Blues, OJHL welcome national, German hockey teams for tournament

Cottage Cup returns Aug. 28-30

The Blues were met by some of their fans in the parking lot for a final team photo following a victory parade celebrating their OJHL championship win in 2023.Erika Engel/CollingwoodToday

Collingwood's Junior 'A' Blues hockey team and its parent league have announced the return of a showcase tournament including teams from Canada and Germany playing games on local ice.

Co-hosted by the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and the Blues, the annual Cottage Cup Showcase is back in Collingwood later this month, Aug. 28-30 on Blues home ice at the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena.

The pre-season tournament will feature eight teams, including squads from the OJHL, Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, Central Canada Hockey League and Germany.

“The Eddie Bush is the perfect venue to kick off this pre-season event,” said Commissioner Marty Savoy of the OJHL, in a news release. “The main goal of the Cottage Cup Showcase is to give all the eight teams and multiple players an opportunity to come together in one location and display their skills, talent and character and play in a premiere level junior 'A' hockey preseason event."

The games will be modified to include games of two 20-minute periods following Hockey Canada and OJHL rules and regulations.

OJHL teams competing include the host Blues, the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, Trenton Golden Hawks, Buffalo Jr. Sabres and one the OJHL’s newest team, the Leamington Flyers.

The reigning champion Timmins Rock are representing the NOJHL.

The Carleton Place Canadians are entered from the CCHL.

Finally, the touring Jungadler Mannheim U20 team from Germany rounds out the exciting draw of teams for the premiere junior 'A' preseason event.

“The Collingwood Blues are happy to partner with the OJHL on the Cottage Cup,” said Collingwood Blues owner, Dave Steele, in the news release. “This event will expose all of our young athletes to NCAA Division 1, U SPORTS, and professional scouts. Collingwood is happy to welcome teams from across the province and beyond to our beautiful town in South Georgian Bay"'

The event kicks off on Monday, Aug. 28, at 4:30 p.m. with the Toronto Junior Canadiens tangling with the Trenton Golden Hawks. The Buffalo Junior Sabres take on Leamington Flyers at 6 p.m. and the Timmins Rock plays Carleton Place at 7:30 p.m. to round out day one.

Fans can now purchase three-day tournament passes for $30 in advance of the event. The price will rise to $45 for a three-day pass at the door entering the showcase. Children under the age of 12 will be admitted free of charge.

Purchase advance passes here:

https://collingwoodbluestpro.ticketpro.ca/en/pages/2023CottageCup?aff=ojhl

Cottage Cup schedule

Monday, Aug. 28