Leamington will be buzzing on Saturday evening, as the Leamington Flyers celebrate with the local hockey community after taking home their first Sutherland Cup in franchise history earlier this week.
The Flyers defeated the Stratford Flyers on Tuesday, 4-0 in Game 7, to take the best-of-seven series.
The team will be part of a parade through the streets of Leamington, beginning at 5:00 p.m. from Town Hall and ending at the Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre.
President and Co-Owner Jason Melo says they're incredibly excited, humbled and grateful
"It's a phenomenal accomplishment, and we're looking forward to celebrating with the fans and the entire organization. The fans especially have been so supportive throughout the entire season, I mean we are at the top in attendance year after year. Support on the road even has been unbelievable, so we're happy to give back and celebrate with them," he said.
A free family BBQ will be taking place at the flag poles in front of the arena, and inside the team will have their three trophies on display including the regular season championship trophy, the Western Conference championship and the Sutherland Cup itself.
Melo says they're expecting a big turnout, and as a community based team it's important for everyone to be a part of this.
"So many of our fans have been long time supporters, it means the world. As a former player in the league to show up to a rink with 1,000 fans, or 1,500 fans or 2,000 fans a game, you tend to elevate your game. It's a very important aspect of the entire player experience, so I can't emphasize enough how much the support of the fans in the community means to us as an organization."
There will team photos available at the event, which fans will be able to use to get autographs from players.
Fans are also encouraged to wear red, make signs, and join the team along the parade route and at the arena to celebrate as well.
Melo says it was so impressive to see businesses and fans in the small community sponsoring fan buses to go on the road for games, and adds it can't be understated what that meant to the team throughout their run.
"We're riding this high, and like I said, we can't give thanks enough to everybody involved," he continued. "It's a special time, a special time for the community, the organization and we're looking forward to keeping the celebration going and bringing into the next season for sure."
More information on everything happening on Saturday can be found on the team’s social media channels and website.
(Photo Credit: Courtesy the Leamington Flyers)