Whitecaps' Canadian championship boosts morale for fans across B.C.
The Vancouver Whitecaps were crowned Canada's top squad Wednesday night in front of an enthusiastic hometown crowd, delighting fans of the beautiful game across the province.
The B.C.-based MLS team took on the Montreal Impact in the Canadian Championship and came away with a 2-1 victory.
A last-minute save by the team's star goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka helped secure the championship, sending thousands of fans into a frenzy.
”We’re Canada's best team two years in a row and it doesn’t get any better than that,” said long-time Whitecaps fan Luke Dandurand who was at the game.
Fellow superfan Kenton Doust was cheering from home on Vancouver Island as the team rushed the field and held the trophy high above their heads.
The 21-year-old has been a fan since he was child, standing by his favourite team through their ups and downs.
And in 2015, it was the Whitecaps that stepped in to support him.
Doust has battled multiple brain tumours and throat cancer and learned last week he was cancer-free.
“The Whitecaps have played a big part in getting me back on my feet," he said.
Doust says the connection with the team and ongoing support help boost his spirits during some of his darkest days.
On Thursday, he thanked Whitecaps captain and Canadian national Russell Teibert and other current and former members of the squad for being with him during his treatment.
“I’m so thankful and happy for the team and everyone in the organization,” said Doust.
Now that the Whitecaps have won back-to-back Canadian champtionships, fans have their eyes set on the next prize – the MLS championship.
The Whitecaps currently sit in the middle of the Western Conference standings, but with four months to go in the regular season, fans are confident they can climb to the top.
“You eliminate February and early March this has been one of the better teams in MLS they are on a good run. They've got to find a way to win on the road,” said The Third Sub editor, Samuel Rowan.
The team returns to BC Place on Saturday to take on Cincinnati before taking off on a three-game road trip to Colorado, LA and Kansas City.
The Whitecaps will host their southern neighbours the Seattle Sounders on July 8.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.