Some people can get sentimental about OHL hockey — but a Chatham couple are making it part of their romantic history. They’re officially tying the knot at centre ice in the middle of a game.
Sheldon Cadotte, 30, and Daylene Trudell, 27, have arranged with the Windsor Spitfires to hold their wedding ceremony at the WFCU Centre on Jan. 8, when the Spits take on the Erie Otters at home.
“There’s millions of people around the world that love hockey… Someone had to eventually put their feet on the ice and do a wedding,” Cadotte tells CBC Windsor.
The matrimonial proceedings are set to happen during the game’s second intermission. Windsor wedding officiant Joe McParland will do the honours.
Along with some of the couple’s friends — and around 6,000 Spitfires fans — the marriage will be witnessed by the Windsor Spitfires mascots: Bomber, Ace and Spike.
Trudell says she doesn’t feel like it’s an odd venue for a wedding. “For me, I grew up going to hockey games my whole life. I actually got (Cadotte) into going to OHL hockey games.”
“It was always something that was normal for me to be in an arena. My dad played hockey, so I lived in an arena growing up.”
The event has been in the works for months, ever since Cadotte proposed to Trudell on the ice at the WFCU Centre during a Spitfires game in April 2025.
There have been other marriage proposals at Spitfires games. But the upcoming nuptials will be the first time the team has hosted an actual wedding on the ice.
Remo Agostino, the Spitfires’ brand manager, says the couple won’t be paying for a thing: The entire ceremony is courtesy of the Spitfires organization.
“They’re getting the full Spitfire love from us… This is a big moment for them, a lifetime moment. So we want to make sure that they get all the bells and whistles that we can offer them,” Agostino says.
“They’re receiving a suite, they’re going to have their family and friends here. It’s a big day for them, it’s a big day for us.”
Cadotte and Trudell have been together for eight years, but they’re fairly recent converts to the Spitfires cause. Trudell has been a long-time supporter of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, while Cadotte used to favour the Niagara IceDogs.
The couple say they now consider the Windsor Spitfires their home team. “They put everything on the line when they go out there,” Cadotte says. “Especially when they play London.”
“And with the new generation like (Liam) Greentree that are in the World Juniors and trying so hard — it’s awesome to see these guys play.”
Aside from the Spits vs. Otters game, Jan. 8 happens to be Elvis Presley’s birthday — which the WFCU Centre will be recognizing at the game with Elvis music and theming.
The venue is describing the game as “a night of rock n’ roll and romance.”
“Why not?” Cadotte says.
Trudell adds: “It’s a unique experience.”
