U Sports renames men’s hockey tournament

TORONTO — David Johnston is now part of a select group of former Canadian governors general honoured at the highest levels of sport.

U Sports, Canadian university athletics’ governing body, announced Tuesday its men’s hockey trophy is being renamed the David Johnston University Cup in honour of Canada’s 28th governor general. The hardware had been referred to as simply the University Cup.

The NHL’s Stanley Cup, CFL’s Grey Cup and CWHL’s Clarkson Cup are among other championship trophies named for a former governor general.

“What an honour,” Johnston said at a news conference. “It’s especially exciting for me to connect this with the office of the governor general.

“We’ve had quite a connection to sport going back Lord Dufferin in 1871, Lord Stanley, Lord Grey, Lady Byng and Madame (Adrienne) Clarkson. It’s wonderful to see that continue.”

The 2018 U Sports men’s hockey championship tournament begins Thursday in Fredericton.