Another title quest

Lyndsay Oakes, UPEI teammates chasing AUS hockey crown.

The UPEI Panthers want to host the country’s top university men’s hockey players in Charlottetown.

The deadline to submit bids to host the University Cup, Canadian Interuniversity Sport ( CIS) men’s hockey championship, for the 2014- 15 and 2015- 16 seasons is today.

“We’re ready to press send,” UPEI’s athletic director Bill Schurman said Thursday. “We have a good package ready to go.”

They will not be alone in wanting to bring the event to Atlantic Canada.

Acadia’s bid would see the event played at the Halifax Metro Centre while St. F. X. and Saint Mary’s are submitting a joint bid. The joint bid would see the event held in Antigonish, N. S., in 2015 and at the Halifax Metro Centre in 2016.

“It’s a very prestigious event,” Schurman said. “I expect there will be heavy competition to host the hockey.”

Saskatoon is hosting it this year for the second year in a row.

The Panthers’ bid would use the Eastlink Centre, formerly known as the Charlottetown Civic Centre, for the event.

Schurman said the province has a long track record of hosting successful sporting events.

“Hockey is obviously part of our religion, part of our history and culture.”

The university, athletics department, hockey team, student- athletes, booster club and the City of Charlottetown have been working together on the project.

Schurman said there are many benefits for the program, university and provincial economy.

“It helps in recruitment. If you’re going to host a national championship, future students look at that as a positive,” Schurman said. “It also generates pride in the community.”

The university is hosting the Atlantic University Sport ( AUS) women’s rugby championships this fall and women’s basketball in the winter. Next year it will host the CIS men’s soccer championship.

“We’re positioned to take a good run here for the next few years,” Schurman said.

A decision is expected in early October.