June 23rd FIFA Women's World Cup Experience

Last night the Round of 16 at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup concluded with the defending Champions Japan taking on the Netherlands.

Going into the Tournament, I wasn't sure if I wanted to attend a game or not. I wanted to, but I didn't want to go just for the sake of going and spend money only to see a lopsided 6-0 game. In a perfect world, I wanted to see a game that involved Canada. Unfortunately, the games that Canada had or have a chance to play in were all on weekends when I am busy doing other things.

When I went down to the Fan Zone last night I wasn't planning on going to the game. I wanted to see what the Fan Zone was all about. I thought it was a good experience with a lot of things to do for all ages.

As I was still undecided to go to the game or not, I finally decided to go. I kinda wanted to see what the event was like compared to the 2010 Winter Olympics events were like in Vancouver. Furthermore, I knew it was going to be a good atmosphere as their are Canadians living in Vancouver that have roots from both Japan and Holland.

After buying a ticket, I got to my seat with ten minutes to spare. I was sitting in the upper bowl of B.C. Place which was really cool because most events at BC Place the upper deck isn't open.

The game was highly competitive as Japan was just a tad better than the underdog dutch team making  their first appearance at the FIFA Women's World Cup. The game ended 2-1 but the scoreline isn't the important thing. I think it is outstanding that the gap between the defending Champions and a team making its first ever WWC appearance is this small right now.

Compare it to other Women's sports right now such as Women's Hockey. Women's hockey has been an Olympic sport since 1998 and in the 17 years, their are still only two teams that can realistically win Olympic Gold. (Canada and USA).

As it stands right now, the Women's World Cup is down to eight teams. Personally, I think they're six teams that realistically have a chance at winning the Women's World Cup. The only two exceptions would be China and Austraillia, as both of them are playing with a bit of house money as they have already surpassed expectations.

I had a really good time at the game last night, defenitly more Japan fans than Dutch fans with the attendance just over 28,000. For those Canadians that are unsure if they want to go to the Quarterfinal game against England, I suggest you go. It will be an amazing atmosphere Saturday at B.C. Place with everyone wearing red.

EPL Schedule Released

The English Premier League, (England’s top flight league) is getting set for another season. Earlier this morning, the 2015/16 fixtures were announced for the upcoming season. The EPL also known as the BPL (Barclays Premier League) is a 20 team leauge with a 38 game schedule.

In contrast to leagues in North America, there is very little room for error during the season. To continue, there is also only four playoff spots that go to the Champions League and three other berths that go to playoff draw that go to a tournament called the Europa League. However, the Europa League’s two out of three spots are given to the Capital One Cup winner and the FA Cup winner.

The big difference from the EPL to any North American League is relagation. At the end of the year, the three worst teams in the EPL go to the league below, while the top two teams and a playoff winner from teams 3-6 from the league below go to the EPL. The three teams that went down last year were Hull City, Queens Park Rangers and Burnley. On the opposite side, the three teams that came up were AFC Bournemouth, Watford and Norwich City. 

Without overwhelming everyone with other differences, (there is more) Here is the full list of matches for the 2015/16 season:

8 August 2015

AFC Bournemouth v Aston Villa    #BOUAVL
Arsenal v West Ham United    #ARSWHU
Chelsea v Swansea City    #CHESWA
Everton v Watford    #EVEWAT
Leicester City v Sunderland    #LEISUN
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur    #MUNTOT
Newcastle United v Southampton    #NEWSOU
Norwich City v Crystal Palace    #NORCRY
Stoke City v Liverpool    #STKLIV
West Bromwich Albion v Manchester City    #WBAMCI

15 August 2015

Aston Villa v Manchester United    #AVLMUN
Crystal Palace v Arsenal    #CRYARS
Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth    #LIVBOU
Manchester City v Chelsea    #MCICHE
Southampton v Everton    #SOUEVE
Sunderland v Norwich City    #SUNNOR
Swansea City v Newcastle United    #SWANEW
Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City    #TOTSTK
Watford v West Bromwich Albion    #WATWBA
West Ham United v Leicester City    #WHULEI

22 August 2015

Arsenal v Liverpool    #ARSLIV
Crystal Palace v Aston Villa    #CRYAVL
Everton v Manchester City    #EVEMCI
Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur    #LEITOT
Manchester United v Newcastle United    #MUNNEW
Norwich City v Stoke City    #NORSTK
Sunderland v Swansea City    #SUNSWA
Watford v Southampton    #WATSOU
West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea    #WBACHE
West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth    #WHUBOU

29 August 2015

AFC Bournemouth v Leicester City    #BOULEI
Aston Villa v Sunderland    #AVLSUN
Chelsea v Crystal Palace    #CHECRY
Liverpool v West Ham United #LIVWHU
Manchester City v Watford    #MCIWAT
Newcastle United v Arsenal    #NEWARS
Southampton v Norwich City    #SOUNOR
Stoke City v West Bromwich Albion    #STKWBA
Swansea City v Manchester United    #SWAMUN
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton    #TOTEVE

12 September 2015

Arsenal v Stoke City    #ARSSTK
Crystal Palace v Manchester City    #CRYMCI
Everton v Chelsea    #EVECHE
Leicester City v Aston Villa    #LEIAVL
Manchester United v Liverpool    #MUNLIV
Norwich City v AFC Bournemouth    #NORBOU
Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur    #SUNTOT
Watford v Swansea City    #WATSWA
West Bromwich Albion v Southampton    #WBASOU
West Ham United v Newcastle United    #WHUNEW

19 September 2015

AFC Bournemouth v Sunderland #BOUSUN
Aston Villa v West Bromwich Albion    #AVLWBA
Chelsea v Arsenal    #CHEARS
Liverpool v Norwich City    #LIVNOR
Manchester City v West Ham United    #MCIWHU
Newcastle United v Watford    #NEWWAT
Southampton v Manchester United    #SOUMUN
Stoke City v Leicester City    #STKLEI
Swansea City v Everton    #SWAEVE
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace    #TOTCRY

26 September 2015

Leicester City v Arsenal    #LEIARS
Liverpool v Aston Villa    #LIVAVL
Manchester United v Sunderland    #MUNSUN
Newcastle United v Chelsea    #NEWCHE
Southampton v Swansea City    #SOUSWA
Stoke City v AFC Bournemouth    #STKBOU
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City    #TOTMCI
Watford v Crystal Palace    #WATCRY
West Bromwich Albion v Everton    #WBAEVE
West Ham United v Norwich City    #WHUNOR

3 October 2015

AFC Bournemouth v Watford    #BOUWAT
Arsenal v Manchester United    #ARSMUN
Aston Villa v Stoke City    #AVLSTK
Chelsea v Southampton    #CHESOU
Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion    #CRYWBA
Everton v Liverpool    #EVELIV
Manchester City v Newcastle United    #MCINEW
Norwich City v Leicester City    #NORLEI
Sunderland v West Ham United    #SUNWHU
Swansea City v Tottenham Hotspur    #SWATOT

17 October 2015

Chelsea v Aston Villa    #CHEAVL
Crystal Palace v West Ham United    #CRYWHU
Everton v Manchester United    #EVEMUN
Manchester City v AFC Bournemouth    #MCIBOU
Newcastle United v Norwich City    #NEWNOR
Southampton v Leicester City    #SOULEI
Swansea City v Stoke City    #SWASTK
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool    #TOTLIV
Watford v Arsenal    #WATARS
West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland    #WBASUN

24 October 2015

AFC Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur    #BOUTOT
Arsenal v Everton    #ARSEVE
Aston Villa v Swansea City    #AVLSWA
Leicester City v Crystal Palace    #LEICRY
Liverpool v Southampton    #LIVSOU
Manchester United v Manchester City    #MUNMCI
Norwich City v West Bromwich Albion    #NORWBA
Stoke City v Watford    #STKWAT
Sunderland v Newcastle United    #SUNNEW
West Ham United v Chelsea    #WHUCHE

31 October 2015

Chelsea v Liverpool    #CHELIV
Crystal Palace v Manchester United    #CRYMUN
Everton v Sunderland    #EVESUN
Manchester City v Norwich City    #MCINOR
Newcastle United v Stoke City    #NEWSTK
Southampton v AFC Bournemouth    #SOUBOU
Swansea City v Arsenal    #SWAARS
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa    #TOTAVL
Watford v West Ham United    #WATWHU
West Bromwich Albion v Leicester City    #WBALEI

7 November 2015

AFC Bournemouth v Newcastle United    #BOUNEW
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur    #ARSTOT
Aston Villa v Manchester City    #AVLMCI
Leicester City v Watford    #LEIWAT
Liverpool v Crystal Palace    #LIVCRY
Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion    #MUNWBA
Norwich City v Swansea City    #NORSWA
Stoke City v Chelsea    #STKCHE
Sunderland v Southampton    #SUNSOU
West Ham United v Everton    #WHUEVE

21 November 2015

Chelsea v Norwich City    #CHENOR
Crystal Palace v Sunderland    #CRYSUN
Everton v Aston Villa    #EVEAVL
Manchester City v Liverpool    #MCILIV
Newcastle United v Leicester City    #NEWLEI
Southampton v Stoke City    #SOUSTK
Swansea City v AFC Bournemouth    #SWABOU
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United    #TOTWHU
Watford v Manchester United    #WATMUN
West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal    #WBAARS

28 November 2015

AFC Bournemouth v Everton    #BOUEVE
Aston Villa v Watford    #AVLWAT
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United    #CRYNEW
Leicester City v Manchester United    #LEIMUN
Liverpool v Swansea City    #LIVSWA
Manchester City v Southampton    #MCISOU
Norwich City v Arsenal    #NORARS
Sunderland v Stoke City    #SUNSTK
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea    #TOTCHE
West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion    #WHUWBA

5 December 2015

Arsenal v Sunderland    #ARSSUN
Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth    #CHEBOU
Everton v Crystal Palace    #EVECRY
Manchester United v West Ham United    #MUNWHU
Newcastle United v Liverpool    #NEWLIV
Southampton v Aston Villa    #SOUAVL
Stoke City v Manchester City    #STKMCI
Swansea City v Leicester City    #SWALEI
Watford v Norwich City    #WATNOR
West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham Hotspur    #WBATOT

12 December 2015

AFC Bournemouth v Manchester United    #BOUMUN
Aston Villa v Arsenal    #AVLARS
Crystal Palace v Southampton    #CRYSOU
Leicester City v Chelsea    #LEICHE
Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion    #LIVWBA
Manchester City v Swansea City    #MCISWA
Norwich City v Everton    #NOREVE
Sunderland v Watford    #SUNWAT
Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United    #TOTNEW
West Ham United v Stoke City    #WHUSTK

19 December 2015

Arsenal v Manchester City    #ARSMCI
Chelsea v Sunderland    #CHESUN
Everton v Leicester City #EVELEI
Manchester United v Norwich City    #MUNNOR
Newcastle United v Aston Villa    #NEWAVL
Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur    #SOUTOT
Stoke City v Crystal Palace    #STKCRY
Swansea City v West Ham United    #SWAWHU
Watford v Liverpool    #WATLIV
West Bromwich Albion v AFC Bournemouth #WBABOU

26 December 2015

AFC Bournemouth v Crystal Palace #BOUCRY
Aston Villa v West Ham United    #AVLWHU
Chelsea v Watford    #CHEWAT
Liverpool v Leicester City    #LIVLEI
Manchester City v Sunderland    #MCISUN
Newcastle United v Everton    #NEWEVE
Southampton v Arsenal    #SOUARS
Stoke City v Manchester United    #STKMUN
Swansea City v West Bromwich Albion    #SWAWBA
Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City #TOTNOR

28 December 2015

Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth    #ARSBOU
Crystal Palace v Swansea City    #CRYSWA
Everton v Stoke City    #EVESTK
Leicester City v Manchester City    #LEIMCI
Manchester United v Chelsea    #MUNCHE
Norwich City v Aston Villa    #NORAVL
Sunderland v Liverpool    #SUNLIV
Watford v Tottenham Hotspur    #WATTOT
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United    #WBANEW
West Ham United v Southampton    #WHUSOU

2 January 2016

Arsenal v Newcastle United    #ARSNEW
Crystal Palace v Chelsea    #CRYCHE
Everton v Tottenham Hotspur    #EVETOT
Leicester City v AFC Bournemouth    #LEIBOU
Manchester United v Swansea City    #MUNSWA
Norwich City v Southampton    #NORSOU
Sunderland v Aston Villa    #SUNAVL
Watford v Manchester City    #WATMCI
West Bromwich Albion v Stoke City    #WBASTK
West Ham United v Liverpool    #WHULIV

12 January 2016

7.45pm kick-offs unless stated
AFC Bournemouth v West Ham United    #BOUWHU
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace    #AVLCRY
8pm Liverpool v Arsenal    #LIVARS
Swansea City v Sunderland    #SWASUN

13 January 2016

7.45pm kick-offs unless stated
Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion    #CHEWBA
Manchester City v Everton    #MCIEVE
Newcastle United v Manchester United    #NEWMUN
Southampton v Watford    #SOUWAT
Stoke City v Norwich City    #STKNOR
8pm Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City    #TOTLEI

16 January 2016

AFC Bournemouth v Norwich City    #BOUNOR
Aston Villa v Leicester City    #AVLLEI
Chelsea v Everton    #CHEEVE
Liverpool v Manchester United    #LIVMUN
Manchester City v Crystal Palace    #MCICRY
Newcastle United v West Ham United    #NEWWHU
Southampton v West Bromwich Albion    #SOUWBA
Stoke City v Arsenal    #STKARS
Swansea City v Watford    #SWAWAT
Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland    #TOTSUN

23 January 2016

Arsenal v Chelsea #ARSCHE
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur    #CRYTOT
Everton v Swansea City    #EVESWA
Leicester City v Stoke City    #LEISTK
Manchester United v Southampton    #MUNSOU
Norwich City v Liverpool    #NORLIV
Sunderland v AFC Bournemouth    #SUNBOU
Watford v Newcastle United    #WATNEW
West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa    #WBAAVL
West Ham United v Manchester City    #WHUMCI

2 February 2016

7.45pm kick-offs unless stated
Arsenal v Southampton    #ARSSOU
8pm Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth    #CRYBOU
Leicester City v Liverpool    #LEILIV
8pm Manchester United v Stoke City    #MUNSTK
Norwich City v Tottenham Hotspur    #NORTOT
Sunderland v Manchester City    #SUNMCI
Watford v Chelsea    #WATCHE
8pm West Bromwich Albion v Swansea City    #WBASWA
West Ham United v Aston Villa    #WHUAVL

3 February 2016

7.45pm Everton v Newcastle United #EVENEW

6 February 2016

AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal    #BOUARS
Aston Villa v Norwich City    #AVLNOR
Chelsea v Manchester United    #CHEMUN
Liverpool v Sunderland    #LIVSUN
Manchester City v Leicester City    #MCILEI
Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion    #NEWWBA
Southampton v West Ham United    #SOUWHU
Stoke City v Everton    #STKEVE
Swansea City v Crystal Palace    #SWACRY
Tottenham Hotspur v Watford    #TOTWAT

13 February 2016

AFC Bournemouth v Stoke City #BOUSTK
Arsenal v Leicester City    #ARSLEI
Aston Villa v Liverpool    #AVLLIV
Chelsea v Newcastle United    #CHENEW
Crystal Palace v Watford    #CRYWAT
Everton v West Bromwich Albion    #EVEWBA
Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur    #MCITOT
Norwich City v West Ham United    #NORWHU
Sunderland v Manchester United    #SUNMUN
Swansea City v Southampton    #SWASOU

27 February 2016

Leicester City v Norwich City    #LEINOR
Liverpool v Everton    #LIVEVE
Manchester United v Arsenal    #MUNARS
Newcastle United v Manchester City    #NEWMCI
Southampton v Chelsea    #SOUCHE
Stoke City v Aston Villa    #STKAVL
Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea City    #TOTSWA
Watford v AFC Bournemouth    #WATBOU
West Bromwich Albion v Crystal Palace    #WBACRY
West Ham United v Sunderland    #WHUSUN

1 March 2016

7.45pm kick-offs unless stated
AFC Bournemouth v Southampton    #BOUSOU
Arsenal v Swansea City    #ARSSWA
Aston Villa v Everton    #AVLEVE
Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion    #LEIWBA
8pm Liverpool v Manchester City    #LIVMCI
8pm Manchester United v Watford    #MUNWAT
Norwich City v Chelsea    #NORCHE
Sunderland v Crystal Palace    #SUNCRY
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur    #WHUTOT

2 March 2016

7.45pm Stoke City v Newcastle United    #STKNEW

5 March 2016

Chelsea v Stoke City    #CHESTK
Crystal Palace v Liverpool    #CRYLIV
Everton v West Ham United    #EVEWHU
Manchester City v Aston Villa    #MCIAVL
Newcastle United v AFC Bournemouth    #NEWBOU
Southampton v Sunderland    #SOUSUN
Swansea City v Norwich City    #SWANOR
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal    #TOTARS
Watford v Leicester City    #WATLEI
West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United #WBAMUN

12 March 2016

AFC Bournemouth v Swansea City    #BOUSWA
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion    #ARSWBA
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur    #AVLTOT
Leicester City v Newcastle United    #LEINEW
Liverpool v Chelsea    #LIVCHE
Manchester United v Crystal Palace    #MUNCRY
Norwich City v Manchester City    #NORMCI
Stoke City v Southampton #STKSOU
Sunderland v Everton    #SUNEVE
West Ham United v Watford    #WHUWAT

19 March 2016

Chelsea v West Ham United    #CHEWHU
Crystal Palace v Leicester City    #CRYLEI
Everton v Arsenal    #EVEARS
Manchester City v Manchester United    #MCIMUN
Newcastle United v Sunderland    #NEWSUN
Southampton v Liverpool    #SOULIV
Swansea City v Aston Villa    #SWAAVL
Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth    #TOTBOU
Watford v Stoke City    #WATSTK
West Bromwich Albion v Norwich City    #WBANOR

2 April 2016

AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City    #BOUMCI
Arsenal v Watford    #ARSWAT
Aston Villa v Chelsea    #AVLCHE
Leicester City v Southampton    #LEISOU
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur    #LIVTOT
Manchester United v Everton    #MUNEVE
Norwich City v Newcastle United    #NORNEW
Stoke City v Swansea City    #STKSWA
Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion    #SUNWBA
West Ham United v Crystal Palace    #WHUCRY

9 April 2016

Aston Villa v AFC Bournemouth    #AVLBOU
Crystal Palace v Norwich City    #CRYNOR
Liverpool v Stoke City #LIVSTK
Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion    #MCIWBA
Southampton v Newcastle United    #SOUNEW
Sunderland v Leicester City    #SUNLEI
Swansea City v Chelsea    #SWACHE
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United    #TOTMUN
Watford v Everton    #WATEVE
West Ham United v Arsenal    #WHUARS

16 April 2016

AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool    #BOULIV
Arsenal v Crystal Palace    #ARSCRY
Chelsea v Manchester City    #CHEMCI
Everton v Southampton    #EVESOU
Leicester City v West Ham United    #LEIWHU
Manchester United v Aston Villa    #MUNAVL
Newcastle United v Swansea City    #NEWSWA
Norwich City v Sunderland    #NORSUN
Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur    #STKTOT
West Bromwich Albion v Watford    #WBAWAT

23 April 2016

AFC Bournemouth v Chelsea    #BOUCHE
Aston Villa v Southampton    #AVLSOU
Crystal Palace v Everton    #CRYEVE
Leicester City v Swansea City    #LEISWA
Liverpool v Newcastle United    #LIVNEW
Manchester City v Stoke City    #MCISTK
Norwich City v Watford    #NORWAT
Sunderland v Arsenal    #SUNARS
Tottenham Hotspur v West Bromwich Albion    #TOTWBA
West Ham United v Manchester United    #WHUMUN

30 April 2016

Arsenal v Norwich City    #ARSNOR
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur    #CHETOT
Everton v AFC Bournemouth    #EVEBOU
Manchester United v Leicester City    #MUNLEI
Newcastle United v Crystal Palace    #NEWCRY
Southampton v Manchester City    #SOUMCI
Stoke City v Sunderland    #STKSUN
Swansea City v Liverpool    #SWALIV
Watford v Aston Villa    #WATAVL
West Bromwich Albion v West Ham United    #WBAWHU

7 May 2016

AFC Bournemouth v West Bromwich Albion    #BOUWBA
Aston Villa v Newcastle United    #AVLNEW
Crystal Palace v Stoke City    #CRYSTK
Leicester City v Everton    #LEIEVE
Liverpool v Watford    #LIVWAT
Manchester City v Arsenal    #MCIARS
Norwich City v Manchester United    #NORMUN
Sunderland v Chelsea    #SUNCHE
Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton    #TOTSOU
West Ham United v Swansea City    #WHUSWA

15 May 2016

Arsenal v Aston Villa    #ARSAVL
Chelsea v Leicester City    #CHELEI
Everton v Norwich City    #EVENOR
Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth    #MUNBOU
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur    #NEWTOT
Southampton v Crystal Palace    #SOUCRY
Stoke City v West Ham United    #STKWHU
Swansea City v Manchester City    #SWAMCI
Watford v Sunderland    #WATSUN
West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool    #WBALIV

Teams play each other twice in a season, every month or so, there will be a one week break for players to travel to their respected country and represent them during international break. Game times are not announced yet, unless given other wise in BST. Sometimes, matches will be moved if a team has another game scheduled in a different Cup competition.

Highlights for Week 1 included the Chelsea vs Swansea City game and the Man United vs Tottenham Hotspur game. In the coming weeks, game times and dates will be confirmed. Sometimes a game will be moved from a Saturday to a Sunday for different reasons.

Winning the Group with a Slow Start is the Best thing for Canadian Soccer

The Canadian Women’s National soccer team secured a top spot in Group A with a 1-1 tie against the Netherlands at the FIFA Women’s World Cup held in Canada. Despite the slow start to the tournament for the Canadians, the fact that Canada has won Group A, while seemingly underachieving proves to be a major success for Canada.

Rewind four years earlier in Germany, and getting out of the group stage looked impossible. It is important to keep in mind that because the Canadians are hosts’ in this years World Cup, Canada was benefitted with a formidable group this year.

One win, two draws and two clean sheets has put the Canadians in a great position to advance to the Quarterfinals and better yet the Semi Finals.Before we think to far ahead, lets take a look at where this Canadian Women’s soccer team lines up against the other teams in the world.

It is safe to say, since Canada’s bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics in London, expectations have skyrocketed to astronomical levels for the FIFA World Cup in 2015. Playing at home, also adds massive pressure to the Canadians. However, it also should generate recognition towards Canada, if they should go up against a World power such as Brazil, Germany or the USA.

Right now, Canada is in a better position than most people think. Currently standing at the top of the group, even without playing their best soccer yet. While there is no relatively large target on the Canadians back.

The fans are starting to come to a realization that Canadian Women’s soccer finally can compete with the world’s best. Fans want them to be in the same category as the top teams in the world and the best part of all, it seems as if bronze medals aren’t good enough for Canada anymore. Time will tell if these expectations are unfairly put on Canadian Women’s soccer. In contrast, if this team would have ran the table with three dominate performances, perhaps fans would have grasped a more clearer attitude. But that is not the case, because by winning the group, fans know the best might still be to come, which in turn, should provide Canadians hope that these expectations are to here to stay. 

If that is the case, Canada might be building something special. Christine Sinclair has taken Canada on her shoulders in the last three years hoping to lead Canada to unthinkable heights.Right now, Canada awaits their next opponent and there is a good chance it could be Columbia or Australia. Though, both teams should be favorable for Canada.

All that can be said for now is, that Canadians have seen these expectations rise in Men’s and Women’s tennis the last couple of years. Now, it is the Women’s soccer’s turn for expectations to rise and maintain their high standard. Canadians are finally gaining interest in a sport that has taken the Western Hemisphere by storm, and it is great to see. For Canada, searching for a way to get to the Quarterfinals or Semis, will strengthen expectations for the club, and undoubtedly grow the involvement of the sport within the country along the way.
Editor: Steven Abramo

Bluejays Remain Canada's lone Canadian Team

The Blue-Jays and Nationals will conclude a three game interrelate series today. Before the Nationals relocated to the Nations Capital, this matchup used to be between the only two teams in Canada.

Unfortunately for Canadian baseball fans, Montreal wasn't able to survive the cultural circumstances that they were faced with. Attendance was low the majority of the years and it just wasn't working out  in Montreal.

With new MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in charge of baseball, a bleak glimpse of optimism has sprinkled through the streets of Montreal. During Bud Selig's tenure as MLB commissioner from 1992-2015, (1992-1998 he was acting) he did a lot of good things for the game of baseball. In 1992, their was 26 teams, 4 playoff teams and no inter league play. Fast forward to 2015 when Selig retired their is 30 teams, 10 playoff spots and inter league play throughout the season. 

It is safe to assume that Rob Manfred will do just as much, if not more to impact the game of baseball. There have been many rumours of  many changes including a pitch clock to keep the pace of the game going at a good rate for fans.

Furthermore, with Montreal hosting 4 successful exhibition games over the last two seasons, the chances of Montreal getting their Expos back are as bright as they have ever been. 

Despite all this, their are many hoops to to hurdle in order for Major League Baseball decides to expand, because baseball plays so many games, it would be an unbalanced schedule to only expand by one team. Therefore, there would likely have to be a second team come in as well. 

To continue, if their is any for of expansion their would likely be division realignment. Currently their are six divisions of five teams. (6X5=30) With expansion, their would be a uneven number as 6 doesn't go into 32 evenly. 

For now, it's a wait and see game for Montreal. I would love to see the Expos back. I think it would be great for baseball internationally. Montreal is a very historic city and with a nicer ballpark than Olympic Stadium, it should attract fans from the opposing teams. 

It's a work in progress for Montreal and Canadian baseball fans alike, right now it is just the Blue Jays as Canadians team but maybe one day that changes. 

June 1st Mets 7, Padres 0

The Mets started their west coast road trip late last night with an outstanding performance from Jacob DeGrom who went eight innings while only surrendering two hits and fanning eight.

Daniel Murphy provided the offense going 4-5 with 3 runs scored and in the process driving in 3 RBI's on route to the Mets offense putting up a touchdown with an opening series 7-0 win.

This was a type of win the Mets needed to start a seven game road trip that will see them play two more in San Diego and a four game weekend series in Arizona.

Going into this road-trip the Mets were a very below average 7-15 away from Citi Field. With the Mets finishing a 4-2 home stand, it was vital for the Mets to build on that progress to keep pace with the NL East favorite Nationals.

The Nationals are in the middle of a intriguing series with the underachieving and former in country rival the Toronto Blue Jays. Last night, the two teams were postponed due to rain. Therefore, with the  Mets win they have now slid into a tie for first place with the Nationals.

Despite it only being June, I feel June can sometimes be a really important month of the season. At this point in the season, we know what every team is made out of. The weather is starting to heat up which also will mean the bats will start to heat up. This is when some teams some teams will pull away in the division race and the weaker teams will go from contenders to pretenders. In other words, it will be very interesting to see if the Mets can keep pace all season.

Game two of the series will go tonight as Noah Syndergaard will put his 1.82 ERA on the line as the Mets try to win their 3rd straight as they have won five out of their last seven. First pitch goes at 10:10 ET on SNY.