The Saginaw Spirit played host to the 2024 Memorial Cup, and although they were underdogs throughout the OHL season and during the tournament, they pulled off the unthinkable and celebrated like it was nineteen-ninety-nine.
The Spirit, who made it to the final after beating the QMJHL's Drummondville Voltigeurs, the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors, and the OHL's London Knights, went into their final game with their backs against the wall, with nobody giving them a chance against the perennial powerhouse in the Knights. However, as luck would have it, they squeaked out a win and celebrated in awesome, ridiculous fashion. Have a look:
It shouldn't be understated that a number of these hockey players have played their last game at the junior hockey level, so they should be able to celebrate however they want. Crowding into your net, however, is as new as I've ever seen.
Beating arguably the greatest team in the entirety of the Canadian Hockey League in their OHL Western Conference rival London Knights and having the distinction of being only the fifth American team to win the Memorial Cup isn't anything to sneeze at. With the win, Saginaw became the twelfth host team to win the tournament.
