Bonnyville Pontiacs to submit bid for Centennial Cup

Bonnyville Pontiacs will receive a letter of support and financial commitment from the Town of Bonnyville and the M.D. for the bid of the Centennial Cup.

The organization sent letters requesting support from the town and the M.D. in hopes of being able to host the National Jr. A Championship in 2024 or 2025, said associate general manager of the Yaks, Neil Langridge. 

In the Centennial Cup, all teams that play in the Canadian Junior Hockey League have the opportunity to bid to be the host committee, and the host team automatically gets to play in the tournament. 

For the last 51 years, teams have faced off for this championship but only after claiming the league and regional titles first.

“It’s a big commitment from the Pontiacs and the Town and the M.D. of Bonnyville to put something on like that. At the same time, there’s a huge economic spin-off and benefit for our community,” said Langridge.

“With the financial commitments required in the bid, the host committee approached both the Town and the M.D. of Bonnyville for a $175,000 commitment, plus 50 per cent of the facility costs because the Centennial Centre is co-owned by both parties,” said Langridge.

In order to host the tournament, multiple guidelines must be followed and precautions set into place. Including transportation, quality of the arena, services provided to the players, and accommodation for away players and staff. 

“Putting a bid together, you want it to be competitive because you’re asking Hockey Canada to invest in your community.”

The next steps for submitting the bid include letters of support from the MLA, MP, and the Centennial Centre. Not only just support from representatives but forming a budget sponsorship, ticket sale plans, and hotel letters confirming that they will set aside rooms. All bids must be submitted by January 28. 

It is anticipated that in March of 2023, the hosts will be announced for both the 2024 and 2025 tournaments.

“I believe there are 128 CJHL teams, the league champions all participate in the tournament. For 12 days, 10 different teams, including the Bonnyville Pontiacs would get an automatic bye into the tournament being the host team. So yeah, it’d be huge,” said Langridge.

“They haven’t had any open bids since the COVID shutdowns, which is why you need to be competitive.”

If the Pontiacs win the 2024 bid, it doesn’t leave much time for preparation or recruiting, so it isn’t the Yaks first choice. 

“It creates a lot of unknown for recruiting, is it going to be young and you will need to build for two years. Or you’re looking for a team that wins now and you make moves in the off-season to go for it that year, it’s tough.”

A checklist of 25 requirements for a bid to even be considered is listed for all teams to look at and make possible. 

“We had put in a bid back in 2019 for the cup but were unsuccessful. However, later we were awarded the second World Jr. A challenge that we hosted here.”

Formally known as the Royal Bank of Canada Cup from 1996-2018, the name was recently reactivated in 2020 to honor the original title going into the 50th year of the tournament. 

The 2023 cup will be hosted in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba after being recognized by Hockey Canada. The Portage Terriers will be just one of the 10 competing in May. 

This year’s tournament will run from May 11-17, the quarter-finals on the 19 and the Championship game will take place on the 21.