Brandon, Manitoba – The Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat kings have announced that a limited number of MasterCard Memorial Cup Ticket Packages are still available for the 2010 Championship, scheduled for May 14-23rd in the Keystone Centre.

In making the announcement Monday, Memorial Cup Tournament Committee Chairman Jeff Cristall said that close to 90% of Wheat King season ticket holders have exercised their option and purchased tickets to what is expected to be one of the greatest events to ever hit this city.

“The Local Host Committee is happy to announce that after our commitments to both Wheat Kings’ Season Ticket holders and Sponsors, western Manitoba hockey fans still have an excellent opportunity to purchase tickets to the Memorial Cup,” says Cristall.

As of Monday afternoon, 3,200 Memorial Cup Ticket packages had been sold, meaning that about four hundred will be available when the WHL club holds its Ticket Lottery on November 2nd. The Wheat Kings sold a franchise record 3,600 Season Tickets this year and last month, the Canadian Hockey League returned 350 of their 1,800 Ticket Holds to the WHL club in an effort to meet local demand.

Last month’s announcement by the CHL means that up to 3,652 western Manitoba hockey fans can purchase a 2010 Memorial Cup Ticket package.

Fans interested in having their name entered into next week’s Ticket Lottery are encouraged to do so by calling the Wheat Kings’ office at 726-3535. The Deadline to do so is this Friday, October 30th at 5 p.m. For the first time in history, the Wheat Kings have earned the right to play host to the MasterCard Memorial Cup. This will mark the first time that Manitoba has hosted the National Championship and it also comes during the province’s 140th Anniversary Celebrations.

2010 will mark the Wheat Kings’ fifth Memorial Cup appearance, having competed for the title in 1949, 1979, 1995 and 1996.

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