Latest news with #MemorialCup
Global News
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Global News
London Knights acquire forward Max Crete from the Niagara IceDogs
The glow might not be off the London Knights' 2025 Memorial Cup championship, but the push toward next season and beyond is well underway. On June 19, London acquired 17-year-old forward Max Crete from the Niagara IceDogs in exchange for Jacob Monks and a 9th-round draft pick in 2028. Crete was selected 30th overall by the IceDogs in 2024 and played all 68 games for Niagara last year as a 16-year-old rookie. Crete scored 11 times and added eight assists. He is from Ottawa and played for the Upper Canada Cyclones growing up. He was the captain of the Cyclones in his U16 year and led them in scoring. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Crete, who is five-feet-nine-inches tall and 182 pounds, is known as an excellent skater and playmaker who also has a scoring touch. Story continues below advertisement He joins Logan Hawery, Caleb Mitchell, Max Mews, Jaxon Cover and Eddie Hickson as prospects on the London roster from the 2024 draft. Monks is also a skilled forward who was a fifth-round pick of the Knights in 2024 and spent last year split between the U.S. National Development Team Program and the Little Caesar's U16 AAA team. Monks also played one game with the Fargo Force of the North American Hockey League. The Wyandotte, Mich., native is committed to Merrimack College for the 2027-28 season and has not signed an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement to this point. The Knights will open the season and raise their third Memorial Cup championship banner to the rafters of Canada Life Place on Sept. 19, 2025, against the Owen Sound Attack. On June 1, London joined the Windsor Spitfires, the Kamloops Blazers and the Cornwall Royals as the only franchises to win the Memorial Cup three times since the tournament format was adopted in 1972. The Knights defeated the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 in the final game in Rimouski, Que. London has won two consecutive Ontario Hockey League titles.
Global News
4 days ago
- Business
- Global News
City of Kelowna reaping the economic benefits brought on by the Brier Cup
Kelowna, B.C., is quickly gaining recognition for more than just its scenic landscapes and wineries. Following the success of the 2025 Montana's Brier, the city is proving it has the capacity and appeal to host major national events — and reap the economic rewards that come with them. Earlier this year, the Canadian men's curling championship brought over 89,000 spectators to Kelowna. The event delivered a direct economic impact of $15.2 million and a total impact of $22.7 million, far exceeding expectations. 'On that particular event, we were at the high end of our expectations — and actually a couple hundred thousand dollars beyond that,' said Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy For city leaders and tourism officials, the success of the Brier is about more than just impressive numbers. 'The numbers from the Brier really solidified that Kelowna can host these major events successfully,' said Lisanne Ballantyne, CEO of Tourism Kelowna. 'But it's not just about the numbers — it's about the legacy it leaves behind.' Story continues below advertisement That legacy continues to grow, with two more national events on the horizon. The Canadian Country Music Awards are set to take place in September, followed by the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026. Kelowna is aiming to match or surpass the economic performance seen in other host cities. 'When the CCMAs were in Hamilton, the economic impact was $11 million and over 2,000 hotel room nights,' said Ballantyne. 'With Kelowna's destination appeal, we believe we'll match or even exceed that.' The city is also thinking long-term. A new Economic Prosperity Task Force has been launched to build on this momentum and explore other opportunities beyond events. 'It's not just from an event standpoint,' said Dyas. 'The task force is looking at what else we can bring to Kelowna — whether it's industry, manufacturing, or anything that creates lasting economic impact.' As Kelowna continues to attract attention, city leaders are working to ensure it's ready for what's ahead. 'We're considered a small city, and things like infrastructure, venues, and even how many volunteers we can mobilize become important factors in deciding what events we can host in the future,' said Ballantyne.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Medicine Hat Tigers superstar Gavin McKenna named CHL Player of the Year
Medicine Hat Tigers' Gavin McKenna (72) looks for the puck during second period Memorial Cup hockey action against the Rimouski Oceanic in Rimouski, Que., on Friday, May 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov Medicine Hat Tigers star Gavin McKenna has been named the best major junior hockey player in the entire Canadian Hockey League. The Yukon native put up 129 points during the regular season, including a record-setting 54-game point-scoring streak. He led the Tigers to within one win of the Memorial Cup, which they lost in the finals to the London Knights. McKenna was only held scoreless three times during the regular season. The 17-year-old becomes the third-youngest player to win the David Branch Award in CHL history, behind Sidney Crosby and John Tavares, who both won it when they were 16. McKenna is the first Medicine Hat Tiger to win the award in franchise history.
Global News
7 days ago
- Sport
- Global News
Medicine Hat Tigers' Gavin McKenna becomes 3rd-youngest recipient of CHL player of the year award
Gavin McKenna has etched his name into the history books. The Medicine Hat Tigers' superstar forward was named the David Branch Player of the Year at the Canadian Hockey League Awards on Friday. McKenna is the third-youngest player to ever win the award at 17 years, five months, 24 days old. Only Sidney Crosby in 2003-04 (16 years, nine months, 11 days) and John Tavares in 2006-07 (16 years, eight months, seven days) were younger. The player from Whitehorse, Yukon, had 129 points (41 goals, 88 assists) in 56 regular-season games, including a 40-game point streak. View image in full screen Medicine Hat Tigers' Gavin McKenna (72) warms up before a Memorial Cup hockey game in Rimouski, Que., on May 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov He extended that streak to 54 games during the Western Hockey League playoffs, establishing a modern CHL record (since 2000) for the longest single-season point streak across the regular season, playoffs, and Memorial Cup. Story continues below advertisement McKenna led Medicine Hat to its first WHL title since 2007 and to the Memorial Cup final, where the Tigers fell to the London Knights. He was second in Memorial Cup scoring with six points (three goals, three assists) in four games. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Meanwhile, Landon DuPont became the second-youngest recipient of the rookie of the year award. The Everett Silvertips defenceman is just 16 years and 16 days old. Tavares won the award at 15 years, eight months and seven days. 1:45 14-year-old Calgary hockey player given 'exceptional status' status by WHL DuPont, from Calgary, is the first blueliner in 30 years — and just the third in CHL history after Philippe Boucher (1990-91) and Bryan Berard (1994-95) — to earn the honour. Dupont had 60 points (17 goals, 43 assists) in 64 games. Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa was honoured as top scorer after leading the CHL with 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) in 65 games. Erie Otters blueliner Matthew Schaefer was named the top prospect award winner being the No. 1-ranked North American skater according to NHL Central Scouting. Story continues below advertisement Other award winners included the Knights' Sam Dickinson as defenceman of the year, Jackson Parsons of the Kitchener Rangers as the goaltender of the year, Berkly Catton of the Spokane Chiefs as sportsman of the year, Mathieu Cataford of the Rimouski Oceanic as scholastic player of the year, and Maxwell Jardine of the Charlottetown Islanders as humanitarian player of the year.
Ottawa Citizen
7 days ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Wildcats' MacDougall named Canadian Hockey League coach of the year
Gardiner MacDougall, whose seamless transition from coaching university hockey to the major junior ranks resulted in another championship for the Moncton Wildcats, was named the Brian Kilrea Trophy winner as Canadian Hockey League coach of the year Friday in Toronto. Article content In his first year behind the Wildcats' bench after retiring from 24 seasons as head coach at the University of New Brunswick Reds men's hockey team, MacDougall led the Wildcat to a franchise record campaign that resulted in a 53-9-2-0 regular-season record and a 16-3 slate en route to winning the Gilles Courteau Trophy as QMJHL champions in May. Article content Article content Article content The impressive credentials produced regular-season franchise records for most wins (53), most points (108), fewest regulation losses (9), fewest goals against (144), and best points percentage (.844). Article content Article content During his career at UNB, MacDougall's teams won nine University Cup titles, including back-to-back crowns in 2023 and 2024, the latter an undefeated season that culminated with the title in Toronto. He earned hi third U Sports men's hockey coach of the year for that remarkable accomplishment. Several months later, he retired from the UNB post and took over the Wildcats team. Article content He led the Cats to their first title since 2010 and advanced to the semifinal of the Memorial Cup in Rimouski. Article content The team's winning percentage was the eighth-best all-time in the QMJHL and 10th-best in the CHL since 2000. As all championship teams appears to accomplish, the Wildcats were staunch defensively, yielding the CHL-best defensive showing with a 2.25 goals-against average, which ranked fifth in QMJHL history. Article content Article content MacDougall is the third coach in CHL history to win the CHL coach of the year award in his first season, joining Craig Hartsburg (Guelph Storm, 1995) and Gerard Gallant (Saint John Sea Dogs in 2010). Article content In additional to his University Cup success, MacDougall also led the Sea Dogs to the 2022 Memorial Cup when the event was held at TD Station. Article content Two other Wildcats were finalists for national CHL awards. Article content Berkly Catton of the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL was named the sportsman of the year, a category in which Julius Sumpf of the Cats was a finalist. Newly named Wildcats captain Caleb Desnoyers was a finalist for the Top Prospect award, which went to Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters.
