Jamie Nye: Swift Current’s win adds to special Memorial Cup

The cheers and the cowbells could be heard province-wide on Sunday night when the Swift Current Broncos claimed their first WHL Championship in 25 years.

But equally loud were the cheers from the organizers for the 100th Memorial Cup that starts Friday in Regina.

Ticket sales have been okay but not overwhelming but with Swift Current now joining the Pats, it’s as close as Swift Current will come to hosting the Memorial Cup.

And the fans will travel, snapping up tickets to the non-Pat games that involve the Broncos on Saturday and Monday.

But the Broncos win also should give Pat fans hope their well-rested team can compete. After a first round exit, questions about the host team’s competitiveness could have been questioned.

But the Pats took Swift Current to seven games, losing by a goal despite outshooting them. Regina will also have Max Paddock back in net after he was injured just before the start of that series against Swift Current.

Either way, it’ll be a great 10 days of hockey and it was made even better for Saskatchewan with Swift Current’s WHL title.