Clippers want to bring 2021 Junior A nationals to Nanaimo
They might have been the Nanaimo Ice of the Western Hockey League instead of the soon-to-be Winnipeg Ice.
But the Harbour City has rebuilt its sporting image from the rubble of the No vote in the 2017 arena referendum, which lost for a host of reasons that had nothing to do with hockey.
As part of that renaissance, the Nanaimo Clippers of the B.C. Hockey League are bidding to host the national Junior A championship tournament in 2021.
That comes on the heels of the announcement last week that Victoria Harbour Cats ownership is looking to place a West Coast League baseball franchise in Nanaimo at Serauxmen Stadium by 2020 or 2021. And there’s also the successful hosting last summer of the Founders Cup Canadian Senior B lacrosse championship tournament and resurgence of the Nanaimo Timbermen in the WLA, while the Vancouver Island University Mariners have been a powerhouse at the Canadian collegiate level in soccer, volleyball and basketball.
Clippers bid officials also point to the 2019 IIHF world junior hockey championship pre-tournament exhibition game in Nanaimo, between the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which sold out in less than an hour.
“The vote in 2017 was not a vote against sport,” said Tali Campbell, the Clippers director of business operations.
While Nanaimo will eventually have to address its arena situation, Frank Crane is functional enough to host the Junior A national tournament in 2021.
Hockey Canada looks at the whole community and whole bid, said Campbell, pointing out the Cliff McNabb rink is right next door to Frank Crane and the Nanaimo Ice Centre only 10 minutes away, allowing for plenty of nearby practice ice for the assembled four Junior A regional champions from across the country and the host team.
“There are also ample hotels, restaurants and things to do in our city for the visiting teams and their fans. Nanaimo presents the full package, on and off the ice,” said Campbell.
“We meet all the requirements, technical and otherwise.”
He added the successful staging of the Czech Republic versus Slovakia junior exhibition game in Nanaimo “gave Hockey Canada what it wanted to see in a host.”
An expression of interest to host the 2021 national tournament must be presented to Hockey Canada by Feb. 20 and the official bid book in by April 30. In-person presentations by the bidding cities will be made in May with Hockey Canada making its decision in June.
“The Clippers are spearheading the bid but it will be a partnership between many groups such as Tourism Nanaimo and the Nanaimo Hospitality Association,” said Campbell, adding the City of Nanaimo and the regional district are also being approached for support, much of the latter in-kind in terms of arena rentals and the like.
But mostly it is the host team that’s on the hook for costs, something the Clippers say they are willing to take on.
“This is a huge event that will bring millions of economic dollars into Nanaimo, not to mention plenty of publicity for the Harbour City,” said Clippers owner Wes Mussio, in a statement.
“I walk around the city and hear many fans tell me that we need more high-end sporting events after the fans got a flavor of international competition through the sold-out world junior hockey exhibition game in December. While this national championship will be a major financial and time commitment for the Clippers, I feel we have the infrastructure, volunteer support and fan base to host an event of this calibre.”
Campbell said he did not know which other Canadian cities are interested in hosting the 2021 national championship.
Nanaimo hosted the Royal Bank Cup in 1998 and the Western Canada Cup in 2013. The last time the national Junior A championship was on the Island was when it was hosted by the Victoria Grizzlies in 2009 at The Q Centre in Colwood when the Vernon Vipers defeated the Humboldt Broncos 2-0 in the final.
The Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL staged the national tournament last year at Prospera Centre. The Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits are hosting this year and the Portage la Prairie Terriers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in 2020.
“We believe there is a big enough gap between Chilliwack in 2018 that Hockey Canada will look favourably on returning to the BCHL in 2021,” said Campbell.
Campbell and Clippers GM and head coach Darren Naylor will head the Nanaimo bid committee. Campbell said both will attend the 2019 national championship in May at Brooks, Alta., to get a first-hand look at how things are handled there by the organizing committee.