Tipp-Ex, chemicals.

Or put his stapler in jelly

If you don't mind subtitles, as it's mostly in Hebrew and Russian, Shadow of Truth is a great series. The first episode might leave you thinking why they even bothered making this, but the next three answer that. Great watch

It's usually after the MLB Allstar game so around mid July

Ovie finally gets a cup! Lars Eller becomes the first Dane and Nathan Walker becomes the first (Welsh born) Aussie to lift the cup. Looking forward to the draft in a coupe of weeks time now, hopefully Liam Kirk becomes the first English born and trained (3rd UK) player drafted and becomes the first UK born and trained player to actually play in the NHL

I can't tell if "Ingrowing" is part of the joke or not

Humidity made it feel like 38 degrees when I took her out after work yesterday, tongue almost fell out of her head. Overdue haircut coming tomorrow

A Clyde fan calling out racism. Lets keep the banter rangers related!

I think Stevie G (I just spewed a little typing that) should be looking at realistic signing targets, say from recently relegated English Premier sides, I'll take international winger James McClean in the sweep

Officially became a Permanent Resident of Canada this morning, fair chuffed!

Found this quite a good interview for the most part, comes across as quite humble and intelligent. Then at 51.31 he switches into full on deluded *** mode....

What a thoroughly uninspiring changing room. If it wasn't for the picture of some old woman on the wall it would look no different to my high school or some local youth club changing room. It may remind Stevie of his days at Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School

Big fans of the sun after a shitey winter. (I know, the cats could do with a new scratching post)

The wee man taking it easy in the sunshine, no doubt tired after trying to eat all the plants and sneak onto next door's balcony

Send some back over with him, thanks

Our department had a Town Hall meeting (I know, I know…) earlier today. It was held in the conference centre we have, adult woman were getting in a right state about where they were sitting for an hour long meeting. Actually holding seats and telling people they couldn’t sit there so their pals could sit next to them. Not high schoolers, grown women with families.