Estevan city council has committed $150,000 over the next two years to be the top sponsors of the 2022 Centennial Cup national Junior A hockey championship, sponsored by Tim Horton’s.
Council voted unanimously to support the bid at the Sept. 21 meeting. Estevan was awarded the 2022 tournament late last year after initially bidding for the 2021 tournament, and finished in a dead heat with Penticton, B.C.
Penticton was awarded the 2021 tournament, and in an unprecedented move, Hockey Canada named Estevan as the 2022 host.
Bid committee co-chairs Greg Hoffort and Cory Prokop, Bruins president George Sereggela and head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic made the presentation to council. Hoffort, who is also a city councillor, said the tournament will have an economic spinoff of about $3 million for Estevan, and the event requires corporate sponsorships of $200,000-$300,000.
“Typically in Estevan, that falls on the corporate committee,” said Hoffort, who noted the city provided $50,000 in seed money for the bid as part of the legacy from the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games.
With the city’s support, it means the steering committee for the event can focus on ticket sales instead.
“We’re going to go in and we’re going to say ‘We want to sell you some tickets to this event, we want you to buy tickets for yourself, for your customers and your employees, and we want to fill this arena up, which is going to turn around and generate food and beverage profits for the City of Estevan,” said Hoffort.
He pointed out that when Estevan went to the 2018 Canalta Cup Final against the Nipawin Hawks, the food and beverage service was making $20,000 per game. The Centennial Cup is a 10-day tournament with a round robin and playoffs.
The Bruins want to see the stands filled for the games, since the tournament will receive provincial and national attention.
Members of council, when given the chance to speak about the proposal, voiced their support. Councillor Lyle Yanish said it was a smart way to proceed.
“I know it’s tax money that’s going forth, but we’ve learned over the last four years about what does a concert bring into the restaurants where the people are eating or the hotels where people are staying? To me, it’s cut and dry,” said Yanish.
Councillor Shelly Veroba said events like this continue to place Estevan on the map. She cited the boost that the 2018 Home Hardware Canada Cup of Curling brought to Estevan.
“I think 2022 is the year to do it in, and I think it just shows Hockey Canada that we, the City of Estevan, are behind you guys,” said Veroba.
As part of hosting the tournament, there needs to be a $200,000 legacy project as well, and Hoffort said it will involve recreation in Estevan, to be determined by the city in consultation with Hockey Canada, the Centennial Cup and the Bruins.
