By Josh Hall - RD News Now

Red Deer to co-host Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, City asked for funding

Dec 8, 2017 | 7:32 PM

RED DEER, AB — Red Deer’s brand new Servus Arena will host its first big hockey event next summer when the Ivan Hlinka U18 Memorial Cup comes to town.

Edmonton is hosting the tournament, featuring up and coming players from eight of the world’s top hockey nations, with Red Deer slated to host seven games. Red Deer’s involvement was made possible by a partnership between Hockey Canada, the Edmonton Oilers and the Red Deer Rebels.

Red Deer will host one exhibition game between Team Canada and the Czech Republic on August 4. Servus Arena will then be home to two games per day on Aug. 6, 7 and 8 featuring teams from the USA, Russia, Finland and the Czech Republic. Other tournament games, including the finals, will be played in Edmonton at the Downtown Community Arena and Rogers Place.

On Monday, Dec. 11, Red Deer city council will consider a $75,000 sponsorship request from tournament organizers. In return, The City would receive brand exposure, speaking opportunities, digital and printed assets and exhibit space on site at the event.

In his recommendation to council, City Manager Craig Curtis supports the request, calling it an important step in advancing sports tourism in the city.

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“The opening event will be an excellent test for the Servus Arena in advance of the 2019 Canada Winter Games,” he says.

Hockey Canada believes the 18-game tournament will draw over 50,000 fans and generate an economic spinoff in excess of $5 million for Edmonton, Red Deer and the rest of Alberta. They predict there will be a minimum of 1000 nights spent at Red Deer hotels over the six days with four teams basing out of the city.

Hockey Canada also hopes the tournament will deliver concurrent hockey educational programs for coaches, officials and players, as well as build a long-term hockey legacy in central and northern Alberta.

In addition to co-hosting in 2018, the plan is for Red Deer to play a similar role when Edmonton hosts in 2020 and 2022. According to Hockey Canada, future funding requests to The City of Red Deer for each of those years will be $100,000.