The Windsor Spitfires became one of only eight teams to win back-to-back Memorial Cup tonight, destroying the Brandon Wheat Kings 9-1. Considering the fact that probable No. 1 pick Taylor Hall became the first player to ever win back-to-back tournament MVPs, you have to wonder if - somewhere - the Edmonton Oilers are smiling. Allan Maki covered the game for The Globe and Mail.
After winning 50 regular-season games, another 16 in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs and four more at the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup, the Spitfires are once again the undisputed leaders of the pack, one of the best junior teams ever assembled.
Their embarrassingly efficient 9-1 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings, in the Wheaties’ own Westman Place arena Sunday night, gave the Spitfires a second consecutive national championship. It also earned them a slice of history. Only eight teams have now won back-to-back Memorial Cups, and the Spitfires can now hold their heads up with the 1994-95 Kamloops Blazers, 1980-81 Cornwall Royals and all the other repeat champs.
The Spitfires answered every question, every challenge here. Their line-up featured 10 NHL draft picks and two players (Hall and defenceman Cam Fowler) who are expected to be taken in the first five picks of next month’s draft. When scored on, they scored back. When given a break, they took full advantage.