Left to right, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, OHL Commissioner David Branch, MasterCard VP Milos Vranesevic and Spitfires Governor and Chair of Host Committee John Savage, May 2, 2016. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)Left to right, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, OHL Commissioner David Branch, MasterCard VP Milos Vranesevic and Spitfires Governor and Chair of Host Committee John Savage, May 2, 2016. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)
Windsor

Windsor Hosting 2017 Memorial Cup

The Windsor Spitfires are promising a MasterCard Memorial Cup like no other, when they host the 99th annual event in 2017.

This was the franchise's third bid to host the CHL's premier event, and OHL Commissioner David Branch says Windsor's combination of facilities, amenities, community and team won the selection committee over this time.

"All of their bids have been good, but in our judgement, our assessment by our selection committee, there was maybe a few things needed here or there [in the past]," he explains. "This time, they hit it right on. All the boxes were checked."

Branch was quick to praise the Spitfires management team and Head Coach Rocky Thompson for the jobs they've been doing on and off the ice.

And as much as GM Warren Rychel is excited to host the event, he says the Spitfires will be in it to win it.

"It's going to be key to add some 19-year-olds, some 18-year-olds that are great players, NHL drafted players, big third and fourth-line wingers, some stay at home defencemen," adds Rychel.

The tournament is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the region, pouring more than $15-million into the local economy.

At Monday morning's news conference, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens promised it will be an event unlike anything the CHL's seen before.

"There will be special things going on in the community [while the tournament's going on] that the community will want to participate in, that they'll be excited about," says Dilkens. "That will enhance the overall experience for people who come to the 2017 Mastercard Memorial Cup."

The 2017 MasterCard Memorial Cup will be held at the WFCU Centre, May 18-28.

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