Red Deer is ready to welcome hockey fans from across Canada when the MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament returns to Alberta after a 42-year hiatus.
In less than three weeks, the puck will drop in the opening game of the 10-day junior hockey tournament.
The tournament starts with a bang when the Memorial Cup is flown by military helicopter into the city on May 19.
The chopper will land at Central Middle School where it will be greeted by students. The Memorial Cup will be put into an armoured vehicle.
A parade, featuring a military band and veterans, will lead the cup to the Cenotaph on Ross Street from the school.
Ron Lariviere, Memorial Cup host committee co-chair, said the arrival ceremony will honour the veterans that served in the First World War. The event kicks off at 11:30 a.m.
A howitzer cannon will be parked in front of the old train station. When the cup arrives, a military band will play O Canada and the howitzer will fire off some blank rounds to announce the event, said Lariviere.
Entertainment fill follow a short ceremony at the Cenotaph stage before the cup is paraded away.
“We’re looking forward to it,” said Lariviere.
“The only thing that is the wild card is the weather. Hopefully we will have nice weather for it … We are getting excited. All our planning and hard work over the last year has come into play. It is finally going to happen.”
Merrick Sutter, Memorial Cup host committee co-chair, said everything has come together and now they are waiting for the teams to be finalized. He said the host committee got ahead of the planning early and now it is just a matter of fine tuning all the logistics.
“People will start noticing some street banners in the downtown area,” said Sutter. “Obviously Westerner Park will have a whole new look. It’s coming … Soon people will begin to see a lot of jerseys.”
Fan Fest (Parkland Pavilion) and Molson Hockey House (Prairie Pavilion) will open four hours before the games daily. It is free to the public.
Fan Fest will have everything from merchandise to the Hockey Hall of Fame, interactive hockey games, photo opportunities and sponsored booths, said Sutter.
Molson Hockey House will close during the first and second period and open up after the second intermission. Live bands such as Brett Kissel, St. James Gate, 9 Second Ride and comedian Kelly Taylor and the Mud Men will take the stage every night. A cover charge applies to see Bradley Abel Band and Clayton Bellany Band on May 26 and See Alice and Finger Eleven on May 28. There will also be a mechanical bull in the beer gardens.
Sutter said they are encouraging businesses to dress up their storefronts for the Memorial Cup.
Tickets will be available for pick up this week for season ticket members and those who bought the event package. Sutter said they are on track for a sell out for the tournament.
For more information including ticket information, visit www.mastercardmemorialcup.ca
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com