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Canada's Game Never Ends on the Web
Neil Reesor
November 3, 2001
Autumn carries a very important meaning for us Canadians. Awoken from the summer doldrums, we put away the golf clubs and put the baseball caps back on the shelf. As maple trees drop their leaves, the streets glow in the fiery swirls of amber and auburn.
Then-and only then-do we embrace being truly Canadian: we break out the hockey equipment and gear up for the upcoming National Hockey League season. As sure as the leaves will fall, we do not rest until somebody lifts the Cup, no matter how much the world around us may have changed.
In celebrating their seventy-fifth anniversary, the Toronto Maple Leafs re-launched their web site. Formerly known as Leafnet, the online home of the Toronto Maple Leafs can be found at www.mapleleafs.com. Some of the new features added have made this site one that Leaf fans, and fans of the great frozen game, just cannot miss.
The integration of the Leafs' official magazine/program, Leafs Insider, and their web site, allows for fans to influence the content of the magazine. The Coke Poll, located on the right side of the front page, records fan opinions of issues surrounding the team. The poll results later appear in the magazine with a detailed write up surrounding the questions.
Another interesting new feature is the LeafsCam, accessed just below the Coke Poll. This is a live feed from locations around the Air Canada Centre. Other interesting features on the front page are up-to-the-minute scores during Maple Leaf games, Today in Maple Leafs History, Bell Daily Trivia, Leafs Chat and Team Store.
The Maple Leafs are not only a team rich in tradition, they are also very dedicated to innovation. This is mirrored in their web site.
Under the "Tradition" button in the header, you can find an in-depth history of the team. The Timeline option is a must-see. You can go through each decade since the 1920s and find a wealth of information and images of the jerseys, arenas, and great players and teams that have made the Maple Leafs legendary. Also available in this Timeline pop-up window are lists of team captains, Stanley Cup winners, All-Stars, and team records.
On September 7, 2001, the Maple Leafs launched their own television network. This channel features Leafs-only programming 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information, click the LeafsTV logo on the left side of the front page, or go to www.mapleleafs.com/leafstv.
The Toronto Maple Leafs site is a must-see for die-hard fans and occasional followers alike. Hours upon hours can be spent navigating this true gem, so I hope you get a chance to check it out!
Until next time, happy surfing, and Go Leafs Go!
Neil Reesor is a Community Access Program employee working from the Ingersoll branch of the Oxford County Library.
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