De Rosario wins George Gross Memorial Trophy

Toronto FC’s Dwayne De Rosario has been awarded the George Gross Memorial Trophy after being selected most valuable player of the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship. De Rosario won the award after leading Toronto FC to the 2009 Voyageurs Cup, helping the Toronto FC overtake Vancouver Whitecaps FC on the final day of the competition.
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​De Rosario sparked Toronto FC’s unbelievable victory on 18 June to claim the championship. He scored three goals – the first hat trick in the competition – en route to a 6:1 victory over the Impact de Montréal at Stade Saputo. He finished with three goals and one assist in four games.
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​The George Gross Memorial Trophy was first presented last year on 22 July at the conclusion of the 2008 Nutrilite Canadian Championship. The Impact’s goalkeeper Matt Jordan won the award in 2008 after leading his team to the Voyageurs Cup victory. Jordan allowed just two goals in four games played (two wins, one draw and one loss). Jordan was the only goalkeeper in the competition to post two clean sheets.
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​The 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship ran 6 May to 18 June in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver. Toronto FC won the championship with nine points and a +5 goal differential, jumping ahead of Vancouver Whitecaps FC (nine points and +4 goal differential) on the final day. The Impact de Montréal finished last with no points in four games.
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​Mr. George Gross had a prestigious career as a sports writer in Toronto, writing for the Toronto Telegram, the Soccer and Sport News (as publisher) and Toronto Sun (as founding sports editor). He served as one of the founders of the Eastern Professional Soccer League and also general manager of Toronto City Soccer Club in the early 1960s. In recognition of his years of service to sport, he was inducted to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and to The Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006. He passed away on 21 March 2008 at age 85.
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