Toronto Suburb Unveils 'Connor McDavid Square' For Stanley Cup Final
Edmonton Oilers captain will receive a hero's welcome from Newmarket, Ont.
Newmarket, Ont., is less than an hour's drive from the home rink of the Toronto Maple Leafs. But during the Stanley Cup final, the hometown of Connor McDavid will be cheering for the Edmonton Oilers — complete with a viewing party at what will temporarily be known as "Connor McDavid Square."
“Connor McDavid has been a part of the Newmarket community virtually his entire life and he continues to have many friends and fans that are cheering for him as he pursues the Stanley Cup,” says Mayor John Taylor. “Connor is an amazing ambassador for the Town of Newmarket, and I couldn’t be more excited to cheer him and the Oilers on in their quest for the Cup."
Riverwalk Commons, which is located in the town's downtown core, is located in the heart of Newmarket's main street district, will be temporarily named Connor McDavid Square for the duration of the playoffs. A free towel (orange or blue) will be handed out to the first 600 people who attend each night with a non-perishable food item for the Newmarket Food Pantry.
- Game 1 – Saturday, June 8 at 8 p.m. at Riverwalk Commons
- Game 2 – Monday, June 10 at 8 p.m. at Riverwalk Commons
- Game 3 – Thursday, June 13 at 8 p.m. at Riverwalk Commons
- Game 4 – Saturday, June 15 at 8 p.m. at Ray Twinney Recreation Complex (Pad 1). Doors open at 7 p.m.
- * Game 5 – Tuesday, June 18 at 8 p.m. at Riverwalk Commons
- * Game 6 – Friday, June 21 at 8 p.m. at Riverwalk Commons
- * Game 7 – Monday, June 24 at 8 p.m. at Riverwalk Commons* if necessary
"Newmarket – let’s show Connor we are behind him and wear or display Orange and Blue anywhere you can. Go Connor Go!”
Raised in Newmarket, McDavid's ties to the town remain as strong today as they were back when he was a kid. The Oilers captain still returns to Newmarket every summer to work out and train, while continuing to participate in community charity events and programs.
McDavid is not the only player in the Stanley Cup final with connections to the Newmarket area. Sam Bennett, who is from nearby Holland Landing (the town just north of Newmarket), grew up playing on minor hockey teams such as the York Simcoe Express and Toronto Marlboros alongside McDavid.
“I remember way back in novice, I said to Brian (McDavid’s father), ‘You know, the chances of these kids making the NHL is astronomical,’” Bennett's father, Dave, told the National Post in 2014. “I just remember Brian looking at me going, ‘Well, somebody’s got to play there.’ So we laugh about that today.”
