The Montreal Impact joined the league in 1993 and have been, arguably, the most successful Canadian franchise in the A-League, winning the championship in 1994 and reaching the semifinals in 1995 and 1996. Under the ownership and guidance of Joey Saputo, the club has been excellent off the field as well as on and is one of the league leaders in attendance. Although the team left the league for the 1999 season and was forced into USL ownership in 2001, it has rebounded magnificently again under Saputo, who came to the club’s rescue along with the government of Quebec. The team has become one of the premier sports teams in Montreal, breaking franchise attendance records and outdrawing Major League Baseball’s Expos.