The Record's Opinion/Insight:
Kitchener scores as next Cup host
(May 10, 2007)
Thousands of hockey fans across Waterloo Region surely cheered yesterday when they learned that Kitchener has been awarded the chance to host the 2008 Memorial Cup.
Kitchener wasn't considered a shoo-in, particularly because Oshawa boasted spiffy new facilities, but it deserves to win.
Kitchener is a hockey-crazy town. Countless people here know and love the game. Any hockey player who has ever skated onto the ice at the Kitchener Aud knows it.
That fact alone pretty well guarantees the success of the 2008 championship, the biggest tournament for major junior hockey.
It means there'll be no trouble filling the 6,000-odd seats at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (which will add another 500 seats by the time the tournament arrives here).
In Kitchener, with its long, proud tradition of voluntarism, it means there'll be plenty of people, from teens to seniors, looking to help out. Organizers say they'll need 800 to 1,000 volunteers.
The community has ample experience putting on significant sporting events. In recent years it has hosted the women's world hockey championship; the Four Nations Cup, the other major event in women's international hockey, (twice); the Scott Tournament of Hearts Canadian women's curling championship; and several international fastball tournaments.
And for all that the community gives to the eventual success of the Memorial Cup, it will gain hugely by having it held here.
Economic benefits are obvious. When London hosted the last Cup in Ontario in 2005, it figured teams, media and fans pumped more than $10 million into the local economy in hotels, restaurants and other spending. The region will reap at least that much in 2008.
Kitchener, and the region as a whole, will benefit from the national exposure and national television coverage.
The Canadian Hockey League's choice of Kitchener is a vote of confidence in the Kitchener Rangers, who have played consistently well since Peter DeBoer took over as coach and general manager in 2001. The league has no interest in having a weak host team playing against league champs.
The Cup has enormous cachet for Jr. A fans, who will be thrilled to watch the best players in major junior hockey, future NHLers, so close to home. Having great hockey here, and all the attention that generates, will no doubt create new fans.
With Kitchener having last hosted in 1984, it's high time we got the tournament.
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Kitchener scores as next Cup host
(May 10, 2007)
Thousands of hockey fans across Waterloo Region surely cheered yesterday when they learned that Kitchener has been awarded the chance to host the 2008 Memorial Cup.
Kitchener wasn't considered a shoo-in, particularly because Oshawa boasted spiffy new facilities, but it deserves to win.
Kitchener is a hockey-crazy town. Countless people here know and love the game. Any hockey player who has ever skated onto the ice at the Kitchener Aud knows it.
That fact alone pretty well guarantees the success of the 2008 championship, the biggest tournament for major junior hockey.
It means there'll be no trouble filling the 6,000-odd seats at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (which will add another 500 seats by the time the tournament arrives here).
In Kitchener, with its long, proud tradition of voluntarism, it means there'll be plenty of people, from teens to seniors, looking to help out. Organizers say they'll need 800 to 1,000 volunteers.
The community has ample experience putting on significant sporting events. In recent years it has hosted the women's world hockey championship; the Four Nations Cup, the other major event in women's international hockey, (twice); the Scott Tournament of Hearts Canadian women's curling championship; and several international fastball tournaments.
And for all that the community gives to the eventual success of the Memorial Cup, it will gain hugely by having it held here.
Economic benefits are obvious. When London hosted the last Cup in Ontario in 2005, it figured teams, media and fans pumped more than $10 million into the local economy in hotels, restaurants and other spending. The region will reap at least that much in 2008.
Kitchener, and the region as a whole, will benefit from the national exposure and national television coverage.
The Canadian Hockey League's choice of Kitchener is a vote of confidence in the Kitchener Rangers, who have played consistently well since Peter DeBoer took over as coach and general manager in 2001. The league has no interest in having a weak host team playing against league champs.
The Cup has enormous cachet for Jr. A fans, who will be thrilled to watch the best players in major junior hockey, future NHLers, so close to home. Having great hockey here, and all the attention that generates, will no doubt create new fans.
With Kitchener having last hosted in 1984, it's high time we got the tournament.
