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Toronto FC Sign Honduran Midfielder Deybi Flores

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8 months ago

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Toronto FC announced today that the club has signed Honduran international midfielder Deybi Flores from Fehérvár Football Club of the OTP Bank Liga (First Division, Hungary) to a two-year contract with an option for 2026. He will be added to the club’s roster pending his Canadian work permit, medicals, and receipt of the International Transfer Certificate (ITC).

“We are happy to have Deybi join us for 2024 and beyond. He is a warrior in the middle of the field and will be an important piece in our evolution as a group,” said Toronto FC General Manager Jason Hernandez. “Deybi possesses both the skill set and mentality we require at the central midfield position. We look forward to his arrival and getting to work.”

Flores, 27, joins Toronto FC after spending the past two seasons (2022-2023, 2023-2024) with Fehérvár FC, where he made 32 appearances including 27 starts. Before his time at Fehérvár, the midfielder featured for Greek side Panetolikos Football Club, where he scored four goals through 54 appearances in two seasons (2021-2022, 2022-2023) with the club. He made his debut against Atromitos FC on September 19, 2021, and registered his first goal against GS Apollon Smyrnis on November 21. In his first season with Panetolikos FC, Flores made 32 appearances, with 30 starts, and was voted the club’s Player of the Year.

“We are excited to welcome Deybi to Toronto and Toronto FC,” said Toronto FC Head Coach John Herdman. “Deybi’s fighting spirit and competitiveness have always stood out for me, and we are eager to integrate him into the team, forging connections that will fortify our midfield.”

The San Pedro Sula, Honduras native began his career at CD Motagua in his home country, coming through the ranks and making his professional debut as an 18-year-old against Deportes Savio on January 12, 2014. In his first two seasons with Motagua, Flores started in 16 of his 22 appearances with the club and claimed the Honduran Liga Nacional championship during the 2014-2015 Apertura season.

“I feel excited and blessed with this new opportunity in my personal life and professional career. I am thankful to the organization and the Head Coach for the chance to be part of a fantastic club like Toronto FC,” said Deybi Flores. “I am fully committed, and with God’s help, we will achieve all the objectives and dreams we have as a team. I can’t wait to arrive in Toronto to meet my teammates and all the staff, and I am ready to work hard and pour my heart into every moment I wear this jersey.”

Flores joined Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC on loan on February 24, 2015, and made his debut against Portland Timbers on March 28. In his first season in MLS, he started 11 of his 15 appearances across all competitions, including the Canadian Championship and Concacaf Champions League. Flores was part of the squad that won the 2015 Canadian Championship after defeating CF Montreal. The midfielder returned to CD Motagua in 2016 for a second stint, where he played a key role in the club’s 14th Liga Nacional championship during the 2016-2017 Apertura season.

Along other stops in his career, Flores also played for Club Olimpia Deportivo (C.D. Olimpia), where he registered four goals and three assists through 108 appearances across all competitions. The defensive midfielder made his debut against Real de Minas on July 29, 2018, and registered his first goal against Lobos UPNFM on May 19, 2019. In three seasons (2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021), Flores won three Liga Nacional championships: 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 Apertura seasons and the 2020-2021 Clausura season.

Internationally, Flores has earned 35 caps with the Honduras National Team since his debut in a friendly against Cuba on December 16, 2015. The midfielder also represented Los Catrachosat the youth level when he participated in the 2015 Concacaf U-20 Championship and helped the team qualify for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

TRANSACTION: Toronto FC sign Honduran midfielder Deybi Flores through 2025 with an option for 2026.

DEYBI FLORES

Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 176 lbs.
Birthdate: June 16, 1996 (Age – 27)
Birthplace: San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Nationality: Honduras
Last Club: Fehérvár Football Club

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Edler to sign one-day contract to retire as a Vancouver Canuck

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14 hours ago

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September 17, 2024

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VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks announced Tuesday that defenceman Alex Edler will sign a one-day contract in order to officially retire as a member of the NHL team.

The signing will be part of a celebration of Edler’s career held Oct. 11 when the Canucks host the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Canucks selected Edler, from Ostersund, Sweden, in the third round (91st overall) of the 2004 NHL draft.

He played in 925 career games for the Canucks between the 2006-07 and 2020-21 seasons, ranking fourth in franchise history and first among defencemen.

The 38-year-old leads all Vancouver defencemen with 99 goals, 310 assists and 177 power-play points with the team.

Edler also appeared in 82 career post-season contests with Vancouver and was an integral part of the Canucks’ run to the 2011 Stanley Cup final, putting up 11 points (2-9-11) across 25 games.

“I am humbled and honoured to officially end my career and retire as a member of the Vancouver Canucks,” Edler said in a release. “I consider myself lucky to have started my career with such an outstanding organization, in this amazing city, with the best fans in the NHL. Finishing my NHL career where it all began is something very special for myself and my family.”

Edler played two seasons for Los Angeles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He did not play in the NHL last season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Sixth-ranked Canadian women to face World Cup champion Spain in October friendly

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21 hours ago

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September 17, 2024

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The sixth-ranked Canadian women will face World Cup champion Spain in an international friendly next month.

Third-ranked Spain will host Canada on Oct. 25 at Estadio Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo.

The game will be the first for the Canadian women since the Paris Olympics, where they lost to Germany in a quarterfinal penalty shootout after coach Bev Priestman was sent home and later suspended for a year by FIFA over her part in Canada’s drone-spying scandal.

In announcing the Spain friendly, Canada Soccer said more information on the interim women’s coaching staff for the October window will come later. Assistant coach Andy Spence took charge of the team in Priestman’s absence at the Olympics.

Spain finished fourth in Paris, beaten 1-0 by Germany in the bronze-medal match.

Canada is winless in three previous meetings (0-2-1) with Spain, most recently losing 1-0 at the Arnold Clark Cup in England in February 2022.

The teams played to a scoreless draw in May 2019 in Logroñés, Spain in a warm-up for the 2019 World Cup. Spain won 1-0 in March 2019 at the Algarve Cup in São João da Venda, Portugal.

Spain is a powerhouse in the women’s game these days.

It won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2022 and was runner-up in 2018. And it ousted Canada 2-1 in the round of 16 of the current U-20 tournament earlier this month in Colombia before falling 1-0 to Japan after extra time in the quarterfinal.

Spain won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and has finished on the podium on three other occasions.

FC Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati (2023) and Alexia Putellas (2021 and ’22) have combined to win the last three Women’s Ballon d’Or awards.

And Barcelona has won three of the last four UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.

“We continue to strive to diversify our opponent pool while maintaining a high level of competition.” Daniel Michelucci, Canada Soccer’s director of national team operations, said in a statement. “We anticipate a thrilling encounter, showcasing two of the world’s top-ranked teams.”

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Maple Leafs announce Oreo as new helmet sponsor for upcoming NHL season

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1 day ago

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September 17, 2024

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TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced cookie brand Oreo as the team’s helmet sponsor for the upcoming NHL season.

The new helmet will debut Sunday when Toronto opens its 2024-25 pre-season against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.

The Oreo logo replaces Canadian restaurant chain Pizza Pizza, which was the Leafs’ helmet sponsor last season.

Previously, social media platform TikTok sponsored Toronto starting in the 2021-22 regular season when the league began allowing teams to sell advertising space on helmets.

The Oreo cookie consists of two chocolate biscuits around a white icing filling and is often dipped in milk.

Fittingly, the Leafs wear the Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s “Milk” logo on their jerseys.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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