SPORTS SCOOP: For the week of Feb. 20.
North Albion Collegiate Institute's Fenanou Dafinnisse gets set to run in a shot as Jeffreys D. Reid prepares to block the move. Jeffreys won the game by a score of 58 to 57.
Staff photo/IAN KELSO
Here's a guide to community sports events taking place across the city in the coming week.
UNIVERSITY
Toronto has three universities - Ryerson University (Rams), the University of Toronto (Varsity Blues) and York University (the Lions).
The winter sports on tap are all either about to start, or have started, their playoffs. Here's a quick recap:
MEN'S BASKETBALL: going into the regular season finale last weekend, Ryerson (12-8) and Toronto (9-11) had locked up playoff spots and even York at 3-17 actually had a stranglehold on the sixth and final playoff spot.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: going into the regular season finale last weekend, playoff spots were already locked up for Toronto (14-6), Ryerson (11-9) and York (7-13).
Playoffs for both men and women: preliminary round (3-6, 4-5) slated for Feb. 22; quarterfinals Feb. 25.
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL: not the best of years for Toronto teams, which finished 7, 8 and 9 respectively (York 8-10, Toronto 5-13 and Ryerson 3-15. But York did make the preliminary round playoffs, slated to visit second place McMaster Feb. 18.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL: York in first place at 16-2 and Toronto in fourth at 11-7 were set to host opening round quarterfinal games Feb. 18
Championship weekend for both men and women: final four and championship game Feb. 24/25, respectively.
MEN'S HOCKEY: preliminary round best-of-three playoffs were due to wrap up this past weekend. Series included York vs Windsor; Toronto vs Carleton; Ryerson vs Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. At the end of the just completed regular season, in the east division Toronto was fourth (16 wins, 9 losses and 3 overtime losses); and Ryerson seventh (13-12-3). In the west division York was fourth (14-10-4).
WOMEN'S HOCKEY: preliminary round best-of-three playoffs were due to wrap up this past weekend. Series included Toronto vs Western; York vs Queen's. At the end of the just-completed regular season, Toronto was third (15 wins, 10 losses and 1 overtime loss); York was fifth (13-12-1) and Ryerson eleventh and last (1-23-2).
Complete schedules and results available at Ontario University Athletics (OUA) website at http://oua.ca/
COLLEGE
Toronto has several college teams including Humber, Seneca, Centennial and George Brown, with both the men and women playing volleyball and basketball.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Humber finished the just-completed regular season with a perfect 18-0 record in the west region. Toronto's two other participating colleges played in the east region and finished as follows: Seneca fifth (13-7) and George Brown seventh (9-11) and out of the playoffs. Humber earned a bye through this week's preliminary round while Seneca was slated to face off against fourth place Niagara.
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Humber finished the just completed regular season at 17-1 along with Nipissing in the west division. In the east division Seneca finished second (18-2) and George Brown 7th (8-12) and out of the playoffs. Opening round playoffs kicked off last weekend, but Humber and Seneca had a bye.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Regular season ends Feb. 22. Going into the regular season finale Seneca was tied for first with Alonquin at 13-1 followed by George Brown in third place at 10-4 and Centennial eighth at 4-10 in the east division. In the west division, Humber sits in fourth at 10-5.
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Regular season ends Feb. 22. Going into the regular season finale, Toronto teams headed up both divisions, Centennial atop the east at 11-2 (followed by George Brown 10-7, Seneca 7-11) and Humber atop the west at 13-2
For updates visit the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) site at www.ocaa.com
HIGH SCHOOL
The high school sports season is split roughly into three semesters - fall, winter and spring - with the current winter season featuring boys basketball, girls volleyball and hockey, all now into various stages of the post season.
The two big Toronto school boards run their own leagues:
* Toronto District School Board (TDSB) schools compete through the Toronto District Secondary School Athletic Association (TDSSAA);
* and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) schools compete through the Toronto District Catholic Athletic Association (TDCAA).
Both also have non-board private school members.
In some cases, particularly in football, both boards combine their schedules.
For complete schedules, results and standings, check out the board websites.
The TCDSB sports stats are kept at the TDCAA website at www.tdcaa.org
The TDSB sports stats for the TDSSAA are kept on the board's own website at www.tdsb.on.ca (and then link to TDSB sports).
You can also keep track of private schools who are banded together for sports purposes into the Conference of Independent Schools (of Ontario) Athletic Association. Their sports website is at www.cisaa.ca
PROVINCIAL JUNIOR A HOCKEY
The 27-team provincial junior A hockey league heads to the second playoff round this week.
Toronto has four teams, all of which made the post season:
* St. Michael's Buzzers, based out of St. Michael's College School, 1515 Bathurst St.;
* North York Rangers, based out of North York Centennial Arena, 580 Finch Ave. W.
* Toronto Junior Canadiens, based out of Chesswood Arenas in North York, 4000 Chesswood Dr.
* and Toronto Lakeshore Patriots, based out of the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence in Etobicoke, 400 Kipling Ave.
Final regular standings (followed by points) were as follows: St. Mike's 78, Vaughan 60, Toronto Lakeshore 59, North York 45, Toronto Junior Canadiens 43, Pickering 23, Mississauga 22.
Opening round match-ups were as follows (St. Mike's and Vaughan had first-round byes): Toronto Lakeshore vs Pickering; North York vs Toronto Jr. Canadiens.
While considered a lower tier then major junior A hockey (of which there are no Toronto teams), the loop can field some fine talent especially players who aspire to a U.S. college career, which would otherwise be forfeited if they played major junior A, and with up-and-coming players who may be a year or two away from playing major junior A.
Complete schedule, scores and stats at http://ojhl.pointstreaksites.com
GREATER TORONTO HOCKEY LEAGUE
The Toronto area does boast some of the top youth hockey players and teams, perennially vying for provincial and national honours.
The Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), which covers Toronto and much of the immediate 911 area (such as Mississauga, Markham and Vaughan), organizes the high level rep hockey with familiar local teams like the Junior Canadiens, Toronto Marlboros, Don Mills Flyers, Toronto Titans, Toronto Young Nationals etc. Lower levels of hockey all the way down to house league are generally played at the community level, with many of the organizations affiliated with the GTHL.
If you want to follow elite youth hockey, catching tomorrow's NHL stars today, check out the GTHL's extensive stats website. Just go to www.gthlcanada.com and then click on games centre and then click on schedules.
The website also has a handy list of its affiliated community-based Toronto members.
GIRLS HOCKEY
Toronto organizations include the Etobicoke Dolphins, (www.etobicokedolphins.ca), Leaside Girls Hockey Association (www.leasidegirlshockey.org), North York Storm (www.northyorkstorm.com), Scarborough Sharks (www.scarboroughsharks.com) and the Toronto Aeros (www.torontoaeros.com).
Their elite teams meet up in the Lower Lakes Female Hockey League (LLFHL). Schedules, results and stats are posted at www.llfhl.ca/
CWHL
The Toronto franchise in the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) has a new name and a new home arena this season.
The Toronto Furies, led by Tessa Bonhomme, who helped Canada win Olympic gold in 2010 and this past fall showed her versatility by winning CBC's Battle of the Blades along with partner David Pelletier, is based this season out of George Bell Arena.
The Furies have two more regular season home games at George Bell Arena - Saturday, March 3, 8 p.m., against Burlington and on Sunday, March 11, 4:30 p.m., against Brampton.
Check out the league, which is stocked with Olympians from around the world, at http://cwhl.ca