The Cataractes Had An Eventful Summer

The Shawinigan Cataractes badly damaged a replica of the Memorial Cup over the summer, forcing Quebec Major Junior Hockey League commissioner Gilles Courteau to issue a statement.

"The Memorial Cup was donated in 1919 to honour Canada's war fallen," said Courteau. "It is unfortunate and deplorable to see it in such a state. The damages that were caused will be billed to the team."

The Canadian Hockey League says that this is a replica. According to The Canadian Press, “winning teams that want to have the trophy over the off-season must take out $50,000 in insurance against damages.”

Like the Sea Dogs did last year, the Cataractes have been giving the trophy to each player on the team for 24 hours. The Memorial Cup also got banged up touring with the Dogs last year and probably has many, many other times but the media has just never picked up on it like this.

A lot of people are really overreacting to this. The Cup broke. It will be fixed. It will probably be break again. We highly doubt players intentionally tried to bust this thing.

According to the CP, the trophy won’t make a public appearance until September 21 when the Cataractes hold their home opener. Saying that the 2012 Memorial Cup has been eventful, bizarre, and controversial would be an understatement.

Links:

Sportnet.ca: CATARACTES BADLY DAMAGE THE MEMORIAL CUP

Buzzing The Net: Memorial Cup replica badly damaged during Shawinigan Cataractes’ celebrations (UPDATED)

L’Echo de Shawinigan: La Coupe Memorial sévèrement endommagée

Photo via L'Echo de Shawinigan