It’s been a whirlwind few days for hockey fans and the organization as the 2019 Toronto Maple Leafs Training Camp comes to a close in the capital city.
The Leafs ended their 5-day camp on a more sour note, losing Tuesday night’s exhibition game at the Mile One, 3-1 at the hands of the Ottawa Senators. But, that didn’t stop fans from giving the Leafs a standing ovation as they left the ice, saluting the crowd.
And that’s it. @Senators win 3-1 with an empty netter.
The crowd still gives a loud standing ovation when the buzzer goes. @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/xWf9EpTN1X
— Ben Murphy VOCM (@BenMurphyVOCM) September 18, 2019
Fans turned out in droves at every practice, scrimmage and community event throughout the camp, lining up as early as 2:00 a.m. on occasions to get entry.
There wasn’t an empty seat in the house at the Mile One with a sea of blue and white, both inside and outside the arena and loud cheers of “GO LEAFS GO!”.
Players embraced the local culture on their trip as some stars, like former first overall draft pick, Auston Matthews and teammates, were screeched in at a local pub. Matthews says he had some difficulty understanding accents and some Newfoundland phrases.
Welcome to the Royal Order of Newfoundland Screechers, b’ys! pic.twitter.com/5ixMMwCJ8U
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 14, 2019
Newfoundlanders certainly have a way with words.
Watch the Leafs get a language lesson on the Rock 🤣#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/mMvn3dLZP3
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 16, 2019
Head Coach, Mike Babcock says he really liked the atmosphere at the Mile One Tuesday night, and throughout the entire camp. He says Newfoundland is a great place to hold training camp, and the people were all very nice and supportive.
Babcock said again how the people here were “unreal”, all very nice and supportive. It was fun and different.
He says he spent yesterday afternoon filleting cod fish while having a beer with a local fisherman and says it was spectacular.@VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/sDZ6lEiuY5
— Ben Murphy VOCM (@BenMurphyVOCM) September 18, 2019
He says he spent Monday filleting cod with a local fisherman, something he thought was spectacular. Babcock says everywhere he went the people went above and beyond – it was fun, and different.
Thank you to our friends the @MapleLeafs for coming to the rock! It’s been an honour to be your hosts. We hope you enjoyed Newfoundland and hope to see you again soon! Good luck this season 🤗 #LeafsForever #StandPROUD pic.twitter.com/2aJDAcrZjA
— Buddy the Puffin (@Buddy_ThePuffin) September 18, 2019
Meanwhile, a former St. John’s Maple Leafs player is the new Head Coach of the Ottawa Senators and he says the atmosphere at the Mile One was much like he remembered.
D.J Smith spent four and a half years with the baby Leafs between 1997 and 2002. In the 98-99 season, Smith had 35 points and 216 penalty minutes.
Smith says St. John’s is a great place, with great people and even better fans. He remembers the atmosphere and the rivalries at the Mile One well, but has a different perspective as a coach.
Smith says as coach you don’t notice the fans as much, but he remembers they would be really into big rivalries with teams like Fredricton and Saint John.
He says the fans were always stood proud and loud behind the St. John’s Maple Leafs.
