As rumored earlier, the CWHL’s Clarkson Cup Final will take place in Ottawa at the Canadian Tire Centre for the next two years. The CWHL made it official with an announcement of the two-year agreement Monday, making the Senators the fourth Canadian NHL club to enter a partnership with the CWHL.
The CWHL also clarified details on the 2016 Clarkson Cup weekend, which will be the first of the league’s two Finals in Ottawa. Held March 11-13, it will including the CWHL Awards Gala on Friday, CWHL Community Day on Saturday and the Championship Game on Sunday.
Senators owner Eugene Melnyk said via the CWHL press release, “This exciting new partnership is a continuation of the Ottawa Senators commitment to investing in the growth of the women’s game in Ottawa and across the National Capital Region. The Clarkson Cup represents the pinnacle of women’s hockey in Canada and we are proud to bring this event to the nation’s capital.”
The agreement sees the CWHL returning next season for the second Clarkson Cup championship at Canadian Tire Centre, when the games will be a part of the city of Ottawa and the Ottawa Senator’s celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary.
“The CWHL is thrilled to partner with the Ottawa Senators and to bring the biggest game in women’s hockey to the nation’s capital and Canadian Tire Centre,” said CWHL commissioner Brenda Andress. It’s been a big year for the CWHL, who started the season by announcing a partnership between Les Canadiennes de Montreal (formerly the Montreal Stars) and the Montreal Canadiens. Then they got a big stage with the CWHL/NWHL game at the Winter Classic, which, though there were visibility problems for anyone outside the stadium, was a significant moment in the NHL’s support of women’s hockey.
Brampton forward and Kanata-native Jamie Lee Rattray looks forward to the big stage for the Clarkson Cup, “Growing up in Ottawa and now having the chance to play at Canadian Tire Centre with the Clarkson Cup on the line, that’s pretty special.”
The CWHL also took the opportunity to note that they’ve appointer Kevin Reed as the Chairman of the Clarkson Cup. That will carry the responsibility of organizing the Clarkson Cup Committee and being “responsible for execution of the Cup weekend.”
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