On behalf of the Greater Toronto Hockey League, I want to say thank you to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Thank you for reminding all of us, especially young athletes, what it truly means to love the game.
From the first pitch to the very last out, you showed that having fun isn’t something you grow out of — it’s something you develop with. Even at the highest level of your sport, under the brightest lights and on the biggest stage, fun was at the centre of everything you did. The smiles, the laughs, the celebrations (and, of course, the home run jacket) — it wasn’t just baseball. It was a reminder that playing the game you love with the people you care about is always something worth holding onto.
You taught us about integrity — not by being perfect, but by how you carried yourselves when things didn’t go your way. You never complained. You respected the game — the umpires, your opponents, the fans, and each other. You showed up with effort, heart, and accountability, no matter the result. You reminded every young player watching that character is revealed not when things are easy, but when you’re presented with challenges along the way.
And when the wins came, you reminded us to celebrate them — no matter how small. Those moments were about celebrating the ride, the journey. The whole point of sport.
You showed us what it means to be a team. You lifted each other up, you cared for one another, and you believed in something bigger than yourselves. From a 41-year-old veteran poised with experience, celebrating the 22-year-old rookie starter who played with energy and heart — you showed that every role and every person mattered. Even in moments of disappointment, you stood together. You supported each other, respected each other, encouraged each other, and faced every challenge together.
That’s the lesson we hope every GTHL player takes from the Blue Jays — to compete hard while respecting the game — at the highs and lows, to play with integrity, to recognize what it means to be a great teammate and leaders, to create a true team, and to never forget that sport is meant to be fun, regardless of the level you’re playing.
You showed us that enjoying the journey — together — is what it’s supposed to be about. You showed us that even when the outcome hurts, the relationships and memories built along the way are what truly last.
And maybe most inspiring of all — you reminded us how powerful sport can be. How, when we really empower the positive of sport, it can bring people together from coast to coast to coast. How a team’s belief, effort, and passion can unite a country.
So, from every arena and every dressing room across the Greater Toronto Area — thank you for reminding us what it means to play for the love of the game.
We’ll carry that passion, that respect, and that team-first spirit with us — on, and off the ice.
Thank you.
