CANADIAN SPORT SCHOOL HOCKEY LEAGUE

This year’s event — on now — features 88 WHL draft picks, 20 players who suited up in the BCHL this season

Teams from across Western Canada and the U.S. will continue to make their way to Penticton for the Canadian Sport School Hockey League championships for at least the next three years, organizers announced this week.

This year’s showdown, underway now through Saturday, has attracted 49 teams with 900 players in five divisions. That’s up from 33 teams just two years ago.

The event is expected to have a $2-million economic impact, according to CSSHL chairman Andy Oakes.

“Hosting it in Penticton allows the league to partner with (venue manager) Spectra to host a world-class event here in Penticton,” Oakes, also president of the Okanagan Hockey Group, said in a press release.

“This will hopefully become an event that the community of Penticton can be proud to host.”

The new three-year deal, terms of which were not released, is a partnership of the City of Penticton, Okanagan Hockey Group, Travel Penticton, Spectra and the CSSHL.

“Spectra is committed to bringing world-class events like the CSSHL Championships to the region. We’re excited to see this event continue to grow over the next three years — it’s great for Penticton,” Dean Clarke, a regional vice-president for Spectra, said in the release.

Games are taking place all this week in the South Okanagan Events Centre, Okanagan Hockey Training Centre, Memorial Arena, plus rinks in Summerland and Oliver.

The respective rosters include 88 WHL bantam draft picks — seven of them firstrounders — plus 20 players who have suited up in the BCHL this season.

Day passes to watch games cost $10 and are available at the SOEC box office.