Hockey, from pee wee to pro, is at the core of Canadian culture. In Manitoba, more than half of the population play or watch our national game.

Over the past six years, close to 1,000,000 hockey fans have attended Brandon Wheat Kings’ home games. During the past two seasons, the Wheat Kings have averaged more than 4,100 fans per game at Westman Place.

By providing affordable, family entertainment, the Wheat Kings have become part of the fabric of the community, and have earned a level of fan loyalty that is second to none.

Achieving the goals of the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Brandon and Manitoba means a fully integrated business plan, involving all of the key elements necessary to produce the total hockey experience and celebration. The Championship, as well as the special events that will surround it, will provide a very special celebration atmosphere for the City of Brandon and indeed the entire Province of Manitoba.

The Wheat Kings were one of the busiest teams as January’s WHL Trade Deadline came and went. In the three weeks leading up to the Deadline, Brandon general manager Kelly McCrimmon completed three deals, landing three veterans including 19-year old defenceman Travis Hamonic from the Moose Jaw Warriors.

A member of Canada’s National Junior Team in Saskatoon, Hamonic was acquired in exchange for a 17-year old rookie defenceman and three bantam draft picks. Joining Hamonic were 19-year old veteran forwards Shayne Wiebe (Kamloops) and Brent Raedeke (Edmonton).

2009-10 Brandon Wheat Kings:

Goal: Jacob DeSerres, Andrew Hayes

Defence: Brodie Melnychuk, Colby Robak, Mark Schneider, Ryley Miller, Alexander Urbom, Travis Hamonic, Jordan Hale and Darren Bestland

Forwards: Brenden Walker, Brent Raedeke, Brayden Schenn, Matt Calvert, Scott Glennie, Mark Stone, Shayne Wiebe, Jesse Sinatynski, Aaron Lewadniuk, Toni Rajala, Jay Fehr, Paul Ciarelli, Michael Ferland

General Manager / Head Coach: Kelly McCrimmon

Asst. Coaches: Dwayne Gylywoychuk, Darren Ritchie

Goaltending Coach: Matt Cockell

Athletic Trainer: Cam McGhee

Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba and is a dynamic growing prairie community. Our population is constantly increasing and currently sits at 44,300. Brandon is a regional service center to 180,000, enabling the community to be home to major retail centers, cultural and sporting events that are common to a community much larger. Brandon’s dynamic business and manufacturing industries are attracting many cultures from around the world.

Brandon boasts a wide variety of sports and recreation facilities and is a community that stands behind its many successful sports teams. The Keystone Centre is a very unique mutli-use facility that is a one-of-a-kind sports and entertainment venue. Under one roof, the Keystone boasts 3 NHL sized hockey arenas, an 8-sheet curling club, agricultural performance venue, meeting rooms of all sizes, as well as a full-service attached hotel, making this facility the hub for the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

For more information, please visit www.tourism.brandon.com

Brandon is well known as the "Host City" having been home to many national and international events over the years. We are pleased to have the distinction of being the only Canadian City to host both the Winter and Summer Canada Games (1979 and 1997 respectively).

Other Events include the 1982 Labatt Brier, the '89 Canadian Mixed Curling Championships, the '93 Scott Tournament of Hearts, the '91 and '94 World Youth Baseball Championships, the '94 Air Canada Cup Hockey Championships,the '95 World Curling Championships, the '96 National Junior Basketball Championships, the '97 Olympic Curling Trials, the '98 World Junior Curling Championships, the '99 World Junior Hockey Championships (as a co-host with Winnipeg), the 2002 Scott Tournament of Hearts as well as the 2006 Canadian Special Olympic Summer Games.

Hosting the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup will have a substantial impact economically and with regards to community spirit. Because Brandon is so closely connection with the region that it serves, this impact will spread throughout southwestern Manitoba and into southeastern Saskatchewan.

The Host Committee and the Keystone Centre have been proactive in committing to a legacy program that will support the hockey community in our region for years to come. Legacy programs will support hockey at every level in our community, providing a gift for future hockey players for generations.

Brandon is located twenty minutes west of Canadian Forces Base Shilo, home to the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery and the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. CFB Shilo is also home to the nationally recognized, award winning RCA Museum. Military presence in southwestern Manitoba dates back to 1910 with the establishment of Sewell Camp, located 10km north of present day CFB Shilo.

Today, CFB Shilo is a ground, artillery and mechanized troop training base with approximately 1,700 military personnel, 440 civilian employees and approximately 1,800 dependents. The base also serves as a training area for many regular force and reserve units from Manitoba and across Western Canada.

The 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup will present an excellent opportunity to work with CFB Shilo. Featuring a detailed, interactive display dedicated to the efforts and memories of those who fought in the Great War, the RCA Museum is ideally placed to be key component of MasterCard Memorial Cup Week.

Brandon has more than 1,200 high quality hotel rooms that will provide all of the comforts of home to teams, officials and spectators. Our restaurants, shopping and attractions will meet needs and pique interest between games.

Brandon’s hotels can meet the needs of every guest, ranging from a card-access private floor for VIP’s to apartment style suites for the family coming to cheer on their players at the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

Please check back to learn about making reservations.