TORONTO -- Over the years, the Toronto Raptors have heard all about the perceived disadvantages of NBA life north of the border. Discount Vapormax . The complaints have run the gamut -- from the long, snowy winters, to concerns about taxes to the lack of ESPN on cable TV. Instead of playing defence when it comes to perception, the franchise is going on the offensive. The Great White North is embraced and the Ontario capital takes centre stage in the teams new "We The North" campaign, which features a 60-second video that kicks off a massive franchise rebrand over the next two years. "This is the statement we want to make to Canada and I think this is the chip we have, which is were the north and theres no one else," Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president Tim Leiweke said Wednesday from New York. "Its just us and everyone looks past us. But were OK with that now." The video is not meant to be an advertisement for a team preparing to make its first playoff appearance in six years. Instead, the franchise wants the spot and the campaign to serve as a foundation for a team revolution. "This is a crusade now," Leiweke said. "This is not just a rally cry, this is, I think, our identity. "I think thats what we like about this is for the next two to three years, this is who we are and this is who we represent and this is who we fight for." The team is still finalizing release plans for other components of the campaign. However, new colours and a new logo will be rolled out "in short order," Leiweke said. Toronto hip-hop artist Drake was "heavily involved" in the inspiration for the spot, and Leiweke said the teams global ambassador was also involved in logo plans and the decision to stick with the Raptors name. "He thinks that the Vince Carter generation, those kids that grew up and got inspired by Vince, these are now the (Anthony) Bennetts of the world and the (Andrew) Wiggins of the world," Leiweke said. "And they relate to the Raptors in a very different way than that Barney dinosaur or Jurassic Park marketing campaign. "Now this is a cultural thing and Drake said, Stick to it and just define your culture and make it you." In the video, clips of the city skyline are mixed with snippets of basketball action from local neighbourhoods and highlights of the Raptors in action. "And far from the east side, miles from the west side, nowhere near the south side, we are the north side," a narrator says in the piece. "A territory all our own. And if that makes us outsiders -- were in." "My favourite shot is the kid bouncing the basketball through the field of ice," Leiweke said. "And its like, Thats it right there. Thats what we want. People dont understand we have a revolution going on in Canada. Were producing great players. Weve got kids inspired that are playing the sport in record numbers. We have the highest growth level in North America. "We are a team that suddenly people are rallying around and are excited about. And by the way, all of our guys love playing for Canada and were it. Weve got 35 million people. No one has 35 million people in their marketplace." It has been a remarkable rebound season for a franchise that has been hamstrung by mediocrity. Toronto opened the current campaign with a poor 6-12 record but things turned around last December after Rudy Gay was dealt to Sacramento in a seven-player trade. The Raptors were energized by the move and have been one of the strongest teams in the Eastern Conference since. Toronto recently clinched the Atlantic Division title and took a 48-33 record into the regular-season finale Wednesday night in New York. The Raptors turnaround has been a pleasant surprise in a city where post-season action in any of the major sports is a rarity. Fans are still stinging from the Toronto Maple Leafs late-season collapse that cost them a playoff spot this year. The NHL club has made the post-season just once in the last decade. Down the road at Rogers Centre, it has been over 20 years since the Toronto Blue Jays last made the playoffs. The Blue Jays are coming off a last-place finish in the American League East division and are not expected to contend this year. The Raptors will take a page from the hockey teams playbook by hosting a "Party in the Square" in Maple Leaf Square outside Air Canada Centre for playoff games this spring. It was a hotspot last year during the Maple Leafs first-round playoff series with the Boston Bruins. Ticket demand also appears to be quite high for Canadas lone NBA team. Torontos average playoff ticket price is $125. However, a recent Forbes website report said the Raptors have the highest average playoff ticket price ($370.62) on the secondary market. "To me its less about what people are paying on the secondary (market) and more about we have a greater demand for NBA playoff tickets than any market today in the NBA," Leiweke said. "So out of those 16 markets, right now Toronto is the hot ticket. I think that bodes well." Toronto has reached the NBA playoffs on five previous occasions, the most recent being a first-round loss to the Orlando Magic in 2008. The Raptors lone series victory came in 2001 when they beat the New York Knicks before falling to the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round. Discount Air Max 90 Australia . -- Ben Bishop had a milestone game against one of the NHLs greatest goalies. New Balance Outlet Store . PAUL, Minn – The clock lingered for what seemed like an interminable two minutes and 51 seconds before Mark Fraser finally escaped to the bench during a wildly one-sided first period of an eventual loss to Boston. http://www.discountaustraliashoes.com/cheap-air-max-95-fake.html . On Tuesday, the star questioned whether that was still the case. Speaking to reporters at a charity event, Johnson said: "I just kind of wonder sometimes: Is this still the place for me?" Johnsons comments came after he was asked why he recently skipped a voluntary minicamp.Northern Ontarios Tracy Horgan will make Canadian womens curling history next month.Kerry Galusha of the Northwest Territories and the Yukons Sarah Koltun will too. The three skips will be representing new team entries at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Moose Jaw, Sask.The addition of a Northern Ontario rink is a first for the annual womens national championship. It was one of several changes instituted by the Canadian Curling Association as part of a plan to allow equal event access to all of its member associations.In addition, there will no longer be just one team representing the Canadian territories at the Scotties.The Northwest Territories and the Yukon will now have separate entries. Nunavut could have entered a team as well but declined.The changes mean Horgan, from Sudbury, Ont., didnt have to win the Ontario playdowns in order to book her ticket for the nationals, like she did in her last Scotties appearance in 2012. The 28-year-old skip, a three-time Northern Ontario junior womens champion, beat Kendra Lilly last weekend to advance.Now this is kind of back to what were used to, Horgan said in a recent interview. Well be wearing the green and gold colours and were comfortable with that.For Galusha and Koltun, the changes mean they both get to go to Moose Jaw.The only rub for all three skips is they still have one last hurdle to clear. Theyll square off in a three-team round-robin qualifier at Mosaic Place with the winner to reach the 12-team main draw.The qualifying event begins Feb. 12 and the final play-in game will be held during Draw 1 of main draw competition two days later. The event continues through to the medal games on Feb. 22.The inclusion of a Northern Ontario rink brings the womens event in line with other national competitions. The Tim Hortons Brier — the mens national championship — is also mirroring a longtime Scotties tradition this year by including a Team Canada entry for the first time.The changes took root in 2010, when the CCA unveiled its Equitable Opportunity to Access Canadian Championships system. The goal was to create a system that would offer a fair, equal chance for curlers to access national events.Two years later, the CCAs 14 member associations approved the final implementaation phase, which resulted in the adjustments this season. Air Max 90 Australia. For 2016, the team that finishes at the bottom of the overall standings at the 2015 Scotties will have to go through the qualification round with this years round-robin losers and Nunavut, if the territory decides to participate. We think the model is now fair, it is now sound, and it will be great to see some of the results on the ice where as I say, every single game is meaningful, said CCA chief executive officer Greg Stremlaw. Not just for those that want to win and go on to podium excellence and represent Canada worldwide, but for those that dont want to face qualification in years ahead.The non-traditional setup offers pros and cons for the three teams in the qualifier.They have the unusual pressure of needing to peak right from the start in order to get a spot in the main draw. The qualifier winner will also have the advantage of two extra days of competition on arena ice, although that could leave them more fatigued by the end of the week. I cant even tell you what Im expecting from it, Galusha said. Im just kind of rolling with it right now.For the round-robin losers, its a long trip to Moose Jaw for just a few games of action. Its also difficult for the teams to feel like theyre actually part of the Scotties until they advance to the main draw.If youre looking at the whole Scotties event, that itself is a marathon — but weve got to do the sprint first, Koltun said. Thats what we have to focus on right away, to try to do our best right off the bat.So its definitely a little bit different.Ottawas Rachel Homan is back to defend her title. Lauren Mann will skip the Quebec entry and Heather Strong will represent Newfoundland and Labrador.The other provincial representatives have yet to be finalized.Notes: The schedule for the 2015 Ford world mens curling championship has been released. Canada will open against either the U.S., or Brazil on March 28 at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax. Medal games will be played April 5. The winner of the Brier, scheduled for Feb. 28-March 8 in Calgary, will be the Canadian representative. ... The Canadian junior championships begin Saturday in Corner Brook, N.L.———Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter. ' ' '