Mayor McCallion brings the Memorial Cup to Port Credit Mississauga to mark the first time these national hockey championship games will be played in the Toronto area. That the finals are in Mississauga are a bonus and reflect the avid fan base for the Mississauga St Michael's Majors hockey team.
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| Peel Police Boat on Credit River Port Credit Mississauga |
Thick fog gave cover to the Peel Police boat escorting the Mayor of Mississauga, Hazel McCallion, and the Memorial Cup, as it arrived in Mississauga just before noon today. The boat came along the Lake Ontario shore from the Marine Unit at Lakefront Promenade Park, a 10 minute ride to Port Credit Harbour Marina, on the east side of the Credit River across from the lighthouse.
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| Peel Police Boat Near Port Credit Lighthouse |
Entering the mouth of the Credit River, the police boat made its way upriver towards the landmark lighthouse and veered to the right past Snug Harbour restaurant to head into the docks at the marina.
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| Piper, Students Greet Memorial Cup Port Credit Marina Docks |
On the docks, a piper and a group of cheering students greeted the mayor, shown in the middle left of the photo, stepping off the Peel Police boat.
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| Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion with Memorial Cup Port Credit |
On the docks at Port Credit Harbour Marina in Mississauga, hockey and other dignitaries carry the Memorial Cup from the boat to shore, where it will continue its journey north to the Hershey Centre for the 93 national championship May 20-29.
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| Memorial Cup : Welcome to Mississauga ! |
Police cars and firetrucks with lights flashing and a large bus painted with the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors colors lined Stavebank Road South. The Memorial Cup had originally been scheduled to arrive at 11 a.m. but was about 15 minutes behind schedule.
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| Mississauga Majors Fan, Mayor McCallion with Memorial Cup |
Outside the Port Credit Harbour Marina offices, a happy group made up of media and Majors fans, and assorted passersby greeted the Mayor who spoke for a few minutes then headed onto the waiting bus to continue on to the Hershey Centre.
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| Memorial Cup Close Up : Championship Hockey Trophy Port Credit |
This is as close as I am ever likely to get to having my name on a major hockey trophy.
The opening game is tomorrow night (May 20) when Majors play the opening game against the Saint John Sea Dogs, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champions.
I love Saint John, but Go Majors!
