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Medicine Hat and Swift Current partner on bid for 2019 World U-17 Hockey Challenge

Dec 5, 2017 | 10:48 AM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — City Council is once again throwing its support behind a bid to host the 2019 World Under-17 World Hockey Challenge.

The bid committee had previously garnered the support of the last council for a bid on the 2018 hockey challenge, but were informed in October they were unsuccessful.

Saint John and Quispamsis, New Brunswick will be co-hosting the 2018 event.

Having been unsuccessful in securing the 2018 bid, the Medicine Hat bid committee was told by Hockey Canada, they would have better luck if they were to find a city to co-host with.

Ron Webb, chair of the bid committee, said they were informed single cities have struggled to keep up attendance levels throughout the event.

The bid committee said it reached out to nearby cities with WHL teams. The committee spoke with representatives from to both Lethbridge, the home of the Hurricanes, and Swift Current, home to the Broncos. Swift Current will be jumping on board.

“It allows us to host a number of games in Swift Current which increases certainly attendance and increases the opportunity for sponsorship,” Webb explained. “[It] certainly allows us to minimize the risk locally and provides even better opportunities to generate revenues.”

Swift Current’s city council voted Monday night to support the co-hosting bid.

The new plan has Medicine Hat providing a $100,000 grant, while Swift Current will provide $75,000.

The Cities are also on the hook for any deficit from the event, though Webb said based on past events, a deficit is very unlikely.

The bid committee believes the event could generate anywhere from $4 million to $6 million in economic spinoff for the communities.

Webb said the medal matches would be held at the Canalta Centre here in Medicine Hat, putting our city in an international spotlight.

“There are eight teams overall, three Canadian teams and then teams from Russia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, and the USA,” he said. “[The games are] broadcast on the TSN network and certainly give us marketing and exposure internationally they value at around $3 million.”

Webb said he expects Hockey Canada will announce who will host the November 2019 event in January.