OHL Windsor Spitfires

Spitfires 2009 Community Tour of Champions Unveiled

Published on October 2, 2009 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Windsor Spitfires News Release


(Windsor) After an exciting season during which the Windsor Spitfires captured the 2009 MasterCard Memorial Cup Championship, the Spitfires 2009 Community Tour of Champions, largest of its kind offered in OHL and CHL history, was created to allow the team to share its successes with thousands of people from within the Windsor and Essex County communities. Tim Hortons, title sponsors of the tour and presenting sponsors Windsor and Essex County Chrysler Dealers, and Pioneer Petroleums were key contributors to the tour which visited over 110 locations since its inception in mid-June. Windsor Spitfires captain Harry Young and forward Eric Wellwood visited many schools, community based events and organizations, sharing their experiences on the team's journey to winning the Memorial Cup while also signing autographs and taking pictures with fans as well as with the Memorial Cup, J. Ross Robertson OHL and Wayne Gretzky Western Conference Championship trophies.

The Tour was an exciting and innovative program which was designed by the Windsor Spitfires in conjunction with all three sponsoring organizations. It was introduced to the public only weeks after the Spitfires won the most coveted prize in North American junior hockey as they were the first team to recover from an 0-2 deficit in the MasterCard Memorial Cup Tournament, winning four consecutive games, including a 4-1 victory over the Kelowna Rockets in the Memorial Cup Championship Game on Sunday, May 24, 2009 in Rimouski, Quebec.

Windsor Spitfires President and Head Coach Bob Boughner offered his thoughts on the tour, "after ending the season in such a dramatic fashion and bringing a Memorial Cup Championship back to the City of Windsor, we came up with the concept to share this championship with the local community. We were fortunate to have Tim Hortons assume a lead role in sponsoring the tour with Chrysler and Pioneer Petroleums also coming on board as sponsors in helping us offer this dynamic program to the best fans in the OHL. It is our hope that we are again fortunate enough to win another championship and have the opportunity to again offer this wonderful program to our community."

"The Windsor & Area store owners take great pride in supporting their community, and when the opportunity presented itself to become title sponsor of the Tim Hortons Tour of Champions - we jumped at the opportunity, said Vince Cardella, local Tim Hortons Franchisee. The Windsor owners have been supporting the Spitfires for years and to be able to sponsor the tour was a natural fit. The ability to bring the local heroes - the Windsor Spitfires players and their trophies to meet different community groups, schools and businesses was one way we were able to give back to the community of Windsor this year. We are proud to support the Spitfires and wish them all the best this season."

The Windsor Spitfires were honoured to tour the local area with the most prized trophies in North American junior hockey as part of the Spitfires 2009 Community Tour of Champions and thank Tim Hortons, Windsor and Essex County Chrysler Dealers and Pionner Petroleums for their support of this unique program.

For more information on the Tour of Champions and interviews with Harry Young as well as Eric Wellwood, please visit the Ontario Hockey League website at http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/spitfires-community-tour-of-champions-p137838/t-webTV

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 2, 2009


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