Music: {allcanada} Impact guided by sense of history

Without leaving our galaxy, get 15% off Star Trek gear. Use code LIVELONG to prosper.

MONTREAL -- The Canadian club championship holds a special place in the hearts of the Montreal Impact organization.

While still competing in the USL First Division (one tier below Major League Soccer), the Impact won the original round-robin Canadian competition in 2008, beating out fellow USL side Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC of MLS.

Wednesday programming alert: Watch Toronto FC vs. the Montreal Impact live on Sportsnet East and Sportsnet Ontario starting with the pre-game show at 7:30 pm ET.

Wednesday programming alert: Watch the Vancouver Whitecaps vs. FC Edmonton live on Sportsnet West and Sportsnet Pacific starting at 8 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. PT.

It was a landmark moment in the history of club, one that they parlayed into a surprising quarter-final run in the subsequent CONCACAF Champions League. That allowed them to grab national headlines and steal a bit of thunder away from TFC, at the time the only Canadian club competing in MLS.

Four years have passed since their Canadian tournament victory, and the Impact now find themselves competing in MLS with a completely different roster.

But even though the players have changed (nobody from the 2008 roster is still with the team), the players are fully aware of the history. Jesse Marsch and Nick De Santis, the club's sporting director, addressed the current squad earlier this week to remind them of the club's 2008 championship victory, and how important that was to the city of Montreal.

It's this sense of history that many of the Impact players find themselves guided by ahead of Wednesday's match against Toronto FC in the first leg of this year's Canadian championship semifinals.

"I know about the great run Montreal had in the Champions League and they got in by winning (this tournament). Those moments are big for a club so we realize that it's important and we're taking it very seriously," midfielder Davy Arnaud told reporters Tuesday after practice.

Defender Jeb Brovsky added: "We know that winning this tournament is going to do a lot for us, not only as an organization but as a team."

Even though the Impact are in a grueling stretch of the season (Wednesday marks their second match in a five-game run over 16 days) Marsch is committed to fielding a full-strength side in the Canadian championship. They are taking this tournament very seriously.

"All of us understand that any time there's a chance to put a trophy in your case, it's important. One month from now we could already be champions so we're going to make sure we put everything to get there," Marsch assured.

Even the club's American players maintain that winning the Canadian championship is very important for the franchise, and that they will approach this like any other game.

"Every time we're out on the field we have an edge ... It's no different for the Canadian championship," Arnaud stated. "I've only won one championship (the 2004 U.S. Open with Kansas City) and it's been eight years, so personally I'm extremely motivated."

Interestingly, Montreal enters this home-and-away semifinal series as the favourite.

After a slow start to the MLS season, the Impact have looked solid as an expansion franchise, sporting a 2-5-2 record and sitting sixth in MLS' Eastern Conference. They're coming off a 2-0 win over the Portland Timbers (their first shutout in MLS) and they defeated TFC in Montreal last month in league play.

Toronto has lost seven straight games, tying the MLS record for the worst start to a season.

Despite the Reds' poor run of results, the Impact are not expecting an easy time of it against Toronto.

"I know their record isn't good this year, but I don't think it indicates the type of team they are, and they're certainly going to be motivated. It's a fresh start for them to come out in a tournament where we're all starting at the same point, so they're going to be motivated," Arnaud warned.

Like Arnaud, Brovsky expects a physical, spirited and competitive game, and he should know. The Impact defender played in this tournament against Montreal last year as a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps.

"I remember playing Montreal last year and it was a battle. Sometimes the semifinals are even tougher than the finals. ... We know Toronto hasn't got the points that they wanted but they're a dangerous team. ... We're not taking them lightly," Brovsky said.

Brovsky will start at right full back for Montreal, as Zarek Valentin injured his calf late in the Portland game. Valentin will miss the Impact's MLS match against Kansas City this weekend, but said he could be fit to play against Toronto in the second leg of the semifinals next Wednesday at BMO Field.

"I'm super bummed. I've seen how much emphasis and how this city loves this event going back to 2008," Valentin said. "It's part of the game and you have to take it with a grain of salt." v Preventing goals has been a problem for Toronto FC, as they lead MLS in goals against (16) and sport the league's worst goal difference (minus-10).

With that in mind, Marsch expects the Reds to take a conservative approach on Wednesday.

"I'll think they'll come here to keep it tight and not give much away and they're going to compete. There's going to be emption in the game, there's going to be competitiveness and probably some physical play," Marsch said.

Brazilian midfielder Felipe Martins has been a bright spot for the Impact, driving the attack with his deft ball control and distribution. He's also played every minute of every match in his first MLS season (810 minutes in total) but he maintains he is not fatigued.

"I've had a good training session (on Tuesday) and I've been working hard. I feel great and feel that I can give my all in every game if called upon," Martins said through an interpreter.

Montreal winger Justin Mapp is questionable for Wednesday's game because of a hamstring problem. Marsch said Mapp would be a game day decision.