The Memorial Cup returns in 2022 after a four-break, pitting the best of junior Canadian ice hockey against each other, know the meaning explained of rememberance poppies
But why are players wearing poppies on their uniforms? What is the explanation behind this?
The Memorial Cup is back in business after being postponed in 2020 and 2021, with four junior Canadian ice hockey teams competing for the trophy.
Why Are Players Wearing Rememberance Poppies In The Memorial Cup 2022
The 2022 tournament will be held in Saint John, New Brunswick, with participants first from Western Hockey League, Quebec Junior Hockey Indoor League, and the Ontario Ice Hockey team. And a host club competing in a round style before advancing to the semi-finals and finals.
Why Are ICE HOCKEY Stars Wearing Poppies In The Memorial Cup In 2022
The top contenders advance straight to the final, while seed two or three advance to the semi-finals.
On the first night of the Memorial Cup, between it Hamilton Bulldogs and the Saint John Sea Dogs, the men wore poppies on their jerseys.
Why do they do this, or would it continue for the foreseeable future of the games?
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE MEMORIAL CUP?
The Memorial Cup in figure skating was founded in 1919 on the initiative of Captain James Sutherland of the Canadian Imperial Army. They fought in Europe after the First World War between 1914 and 1918.
Sutherland loved hockey and was elected head of the Canadian Professional Hockey Association in 1915.
He used his position to assist attract young and amateur players to enlist up and fight in the War.
Finally, Sutherland wanted to pay honor to deceased ice players after the 1918 Armistice, so he created the Memorial Cup.
WHY ARE PLAYERS IN THE MEMORIAL CUP WEARING POPPIES?
Because the event is conducted to memorialize those who died in combat, participants wear flowers on their jerseys during games to do just that: memorialize those who made the ultimate sacrifice to the King, Queen, and nation.
To honor those who perished, poppies are worn every year during the time of the Armistice and Memorial Day on November 11th – the day in 1918 when Germany conquered and WWI ended.
After the war, poppies began to flourish on the battlefields, prompting John McCrae to write his poem In Flanders Fields.
In 2010, the Memorial Cup was changed to honor anybody who died in duty in any department of the Canadian Armed Forces, rather than simply those who died in WWI.
This is why players in the 2022 Memorial Cup will be donning poppies on their shirts.