by Mike Hellinger
Star 98.3
Chilliwack is applying to host the 2018 Royal Bank Cup…that’s the Canadian Junior A hockey championship. Scott Beare with Tourism Chilliwack says it all started with Chiefs President Glen Ringdal calling them to see if it was doable.
“The Chiefs have had a nice run here….one of the top teams in the country as far as business, attendance and such, and they wanted to make a run at it. Also, Allison (Colthorp) at our office here has done multiple bids in the past for different sporting events in her career with tourism, so we sat down with them and decided that everything looked like a fit.”
Before long, a small planning committee was formed. He says they’ve already sent their letter of intent to Hockey Canada, and have also been working with the BCHL. He says it would be a great event for this community.
“From what I’ve seen here I think they’re gonna jump all over this, if the bid is successful. Just talking to people around town in forming this small bid committee, everybody has jumped on board right away. We have one of the most beautiful parts of the country that we live in here, and on the tourism side, trying to get people to see that…it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
Beare says they need to have their application in by March 18th, and the winning bid will be announced at this year’s RBC Cup in Lloydminster this May. He says they have some strong voices on their committee including City Councillor Ken Popove and Sto:lo Nation Chiefs Council President David Jimmie.
Chilliwack is no stranger to hosting big hockey events….they’ve hosted World Junior Hockey Championship games in the past, as well as the Bauer BCHL Showcase every year. They also just found out they’re going to be hosting the training camp for the Swiss National Women’s team as they prepare for this year’s IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship in Kamloops.
