The Battlefords AAA Stars have shown they can compete with the best over the past two seasons, reaching the SMAAAHL final each year.
Despite falling both years, they’re looking to continue their run of success by hosting the 2016 western regional qualifier to Hockey Canada’s Midget AAA top tournament, the Telus Cup.
Last season the Regina Pat Canadians, who eliminated the Stars in the final, won the western tournament and went on to finish third at the Telus Cup in Rivière-du-Loup, Que.
The Toronto Young Nationals defeated the Grenadiers de Châteauguayin the final.
The 2016 Telus Cup is being held in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, with the St. John’s Vito’s being the host team.
Stars Head Coach Martin Smith said when they found out there was a chance to host, they didn’t waste any time putting the wheels in motion.
“The league sent out an email near the end of the March saying our league was up to host the event,” he said. “We threw the idea around the board, the coaching staff and people in the community and things came together pretty quickly.”
It’s not something that can be done overnight, however.
“The bid is the first step and there’s a lot of work from a lot of different areas,” Smith said. “The facility, hotel availability, budget. The committee has been meeting once or twice a week.”
Smith says hosting an event like this would not only benefit the team, but the community of the Battlefords as well.
“It’s huge for the community,” he said. “It generates business and helps out the economy.”
This wouldn’t be the first time the Stars have hosted the event either, as 20 years ago they were the host team of the very same event, which Smith believes gives them another boost in proving they are a worthy host.
“We’ve hosted big events in the past and we’ve been successful with those events,” he said.
Hosting the western regional tournament would give the Stars an automatic entry into the tournament without having to win the SMAAAHL. The tournament would run March 31-April 3, 2016 and would feature the Stars and the winners of the SMAAAHL, Manitoba Midget AAA league and a northern Ontario midget AAA team.
Despite losing a large number of players from their roster for next season due to age, Smith believes the team would have no trouble competing.
“We had a big turnover last year as well and we came within a few wins of winning a championship,” he said, “Right now there are a few spots to fill, but if we’re granted the event it would help out with recruiting to fill those five or six spots open on the team.”
Once the May 30 deadline to submit a bid has passed, Smith says they shouldn’t have to wait long to find out if they’re hosting the event.
“I would think some time in mid to late June we would find out,” he said. “There would be a lot of work the committee would have to do so I don’t think they would wait too long to make the decision.”
Saskatchewan has had great success at the Telus Cup in its history, winning 14 times since it was renamed in 1979. The Notre Dame Hounds and Regina Pat Canadians have won four times, the Prince Albert Mintos three times and the Yorkton Maulers, Saskatoon Contacts and Tisdale Trojans have each won once.
