Ottawa Lynx sold
My mom broke the news to me on Sunday: despite a denial from the club, the Ottawa Lynx have been sold and are moving to a new $34-million US stadium, where it will be a farm team for the Philadelphia Phillies.
I suppose I knew the day would come. Without the Montreal Expos nearby, it's not surprising that baseball is fading from the minds of Ottawa residents. Still, it's another blow to a baseball nut who grew up in Montreal and Ottawa. Canada's last attachment to MLB is the Blue Jays, and there have been rumors for years that they will pack up and go south at some point.
Truth is, I never went to a Lynx game. I have to assume that Ottawa didn't have a team while I was growing up there, otherwise it's my parents' fault for not taking me to the park! 
I have a plan to make up for some of this: I'm off to Vancouver for the weekend of Sept 8-9 and it looks like the Vancouver Canadians have a couple of home games scheduled!
On the flip side of the coin, there's a positive glimmer: Independent Thinking reports that the sale of the Lynx puts Ottawa into play for the Canadian-American League. Apparently, this league has an interest in installing teams in both Montreal and Ottawa for the 2008 season! (Psst, the Quebec CAL team is in second place with a .600/24-16 line!)
UPDATE: The Vancouver Canadians didn't make the playoffs this season, so there are no games scheduled for when I will be in Vancouver. I'll have to wait until next season!
The Lynx came to Ottawa in early 90s and quickly set an IL record for attendence. But, things have fallen on the hard time as of late.
As to the Can-Am League, they already have one team in Canada — playing in Quebec City. When I spoke with Miles Wolff, commissioner of the Can-Am League, last November he said that the biggest obstacle to putting a team in Montreal was getting a new baseball stadium built. I've got an e-mail into him for an update on the status in Montreal. I'm guessing that in 2008, there will two new Can-Am League teams in Canada.
There are two Northern League teams in Canada as well. Winnipeg Goldeyes lead the league in attendence, while their counterparts in Calgary Vipers are dead-last — but the team just today committed to having a team in the city for next year.
Thanks for your comments Toby! I have to say that I know very little about baseball teams outside of MLB, so I'm quite pleased to hear that there are a few teams still playing in Canada. I'm also hopeful that my two home towns will get CAL teams! Next season, I promise to make it out to see the Vancouver Canadians!
I missed one. Edmonton Cracker-Cats are also in the Northern League.
The Cracker-Cats! Wow, great name!