The odds might be stacked against the Victoria Royals in their bid to bring the 2016 Memorial Cup tournament to Victoria, but they should pursue it anyway. If they don鈥檛 succeed this time, they will have a better chance the next time.
The Royals have submitted an expression of interest to host the national major-junior hockey championship. A more detailed proposal must be submitted by bidding cities in September, with a decision to come some time in the fall.
sa国际传媒鈥檚 three leagues 鈥� the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior League 鈥� take turns hosting the tournament, and it鈥檚 the WHL鈥檚 turn in 2016.
The Royals are up against the Vancouver Giants and the Red Deer Rebels. In 2007, the Giants hosted one of the most successful Memorial Cup tournaments, with an average paid attendance of more than 13,000 for the event.
Red Deer bid for the 2013 tournament, but lost to Saskatoon, which had a bigger budget. Red Deer might have an advantage because Alberta has not hosted a Memorial Cup tournament since 1974.
The Royals鈥� bid might not be successful, but it won鈥檛 be a failure. The team will be better prepared to bid for the tournament in 2019.
There鈥檚 more to the Memorial Cup than hockey. Capt. James T. Sutherland, a Canadian hockey pioneer and the driving force behind the creation of the International Hockey Hall of Fame, first conceived the trophy as a memorial to OHA players killed during the First World War. When the trophy was created, it was dedicated in honour of Canadian soldiers who died fighting for sa国际传媒 in the war. In 2010, it was rededicated to honour all Canadian soldiers killed in any conflict.
Victoria would welcome the opportunity to host the finest in Canadian junior hockey, as well as the opportunity to honour Canadians who paid the ultimate price for their country.
