TORONTO -- In playing Real Salt Lake this weekend, Toronto FC is taking on the kind of team it aspires to be -- a perennial playoff side with a winning tradition and championship character. Hydro Flask Barn . Now in its 10th season, Real Salt Lake has made the playoffs the last six years, winning the MLS Cup in 2009. Until overtaken in the MLS record books early last year, Real Salt Lake held the league mark for consecutive home wins at 29. Rio Tinto Stadium was an impregnable fortress from June 2009 to May 2011. Toronto (2-0-0 this season) has a 1-5-0 lifetime record in Sandy, Utah. RSL (1-0-2 this season) was also the first MLS team to reach the CONCACAF Champions League final, losing to Monterrey 3-2 on aggregate in 2011. Last season Real Salt Lake made it to two finals but lost both: beaten in the MLS Cup by Sporting Kansas City in an agonizing penalty shootout and 1-0 by D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup. There has been stability on the sidelines with Jeff Cassar, who has been with the team since May 2007, moving up the ladder to head coach last December after Jason Kreis became the first head coach of New York City FC. Cassar is the third head coach in RSL history. Toronto was on coach No. 5 in Year 4 and is currently on its eighth manager in Ryan Nelsen. RSL captain Kyle Beckerman arrived in 2007 in a trade from the Colorado Rapids. The midfielder with the distinctive dreadlocks credits coaching and a little luck for the franchises success. "We were able to get players into this team that were ready to be coached by a coach like Jason and Jeff Cassar and Robin Fraser (a former RSL assistant coach who is now with the New York Red Bulls)," he said Thursday. "It just so happened that we were able to get a group of guys together that ... really just needed a good environment -- an ownership that cared, a coaching staff that did the right thing. A lot of the guys were coming from places that didnt do the game right. "A lot of us, that core group thats still here, it was a breath of fresh air that we really needed. And we just took full advantage because we knew exactly the opportunity that was in front of us, because wed had it the opposite way, where the owner doesnt care or the coach just doesnt get it. "So I think we lucked out a little bit that we had the core in the same place, here in Salt Lake, that was just absolutely ready to explode and take full advantage of what was in front of us. And thats what we did." The 31-year-old Beckerman is joined on the team by fellow U.S. internationals Nick Rimando (a goalie who came on board in 2007) and Luis Gil (a midfielder who joined in 2010). Other veterans include defenders Nat Borchers (2008) and Chris Wingert (2007), midfielders Ned Grabavoy (2009) and Javier Morales (2007) and forwards Robbie Findley (two stints since 2007) and Alvaro Saborio (2010). Players want to come to winning clubs. And RSL does a good job checking out new talent. "They want to bring in not only good players but good people," said Beckerman. Toronto FC has followed the same road this off-season, with marquee signings Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley, Gilberto and Julio Cesar all fitting in. Beckerman acknowledges that he respects Torontos search for success. "The thing that I really admire about Toronto is that they wont stop. Theyve kept at it. Theyve kept trying to fix and get the right recipe. And it doesnt seem like theyre going to stop any time soon. Theyre going to keep going and keep spending until they get the right recipe. "And I admire that. Thats something a lot of other teams would love to have that. With the fan base, theyve been loyal there and theyve stuck with them through tough times. The ownership and what theyre doing there, is kind of a reward to that loyalty and giving them a successful team. "Time will tell if this is the right one. But it seems so far that theyve brought in the right players so far. So I think its definitely on the up and up over there." Like Toronto, the early days were bleak in Salt Lake. The team went 5-22-5 with just 20 points in its inaugural season in 2005. In 2005-06, the fledgling franchise endured a league-record 18-game winless streak. But it didnt take long for Real Salt Lake to turn the corner. It had 39 points in Season 2 and 40 in Season 4, going 10-10-10 and reaching the 2008 playoff semifinals. In 2009, it was another 40-point season and the 11-12-7 team went on to win the title. Since then, RSL has collected 56, 53, 57 and 56 points. In contrast, Torontos points total since entering the league in 2007 is 25, 35, 39, 35, 33, 23, and 29. The two teams meet Saturday. Hydro Flaske . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. Hydro Flask Billig . The Hockey Canada Foundation is donating $50,000, with Hockey Quebec contributing $15,000. Hockey Canada also announced it will hold a skills camp for all levels of minor hockey in Lac-Mégantic during the 2013-14 season. Representatives from Hockey Canada, the Hockey Canada Foundation and Hockey Quebec were on hand Tuesday night at a meeting of the AHM de Lac-Mégantic to make the announcement and presentation. http://www.norgehydroflask.com/ . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91.Five Quick Thoughts for a Wednesday: 1. KAWHI LEONARD & DANNY GREEN (Spurs): 44 points combined on 17-21 shooting in Game 3. Both were very assertive and set the tone in the first quarter. Brilliant! When these guys are playing the two-way game, the Spurs are a force. Wow. 2. D-WADE & LEBRON (Heat): Combined for 44 points but 12 turnovers combined is not going to cut it. Wade, in particular, was ineffective in the first half, leading to the Spurs blow out. LeBron was terrific in the first and faded after that. They need lots more support, yet these guys are capable of being more impactful and in particular more efficient. Their sloppy/careless play fed the Spurs rout. They need better than that. 3. DEREK FISHER (Knicks): Not surprised by his aftermath of Steve Kerr going to the Warriors. Hell have Phil Jacksons full support. Now its about fixing the roster and figuring out Carmelo Anthonys status. My one recommendation would be to hire experienced pro coaches who can help him in the transition from player to head coach. Phil Jackson was always smart to have veteran guys like Tex Winter and Johnny Bach with him. Job is tougher than it looks. Having older guys with lots of wisdom that arent angling for your job really helps when times get tough. Hydro Flask Prisjakt. Need folks that tell you what you need to hear. 4. BORIS DIAW (Spurs): Great move to start him in Game 3. Tony Parker looks like hes playing hurt and doesnt have the same pop/burst in his game right now. Need more play making and a guy that moves the ball quickly to teammates. Diaws numbers are respectable at nine points and five rebounds along with three assists, yet he had lots of Gretzky Passes -- the critical pass that leads to THE pass (assist). Hes a wonderful passer with off-the-charts basketball IQ and when you put him out there its like having a second point guard on the floor. 5. HEAT DEFENCE: Frist half was poor and overall giving up 111 points on 59 per cent shooting is a huge concern. Game 2 defense was sound but major slippage. Energy level was inept. Perimeter D and communication was surprisingly off kilter. Not typical of the Heat. Help and recovery and shot contests have to elevate. A shockingly poor performance for such a big stage. Lots to clean up. Ball pressure and compete level has to be back to form. Not as good a defensive team as past years yet not this bad. Expect to see much more focused group on Thursday. If not, theyre in huge trouble. Pick it way up. ' ' '