The National Jr. A championship will be contested in Okotoks in 2025.
Hockey Canada announced in a May 4 release that the next two Centennial Cup sites have been awarded to the Oakville Blades in 2024 and the Okotoks Oilers in 2025.
“We’re honoured and excited to be chosen as the host team for 2025,” said Oilers head coach and general manager Tyler Deis, in a team release. “We expect to field another extremely competitive team that will be firmly dedicated to capturing a national championship on home ice.
“We’re grateful for the experience that this will give to our players and staff, and for the confidence being shown in our organization to host another successful event.”
The Centennial Cup host is determined by a selection committee appointed by Hockey Canada.
The May event features the champions from nine Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) leagues as well as the host team.
Okotoks will host the 2025 event from May 8-18 at the Centennial Arenas.
“The CJHL is thrilled that the Oakville Blades and Okotoks Oilers have been named hosts of the Centennial Cup in 2024 and 2025, respectively,” said Andy Harkness, president of the CJHL, in a release. “Both teams put a significant amount of resources towards bidding for the right to host the event, and we know they will each put on an unforgettable tournament for the competing teams and fans.”
Earlier in the winter, the Oilers presented to Okotoks Town Council on their plans to bid to host the 2023 AJHL Showcase as well as the 2024 and 2025 National Jr. A Championships.
Three other AJHL teams were bidding to host nationals, the Brooks Bandits, Blackfalds Bulldogs and Bonnyville Pontiacs, along with Saskatchewan’s Kindersley Klippers and squads from Truro, Nova Scotia, Oakville and Wellington, Ontario.
The 2023 AJHL Showcase, held in September, was awarded to the Calgary Canucks.
“Building teams and communities does not happen overnight, and we must thank a group of community minded individuals who had the belief and foresight that a team in Okotoks would be a perfect fit in the Alberta Junior Hockey League,” said Oilers Chairman of the Board Wayne Lauinger, in a release.
“In 2004, when the opportunity was presented, this group of 28 individuals donated the funding to bring a franchise to Okotoks; from the beginning the foresight was always to host this prestigious event for the people of Okotoks and area.
“Today’s news was made possible through the outstanding work of two individuals: Tyler Deis, and Tyler King, both of whom work tirelessly to make the Okotoks Oilers one of the dominant franchises in Canadian Junior Hockey.”
The 2023 Centennial Cup gets underway next week in Portage La Prairie, Man. and has been hosted out of Estevan, Sask. And Penticton, B.C. over the past few seasons. The Cup was last held in Alberta in 2019, when Brooks won the competition on its home ice.
Okotoks, which hosted the 2022 Esso and Telus Cup events, will be the seventh community in Alberta to host the Centennial Cup since it got off the ground in 1971.
“I’m delighted that our organization has earned the confidence of Hockey Canada, the CJHL, and its partners to continue the terrific legacy of this fantastic event,” said Tyler King, Bid Committee Chair and Oilers assistant general manager, business operations. “In spring of 2022, we demonstrated the incredible capacity of this community to host twelve teams in two simultaneous national championship tournaments, with a flood of volunteer interest and support. This past season, we demonstrated the untapped junior hockey potential of this town in both fan and local corporate support.
“Over these next two years of planning, we are looking forward to using those strengths to craft an unforgettable tournament that will be memorable for athletes and spectators alike.”
For more information, go to okotoksoilers.ca.
