The Toronto Raptors have been voted Canadian Press’s team of the year.
The Raptors won 61 of the 67 of the votes cast by writers, broadcasters and editors across the country.
Last week, tennis player Bianca Andreescu and Mikaël Kingsbury were named CP’s female and male athletes of the year, respectively.
Earlier this month Andreescu won the Lou Marsh Trophy, as Canada’s athlete of the year.
Kawhi Leonard, the team’s MVP, won the hearts of Canadians despite the fact that he left the team in the off-season. (Getty Images)
The Raptors’ remarkable run to the the National Basketball Association championship appeared to captivate the entire country, which collectively may a have discovered a new sport to fall in love with–since it’s now been since 1993 that a Canadian-based team (the Montreal Canadiens) have won the Stanley Cup.
The Raptors also became the first Canadian team to win a championship in any of North America’s four major sports since the Toronto Blue Jays won the Major League Baseball’s World Series in 1992 and 1993.
And the Raptors became the first team outside the United States to win the NBA championship.
“The entire country rallied around the Raptors. Millions-plus celebration in downtown Toronto. And really, a remarkable feat,” said Phil King, the Globe and Mail’s sports design editor.
Canada’s Davis Cup tennis team finished second with five votes while Melissa-Humana-Paredes and Sarah Pavan, gold medalists at the world beach volleyball championships were third.
With files from CP, CBC
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