As Blue Jays face Mariners, Vancouver Canucks' coach reveals who he's rooting for
As the Toronto Blue Jays meet the Seattle Mariners in the post-season for the first time, the coach of the Vancouver Canucks' was asked to weigh in on a series that presents a conundrum for B.C. baseball fans.
On one hand, there's Canada's only Major League team. On the other, there's the only one in the Pacific Northwest.
Bruce Boudreau, asked whether his Toronto roots or West Coast residence would determine his allegiance, was unequivocal.
"Of course it's Canada's team, the Blue Jays. I'm not going for the Mariners," he said. "It's Blue Jays all the way."
When it comes to placing wagers online, more B.C. bettors were putting their money on Toronto.
"The debate of who is B.C.’s MLB team may go unanswered this weekend, but for betting purposes at least, the majority of PlayNow.com bettors are backing the favoured Toronto Blue Jays to defeat the Seattle Mariners," said a statement from the BCLC.
Both American League teams debuted in 1977, but have never faced each other in the playoffs.
Since 2011, the Vancouver Canadians have been affiliates of the Toronto Blue Jays, giving fans in the city more of a potential connection to the team. Coach John Schneider and ace Alec Manoah both spent time with the minor league team.
Manoah got the start in Game 1, which saw the Blue Jays shut out 4-0. After losing Friday's game, Saturday's showdown at Rogers Centre in Toronto is do-or-die for the Blue Jays.
The teams meet Saturday for the ninth time this season. The Mariners are up 6-2 in the season series. Robbie Ray will start for Seattle while Kevin Gausman will take the mound for Toronto.
With a file from The Canadian Press.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police release bodycam video of officer-involved incident at Hindu temple protest in Brampton, Ont.
Police say an officer who forcefully removed a 'weapon' from a protester outside of a Hindu temple in Brampton was acting 'within the lawful execution of his duties' after bystander video of the incident circulated widely online.
Some Scotiabank users facing 'intermittent' access to banking days after scheduled maintenance
Scotiabank users say they are having issues using their bank’s services following a scheduled maintenance period that ended days ago.
W5 Investigates Car security investigation: How W5 'stole' a car using a device we ordered online
In part two of a three-part series into how thieves are able to drive off with modern vehicles so easily, CTV W5 correspondent Jon Woodward uses a device flagged by police to easily clone a car key.
A look at how much mail Canada Post delivers, amid a strike notice
Amid a potential postal worker strike, here’s a look at how many letters and parcels the corporation delivers and how those numbers have changed in the internet age.
Sandy Hook families help The Onion buy Infowars
The satirical news publication The Onion won the bidding for Alex Jones' Infowars at a bankruptcy auction, backed by families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims whom Jones owes more than US$1 billion in defamation judgments for calling the massacre a hoax.
B.C. woman who 'carried on' as mortgage broker, sent falsified documents ordered to pay $35K
A woman from B.C.'s Lower Mainland has been handed a $35,000 penalty after admitting she "carried on" as a mortgage broker in the preparation of 10 mortgage applications, despite lacking the necessary registration.
South African government says it won't help 4,000 illegal miners inside a closed mine
South Africa's government says it will not help an estimated 4,000 illegal miners inside a closed mine in the country's North West province who have been denied access to basic supplies as part of an official strategy against illegal mining.
Trump hammered Democrats on transgender issues. Now the party is at odds on a response
After losing the White House and both houses of Congress, Democrats are grappling with how to handle transgender politics and policy following a campaign that featured withering and often misleading GOP attacks on the issue.
India's 'most wanted terrorist' arrested in Canada
One of India's most wanted terrorists has been arrested and charged in connection with a recent alleged shooting in Ontario.