Emotional fans shed tears as Spitfires win Memorial Cup

Kim Laportehad tears in her eyes as thefinal few seconds on the clock ticked down and the Windsor Spitfires won the Memorial Cup championship Sunday night.

• Spitfires hang on to win thrilling Memorial Cup final

The past week has been an emotional one for manyfans as the team entered the tournament very much the underdogs, having been knocked out of the Canadian Hockey League playoffs in the first round.

Memorial Cup

7 years ago

Duration 0:42

Windsor Spitfires fans have emotional reaction to the team's championship victory Sunday night.

But after winning three straight games to make it to the cup final, the Spitfires raised expectations of their die-hard fan base.

"I can't even talk. I have chest pains right now," Laporte said."We did it."

The 6,500 sold-out crowd got what they asked for as the home team beat the Erie Otters in dramatic fashion with a third-period goal by Aaron Luchuk, which stood up to the be winner in the 4-3 victory.

Fans came out in colourful form, including JamieOsborn, whogot a lot of looks at the WFCU Centredressed in his team jersey and tradition leather pilot head gear.

"It would mean absolutely a lot to me," he said before the game. "I have followed the team for a long time andit would meana lot to me and the city."

Dick Tracy was jacked up for the action heading into the game as he walked through the crowdshooting and hollering with almost everyone who came his way.

"It would be the biggest thing for Windsor because, if I'm not mistaken, no host team has ever won the Memorial Cup and we're going to be the first, " he said.

SpitfiresgoalieMichaelDiPietrotalked about the final few minutes of the game as his team hung onto their lead on theirway to victory.

"Don't screw up," he said of his thoughts during the action. There was "alot of nervousness, uneasiness. I'm just so happy how everything worked out."

Beating the Erie Otters twice in the Memorial Cup tournament was no easy task, explained Spitfires head coach Rocky Thompson. The Otters were theOntario Hockey League champions.

"To beat Erie, yougottabe at your best," he said. "We knew we were going to have to play the best possible game today."