Newmarket hockey star Braden Haché is bringing Canadian hockey’s junior holy grail to town.
The Memorial Cup is coming to the Magna Centre July 20 after Haché and his Saginaw Spirit won the top championship in junior hockey. Now, he plans to bring the trophy back to Newmarket for a showing and event with the municipality.
“The Memorial Cup is the championship for the CHL, top Major Junior program in Canada and arguably the world,” the York Simcoe Express, Hache’s former team, said on its website. “Join Braden to celebrate his accomplishment, a true mentor to all the local minor hockey players in the area.”
Haché played his minor hockey career with the Newmarket Minor Hockey Association. He then played AAA minor hockey with the York Simcoe Express Hockey Association for eight seasons.
He was drafted into the OHL by the Kingston Frontenacs in 2019, where he played until mid-2023 when the team traded him to the Barrie Colts. He was then traded to the Saginaw Spirit for this last hockey season, his final in the OHL, where he captained the squad to a Memorial Cup finish. He followed that up by signing his first pro contract in the AHL.
The Town of Newmarket confirmed that Mayor John Taylor would be there to provide well wishes, along with family, friends and members of the hockey and larger Newmarket community.
His mother, Tracey Haché, said on social media it is a fun chance to celebrate.
“5 years in the OHL and I could never anticipated this season to be as memorable and spectacular as it was,” she said on Facebook. “Core memories that will last a lifetime and stories to be told until the end of our time.”
The event is open to the public. It will take place at the Magna Centre Honda Rink July 20 from 10 a.m. to noon.
