THUNDER BAY -- Thunder Bay is never without a lack of love for hockey, and with future NHLers scheduled to visit for next year’s Telus Cup, the excitement is mounting.
On Tuesday, Fort William Gardens received a site visit from officials at Hockey Canada.
The organization said they were excited to host the tournament in Thunder Bay at Fort William Gardens, which Dave Hysen calls a world-class facility.
“Thunder Bay has a history of producing great hockey players, and it’s a great destination for hockey in general,” Hysen, the manager of events and properties at Hockey Canada said. “We’ve gotten strong recommendations to come here.”
Next April’s tournament will be the first time Thunder Bay has hosted the national midget championship since 1988.
“It’s arguably one of the most notable major midget tournaments in the world,” said Thunder Bay Kings president Michael Power a former NHL draft pick. “I had the privilege of playing in 1988 … there was a significant bump in the interest in elite level hockey.”
Hysen said the local team's chances are pretty good, in his books.
“I feel very confident,” he said. “Thunder Bay has a strong hockey history whether it’s the Kings, Thunderwolves, or North Stars.”
The group will also look at hotels, and other venues in the surrounding area that they can utilize for the event.
As hosts, the Kings’ squad has an automatic bid, something Power says will be advantageous for their program.
“One of the net benefits of hosting this tournament, it’s a catalyst to recruitment,” Power said. “There are players who may acknowledge the benefit of playing on a national stage.”
The event is expected to have up to a $5-million economic impact on the city.
“The spin-offs are obvious,” Power said. “Hotels are going to benefit, restaurants are going to benefit, we’re going to have teams and families from coast to coast in this city for the better part of a week.”
