Saint John Sea Dogs to host 2022 Memorial Cup
One of Canada’s most prestigious sporting events will be coming to Saint John, New Brunswick for the first time next spring.
The Canadian Hockey League announced on Wednesday that the Saint John Sea Dogs have been awarded the hosting rights of the 2022 Memorial Cup.
“We are extremely excited to be granting the rights to host this event to Saint John for the first time,” said CHL President Dan MacKenzie in a news release. “The bid committee did a fantastic job of outlining how Saint John will embrace the Memorial Cup with its Maritime hospitality to create an atmosphere that both celebrates the game and leaves a lasting legacy in the community.”
The Sea Dogs beat out the Quebec Remparts for the opportunity and with it, the possibility for millions of dollars in economic spinoff for New Brunswick's port city and surrounding regions.
"In 2019, the Memorial Cup in Halifax generated almost $18 million in economic impact for the province of Nova Scotia, and our expectation is that the event here in New Brunswick will be just as impactful," said CHL president Dan MacKenzie.
The Sea Dogs were founded in 2005. Despite never hosting the Memorial Cup, they have played in the event three times in 2011, 2012 and 2017, winning the title in 2011.
"I think the words 'trust the process' kept popping up consistently," said Sea Dogs president Trevor Georgie. "Trust the process to get to this point to have a team that could contend for a Memorial Cup and not just host a Memorial Cup --- but hopefully hoist a Memorial Cup in Saint John."
The tournament will be returning to New Brunswick for the first time since 2006, when the Moncton Wildcats hosted and finished second.
"I've always dreamed of this," said Scott McCain, the Sea Dogs owner & CEO. Ididn't think it would ever happen, but it's not about me it's about the people in this city, in this community, this province, this region -- that's why we're here."
Halifax, N.S. hosted the last Memorial Cup in 2019.
The last two Memorial Cups - which sees the champions of the OHL, WHL, QMJHL as well as a host city compete for the national junior hockey title - were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I know from being involved in this process how much our city and region have waited in anticipation for this day to come," said Mark Anthony Ashfield, the Saint John bid committee chair. "Well, this day is here and this is our moment."
The Memorial Cup trophy was first presented in 1919 in remembrance of soldiers who died fighting for Canada in the First World War.
The tournament, which includes the playoff champion from each of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Western Hockey League, will begin June 3, 2022.
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