Toronto Triumph

The Triumph played the 2011–12 season in the United States Lingerie Football League (LFL) as a preview for the Canadian league that was announced to begin play in 2012.{{cite web |title=LFL Announces Toronto Franchise Host Arena and Unveils Team Logo |url=http://www.lfl360.com/articles/lfl-announces-toronto-franchise-host-arena-and-unveils-team-logo/ |website=lfl360.com |date=April 26, 2011}} Open try-outs were held at Polson Pier on April 30, 2011. Among those attending was Krista Ford, the 20-year-old daughter of Toronto City Councillor Doug Ford and niece of Toronto mayor Rob Ford; she played touch football in high school.{{cite news|last=Davidson|first=Terry|title=Mayor's niece trying out for lingerie football|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2011/04/27/mayors-niece-trying-out-for-lingerie-football|accessdate=May 15, 2011|newspaper=The Toronto Sun|date=April 27, 2011|location=Toronto ON}} Ford was eventually accepted onto the team, becoming the team's captain.

The inaugural game resulted in a 48–14 loss, with around 1800 in attendance or about 20% of the capacity in Ricoh Coliseum. The half-time show was a contest to tackle one of the players.{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Emily|title=Toronto fans cheer on lingerie football team despite loss|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/article/1055752|access-date=October 24, 2011|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=September 19, 2011|location=Toronto ON}} After the first game, the Triumph released four players. Shortly after, sixteen of the twenty players on the team, including captain Krista Ford, quit the team. They criticized the helmets and shoulder pads provided as unsafe, and suggested that the coaching was improper. Management suggested that "[m]ost of these women have never touched a football prior. Now they're critiquing on who's qualified to coach football. It's almost laughable."{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/article/1074763 |title=20 leave Toronto lingerie football team in dispute over safety, coaching |location=Toronto |work=The Star |date=October 23, 2011}} Commissioner Mitchell Mortaza accused the players of having a "lack of heart".{{cite web |url=http://www.lfl360.com/articles/lfl-chairman-mitchell-mortaza-issues-statement-toronto-triumph-players/ |title=Lfl Chairman Mitchell Mortaza Issues Statement About Former Toronto Triumph Players |website=LFL360.com |date= |access-date=August 27, 2012}} Ford had previously publicly commented on the growing expenses not covered by the team.{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/KristaFordLFL/posts/256785491028928 |title=Headed to practice |publisher=Facebook |date= |access-date=August 27, 2012}} The league made no mention of the mass exodus in its official preview of the following week's game, which the Triumph played with ten replacement players in addition to the few remaining players who did not quit.{{cite web |url=http://www.lfl360.com/articles/week-ten-preview-baltimore-charm-toronto-triumph/ |title=Week Ten Preview | Baltimore Charm At Toronto Triumph |website=LFL360.com |date= |access-date=August 27, 2012}}

File:Toronto Triumph team members -a.jpg rally]]

The replacement players went on to engage in a bench-clearing brawl in a 74–0 shutout loss to the Philadelphia Passion.{{cite web |last=Dart |first=Chris |url=https://www.thescore.com/buzz/articles/195586-lingerie-footbrawl |title=Lingerie Footbrawl | Buzz |publisher=The Score |date=August 23, 2012 |access-date=August 27, 2012}} The team finished in last place in the league for the 2011–12 season and league chairman Mitch Mortaza fired the Triumph coaching staff, citing the coaches' inability to control the players.{{cite web |url=http://www.lfl360.com/articles/toronto-triumph/toronto-triumph-part-ways-coaching-staff/ |title=Lfl Canada | Toronto Triumph Part Ways With Coaching Staff |publisher=LFL360 |date=February 29, 2012 |access-date=August 27, 2012}}

The Triumph was one of four teams to be included in the Lingerie Football League's new Canadian division, LFL Canada, along with the BC Angels, Saskatoon Sirens and Regina Rage. Coinciding with the move, the Triumph relocated to the Hershey Centre in Mississauga.

On June 27, 2013, the LFL announced that the Triumph would suspend operations for the 2013 season citing concerns with both the Hershey Centre and the Ricoh Coliseum being inadequate for the league's logistical and broadcast requirements.{{cite web |title=LFL Canada Suspends Operations Of Toronto Triumph For 2013 Season |url=http://www.lfl360.com/articles/lfl-canada-suspends-operation-toronto-triumph-2013-season/ |website=LFL360.com |access-date=June 28, 2013}} The 2013 LFL Canada season was then postponed indefinitely due to player disputes, league office scheduling, and general preparation.

{{Color box|#ddffdd|border=darkgray}} Win

{{Color box|#ffbbbb|border=darkgray}} Loss

{{Color box|#ffeeaa|border=darkgray}} Tie

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://lflcanada.com/torontotriumph/}}

{{Extreme Football League}}

Category:Legends Football League Canada teams

Category:American football teams in Toronto

Category:American football teams established in 2011

Category:2011 establishments in Ontario

Category:2012 disestablishments in Ontario

Category:American football teams established in 2012

Category:Women's sports clubs and teams in Toronto