Victoria has pushed it's bid to host the Memorial Cup from 2020 to 2023.
The Memorial Cup is the major junior championship tournament for all of Canada. All three league winners, from the Western Hockey League, Ontario Junior League, Quebec Junior League, as well as the host team, play in a series for the title of Canadian Hockey League champions.
John Wilson, the head of the bid committee, says that he would love to have the tournament here, but we need some more time to prepare. Wilson says that, after hosting the World Junior Championship in Victoria this winter, it will be a big ask for local hockey fans to spend even more money to go to hockey games. Wilson says the Save-On-Foods Arena, where the tournament would take place.
Wilson says he wants our city and franchise to deliver the on highest level, and is confident they will win the bid for 2023.
He says hosting the Memorial Cup would be great for our local economy, as it brings in tourism, as well as nation wide noteriety, as the game coverage is televised.
With Victoria out of the 2020 bid, it comes down Leftbridge, Kamloops and Kelowna.
In it's 100 year long history, Victoria has never hosted the Memorial Cup. Last year the tournament was hjeld in Regina, this year it's being held in Halifax.