MEMORIAL CUP ARRIVES IN LONDON
The 96th edition of the MasterCard Memorial Cup is officially underway following an impressive entrance on Thursday, May 15 in London, Ontario. Despite the unfavorable weather for an outdoor parade, the CHL’s national prize was celebrated in fine fashion and rain did not stop hundreds of major junior hockey fans from joining the Arrival of the Cup Ceremony presented by BMO.
The Memorial Cup was proposed by Captain James T. Sutherland during World War I, who wanted to create a trophy as a memorial to remember the OHA’s players who died during the war. The 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup is proud to be raising funds and awareness for a number of veterans programs including Parkwood Hospital in London. Veterans at Parkwood received a ‘sneak peak’ of the Memorial Cup yesterday before its official arrival, transforming the hospital hall into a hockey rink. CHL President and OHL Commissioner David Branch, CHL Vice President and QMJHL Commissioner Gilles Courteau, and CHL Vice President and WHL Commissioner Rob Robison attended a momentous presentation with 17 London Knights and Ontario Hockey League Alumni. Parkwood presented Branch and London’s Host Organizing Committee Chair Trevor Whiffen with awards of distinction for their contributions to Parkwood’s Veteran Care program.
Starting off in a Military Helicopter above a former Canadian Forces base and National Heritage site of Canada in London’s east end, the Memorial Cup landed extravagantly at Wolseley Barracks to a military veterans and tournament organizers. Following brief remarks by Moon Inthavong (Chair of the London Military Family Resource Centre), Kristen Kennedy (BMO Regional Vice President – Personal Banking), and 88-year-old Allan Brunsden (WWI Veteran, served in Royal Canadian Navy), the Memorial Cup continued downtown London in a military G-Wagon to Victoria Park.
Lambeth Public School grade one students welcomed the Memorial Cup at the Victoria Park reciting In Flanders Fields at the cenotaph for a commemorative ceremony. Oxbow Public School grade one and four students joined in a vocal and sign language performance of “A Candle for Peace.” From here, bag piper Rick Wood lead the trophy – in the Labatt Breweries heritage vehicle – to its final stop outside the Covent Garden Market.
BMO’s blue carpet unveiled the Cup at Covent Market Square, where London mayor Joe Fontana was on site to welcome fans, veterans, and tournament organizers alike. Chair of the Host Organizing Committee Trevor Whiffen, as well as London Knights alumni Rob Schremp (part of the Memorial-Cup winning team in 2005), military veteran Michael Newcombe, and BMO’s Regional VP of Commercial Banking David Blythe were also a part of welcoming fans to the ten-day tournament.
The Arrival capped off with the BMO Opening Gala at the London Convention Centre, featuring keynote speaker Brendan Shanahan. As a former London Knight, Shanahan reminisced about his time in London and delivered an inspiring speech to all players, coaches, family, and fans. The 21-year NHL Veteran has won three Stanley Cup trophies with the Detroit Red Wings and was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame. His #19 hangs from the rafters of Budweiser Gardens, the arena of the tournament.
Due to inclement weather, the Budweiser Clydesdales were not a part of the Arrival of the Cup Ceremony presented by BMO, but will be on site at FanFest presented by Downtown London on Friday, May 16 from 3pm-5pm and Saturday, May 17 from 12 noon-12pm, where fans are encouraged to come and get some pictures before Game 1: London Knights vs. Val-d’Or Foreurs at 7pm.
