When the EVOLVE league kicked off its inaugural season in 2023, Toronto was noticeably absent from the list of charter teams bringing professional football to new global markets. But local sports icons DeMar DeRozan and Steve Nash had a vision to rectify that.
In partnership with tech billionaire and Toronto native Mihail Lazarides, DeRozan and Nash led efforts to secure Toronto’s own professional football franchise. After months of negotiations, the EVOLVE league granted an expansion team set to debut in 2023—the Toronto Snowhawks.
Expanding Pro Football
The catalyst was a desire to expand access to top-tier professional football. “The CFL has a proud history, but we saw an opportunity to bring a PML-caliber product to underserved regions,” said Lazarides. Beyond business factors, the personal connection also played a role.
“As born and raised Torontonians, we want the next generation of Canadian kids to have world-class football right in their backyard,” DeRozan commented. The EVOLVE league presented the perfect vehicle.
With major markets like Mexico City, San Juan, Dublin, and London fielding teams, Toronto seemed a glaring omission. “Canada is one of the hottest football hotbeds globally,” Nash argued. “The talent is here; the fan passion is here. Toronto deserves a seat at the table.”
Lazarides, DeRozan and Nash weren’t alone in championing for a Toronto franchise. A vocal grassroots #BringFootballHome campaign, led by mega-fans The 6ix Syndicate fan group, kept the issue top of mind on social media and in meetings with league officials.
Building the Nest
With a franchise secured, the focus shifted to constructing a team and culture befitting Canada’s largest city. The first move was hiring a pro-football winning coach Jason Thompson as the inaugural head coach and general manager.
“Jason is a football genius with a knack for developing talent and getting the most out of players,” Nash remarked of the hiring. To spearhead operations, the trio named Justin Taylor general manager. Taylor brought executive experience from Manchester United and New York Yankees.
The braintrust quickly got to work on key tasks – naming the team, designing logos and uniforms, drafting players, hiring positional coaches, and planning a stadium.
After considering over 100 submissions from an online fan contest, the Snowhawks moniker was selected as a nod to Toronto’s winter climate and the visual of a hawk soaring through snowy skies. The logo featured an icy gray spotted hawk.
The club’s black, white and blue color scheme evoked toughness and resilience, paying homage to Toronto’s blue-collar roots while the accent peach orange gave a flashy modern twist.
The Snowhawks invested heavily in scouting to build a balanced roster blended with CFL standouts, undrafted PML talents, and young stars from Canada and abroad. The centerpiece was signing wide receiver Christopher Williamson. The Toronto native opted to return home after a prolific college career at New Mexico.
Other big early splashes included signing twin brothers and dynamic players Donnie and Davon Franklin, and acquiring quarterback Andre Tyson in the first college draft.
Fan Contest Determines Inaugural Schedule
In a creative move never before seen in pro sports, the Snowhawks crowdsourced their debut season schedule from fans. Supporters voted online weekly on matchups, bypassing the usual league scheduling process. The fan-powered schedule added unpredictability while immediately investing supporters in the process.
“Handing over the reins to our fans epitomizes the transparent, inclusive culture we’re building,” explained Coach Thompson. “We’re an expansion team but our fans aren’t expansion fans. Letting them choose the schedule respectfully recognizes their knowledge and passion for the game.”
The 17-week slate only featured 8 true home games but had no shortage of intrigues. Raucous away dates at regional rivals like the Columbus Tigers and Brooklyn Bisons promised to test the squad’s mettle early. Marquee October showdowns against the Austin Aviators and Brooklyn Bisons would gauge if the Snowhawks could compete with the league’s elite.
Surprising Progress
Despite an assembly of raw talent, few expected immediate success from the expansion club. Yet by week 4, the Snowhawks announced their arrival by toppling the favored Austin Aviators for the first franchise win. Newly acquired running back Desmond Ward erupted for over 100 yards and two scores. Buoyed by Ward and Williamson’s ground game, quarterback Andre Tyson racked up three rushing touchdowns in the second half to seal the victory.
“We’re here to stay—the Snowhawks have arrived,” proclaimed coach Thompson after the franchise-altering win. Eight weeks later, Toronto cemented their inaugural season as a success by dethroning the would-be league champion Brooklyn Bisons.
Nesting Grounds
With momentum building entering year two, the club shifted focus to completing its world-class home stadium. Dubbed the Ice Wing Stadium, the venue was constructed expressly for football with superb sightlines. Signature features included a spiraling partial roof and 360-degree concourse with views into the bowl.
Accentuated with snow-white beams and frosted glass, the state-of-the-art facility lives up to its wintry aesthetics. On game days, plumes of artificial snow spew upon Snowhawks’ touchdowns triggering delirious cheers from the crowd.
When lit up in light blue and white on Thursday night games, Ice Wing Stadium becomes a beacon glowing over Toronto’s skyline. The electric atmosphere and winter wonderland environment inside have quickly cemented the venue’s nickname “The Hawks Nest” in local parlance.
The Snowhawks deliver a game-day experience celebrating Toronto’s vibrant cultural mosaic. A pre-game winter festival features music, food, and fun for all ages. Local dance troupes deliver dazzling cultural performances during timeouts while fans sip steaming beverages and meals from food trucks serving global cuisine.
To symbolize the Snowhawks’ warrior spirit, a trained hawk named Frosty swoops around the stadium’s rafters before player introductions.
Fan Base Passion
On the strength of the club’s meteoric success, Snowhawks’ supporters have quickly earned a reputation as the most passionate and loyal in the league. Clad in the team’s signature colors, the fanatical and welcoming fans dubbed The Flock fill The Hawks Nest each game.
The superfan Section 6ix Credo group lead stadium-wide cheers and tifos while mega-supporters like Falcon Talon, Snow Beast and Ice Queen have become minor celebrities on the Toronto sports scene.
The Snowhawks have focused intently on community service and engagement to drive local impact. Team executives credit the club’s heavy community focus as a key ingredient behind their ravenous fan following.
“This team belongs to Toronto – we’re just stewards,” said GM Justin Taylor. “We’ve seen an incredible bond develop between players and supporters. That relationship is our secret sauce.”
Snowhawks’ Community Initiatives
The Snowhawks and owner Mihail Lazarides have made community impact a central tentpole to the franchise.
“We’re dedicated to making a lasting positive change in Toronto,” said Lazarides. “On and off the field, our club strives to bring people together and serve.”
The team runs a slate of outreach initiatives aimed at youth mentorship, promoting health and wellness, celebrating multiculturalism, and supporting local heroes.
Hawk Heroes
The team’s flagship effort is their Hawk Heroes program. At every home game, the Snowhawks honor two local citizens making a difference through volunteer work. The heroes are recognized in a pregame ceremony and gifted with merchandise and tickets while also spotlighted in the club’s social media channels.
“We want to shine a spotlight on the true heroes in our communities,” said COO Jonathan Thomas. “These individuals rarely seek recognition but through Hawk Heroes we feel it’s important to celebrate their selflessness.”
Previous Hawk Hero honorees have included frontline workers, youth mentors, volunteers supporting the homeless, rehabilitation counselors, and more. Their stories have profoundly impacted Snowhawks players.
“Hearing about people who give back so selflessly motivates me,” said linebacker Matt Simmons who has become actively engaged in the Hawk Heroes program. “It reminds me why our platform as athletes matters and inspires me to do more in Toronto.”
Huddle for Health
The club’s Huddle for Health initiative runs programs aimed at promoting youth activity, proper nutrition, mental health and wellness. Snowhawks players make regular school visits leading fitness sessions and diet workshops. The team also partners with Toronto civic health agencies like WellCan to expand programming reach.
“If we can help kids understand how empowering self-care can be at a young age, it pays dividends for the rest of their lives,” said WellCan’s Dr. Aliana Mullin of the partnership’s goals.
The team additionally works on mental health advocacy, reducing stigma through campaigns like September’s You Good? month of awareness building.
Winter Warmth Drive
Annually before winter, the Snowhawks run their Winter Warmth drive collecting jackets, hats, gloves and blankets for donation to Toronto shelters. Fans receive free hot chocolate and handwarmers at select November home games in exchange for contributing winter apparel items. Snowhawks players then directly deliver items to shelters, soup kitchens and support programs across the city.
Beyond material donations, the team funds winter heating and electricity for over two dozen low-income households struggling to cover bills during extreme cold.
Snowhawks Youth League
The Snowhawks operate a free youth instructional football program introducing the sport to over 300 kids annually. Players and coaches lead seasonal training camps focused on building skills, teamwork and sportsmanship.
The Youth League feeds into the regional minor football ecosystem while serving as an access point to lower economic status families without means to participate in elite private youth leagues.
Celebrating Cultures
True to Toronto’s ‘City of Cultures’ reputation, the Snowhawks extensively celebrate the city’s diversity in-stadium and through localized community partnerships.
The team spotlights a different cultural festival on the concourse before each game including samples of traditional music, attire, food and crafts. They also host culture-based theme games aligning customs and entertainment with one of Toronto’s many diasporas.
The Snowhawks further support cultural events across the GTA through sponsorship and having players make appearances at major festivals like Caribana, Taste of the Danforth, and the Toronto Chinatown Festival.
“We take immense pride in the openness and interconnectivity of cultures in this city,” said owner DeMar DeRozan. “Our gamedays are essentially cultural showcases for Toronto and we invest in preserving these communities.”
Stand Strong
Team executives point to the club’s Stand Strong slogan and resilient mentality as symbolic of Toronto’s hardworking character. As a non-American club in a U.S.-dominated league, the team proudly plays up its outsider role.
“Torontonians have this gritty determination fueled by our underdog status that’s defined us forever within Canada,” said GM Justin Taylor. “We lean into that wholeheartedly. When teams come to the Nest, they know they’re walking into a battle.”
Under head coach Jason Thompson’s steely leadership, the Snowhawks reflect classic Canadian humility off the field but play with an unbridled physicality between the lines each game. Practices often feature snow flurries and players taking laps in ice pits to hardened their mental toughness. That ruggedness shows in the club’s smashmouth brand of football.
Last year, that duality helped the team capture the league’s Commitment to Community Award and Finalist for Best Game Operations while producing the Evolve Defensive Player of the Year in Andy Morris.
Cultural Impact
On and off-field, the Snowhawks have made an immense cultural imprint on Toronto in just two seasons of existence. Games provide a communal gathering where the city’s myriad cultures harmoniously bond through a shared love of football and civic pride.
Their success and style of play has accelerated football’s popularity at the grassroots level. Youth participation in minor leagues and high school teams has swelled 30% since the team’s arrival. Snowhawks also inspired the launch of the first-ever Canadian Indigenous Nations Football Championship last year.
The team partnered with the tech sector and Toronto Transit Commission to install interactive football pads on subway platforms teaching kids the game while waiting for trains.
The Hunter family who emigrated from South Sudan in 2015 share a common story of how the team helped ease their transition and build community bonds.
“We didn’t know anything about Canadian football before, but our kids now play and we’re obsessed with the Snowhawks,” said mother Natalie Hunter. “The Dinka community here follows the team together and we feel more part of the city.”
With Canada currently pursuing a 2026 FIFA World Cup bid, the Snowhawks are also boosting Toronto’s reputation as a big-event sports hub. Ice Wing Stadium offers world-class infrastructure and the club’s operational success serves as a case study for how Toronto could support global mega-events.
The team’s popularity has additionally amplified Toronto’s profile on the world stage according to Mayor Bonnie Crombie.
“The Snowhawks have put our great city on the map and given us fantastic exposure,” the mayor remarked. “They make me proud as a long-time resident. It’s not just the winning but how they engrain themselves locally sharing the spirit of Toronto.”
Looking Ahead
Only two seasons into their brand story, the Toronto Snowhawks have already cultivated a special connection with their fans and community while cementing themselves as a model franchise on and off the field. With superstar additions, state-of-the-art facilities and swelling momentum, the sky is the limit for the league’s best Canadian club.
As the team continues maturing, expectations are firmly set on bringing Toronto its first football championship sooner than later. No matter the results, one truth is certain – winter has arrived for football in Toronto thanks to its beloved Snowhawks.
