Johnson wins George Gross Trophy

Ryan Johnson has been selected the 2012 George Gross Trophy winner as most valuable player of the Amway Canadian Championship. The Toronto FC striker helped his club win its fourth-consecutive national title, qualifying once again as Canada’s representative for the coming season of CONCACAF Champions League.

Johnson scored two goals in the 2012 Championship, one in the opening round against the Impact and a second in the final round against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Johnson scored in the final’s opening leg on 16 May in Vancouver, an all-important away goal that gave Toronto an edge heading home for the return leg on 23 May in Toronto.

Toronto FC won the 2012 Amway Canadian Championship final 2-1 on aggregate over Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

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.