Toronto Blizzard

Based in Toronto, Canada, the Toronto Blizzard joined the NASL in 1971 originally as the Metros. By 1975, half of the team was purchased by Toronto Croatia of the NSL and changed to the Toronto Metros-Croatia. After another change in ownership in 1978, the team was renamed to the Toronto Blizzard and moved to Exhibition Stadium. The team was decent on the pitch with a 14-18 record in 1980, and their attendance was reportedly about 15,000 per game. 

In 1983, the team signed former Juventus star Roberto Bettega, which changed their fortunes in the standings. With Bettega, the team would make the league championship two years running in 1983 and 1984. They would lose in ‘83 to Tulsa and in ‘84 to the Chicago Sting. The Blizzard were members of the NASL until the last year of league operations in 1984. Along with the Minnesota Strikers, the Blizzard wanted to play on but unfortunately the league couldn’t survive with only two teams.