Swift Current is in

Cities will bid together for World Hockey Challenge

Their teams are highway rivals on the ice but city councils in Medicine Hat and Swift Current are on the same page in a bid to bring international hockey to the region in 2019.

The two bodies voted simultaneously on Monday night, albeit 200 kilometres apart, to give a total of $175,000 and also cover any loss incurred from a winning bid to host the Under 17 World Hockey Challenge in two years time.

Word of the Swift Current decision reached Alberta on Tuesday morning.

“It was very well received by mayor and council,” said Dean Robson, general manager of community services in Swift Current. “It’s all over this morning. It’s exciting news.”

Medicine Hat, which would host the finals at the 6,000-seat Canalta Centre, will give a $100,000 grant, and Swift Current $75,000.

Medicine Hat had supported a bid on the 2018 tournament with a $125,000 grant. When that wasn’t selected in October, the tournament organizer Hockey Canada suggested finding a co-host and bid again on the 2019 event by a mid-November deadline.

Many details, including an agreement to split up a shortfall, still needs to be finalized, said Robson.

Local bid chairman Ron Webb told council that splitting the event between two smaller communities lends to better attendance. It’s easier to maintain interest level, he said, and it doubles the sponsorship pool.

The $1.3-million budget calls for $485,000 in ticket revenue, gifts in kind and $230,000 in private sponsorship among other government grants. In Swift Current, Robson said his city has been aggressively seeking out hosting opportunities since the expansion to 2,900 seats at the Credit Union iPlex in 2009. Since then, the city of 16,000 has hosted world curling events and is in middle of a five-year agreement to host the Canadian Cowboys Association rodeo finals.

Also in 2019, the city will host the Western Canada Summer Games.

“We’ve really tried to take advantage of the renovations — and Medicine Hat has a nice brand new building as well,” he said. “The thing we like about this (the Under-17 tournament), is that it’s focused on hockey. We love hockey and we do hockey well.”

Medicine Hat Mayor Ted Clugston told reporters that the 2016 Alberta Winter Games, which opened and closed at the Canalta Centre, was a huge boost for the city. A new hockey tournament should provide a similar activity.

“You look at the former success and I have no doubt this group will succeed now,” he told reporters on Monday.

“It’s positive (for businesses), great for the community and it’s great exposure.”

Webb noted that city revenue for ice time as well as a per-ticket fee to pay off Canalta Centre construction will total more than $100,000.

He said that combined the event could produce about $5 million in economic benefits.

If successful, the 2019 edition of the tournament would be held Nov. 2-9 that year.