Kamloops to host Memorial Cup in 2023
For the first time since 1995, Kamloops will host Canada’s national major junior hockey championship.
Dan MacKenzie, president of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), announced from Sandman Centre Friday (May 27) that the City of Kamloops will host the 2023 Memorial Cup. “The Blazers and the City of Kamloops put together a first class bid and will be outstanding hosts,” said MacKenzie.
Tom Gaglardi, majority owner and governor of the Kamloops Blazers, was on hand for the announcement, along with Blazers alumni and community stakeholders.
“On behalf of the Kamloops Blazers Owner Group and our Host Organizing Committee, we are so pleased to have been able to secure this event for our communities,” said Host Organizing Committee Chair Norman Daley. “We are ready to engage our fans, partners, and volunteers to make the 2023 Memorial Cup special.”
The Memorial Cup is a four-team, round-robin tournament that features the three regional champions from leagues operating under the CHL umbrella: the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The fourth participant is a hosting team, which will be the Blazers in 2023.
“We are honoured that this prestigious event will be held on Tk̓emlupsemcúl̓ecw. It will be a pleasure to watch world class junior hockey players compete for this championship,” said Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc Councillor Dave Manuel.
Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian added “council have unanimously supported this bid and are very anxious to host the nation and showcase the Kamloops Blazers and Sandman Centre.”
The Blazers last hosted the Memorial Cup in 1995, winning the entire tournament for the third time in four years.
The Kelowna Rockets issued a statement to its fans and sponsors after the announcement Friday, saying the team “wanted nothing more than to host and win the 2023 Memorial Cup” in front of its loyal fans.
“We are as disappointed as you are to not be able to do so.”
“When we submitted our intent to bid, there was an audit conducted of Prospera Place, commissioned by the Rockets, the City of Kelowna, and the GSL Group, who own, operate and manage the arena. This audit found that there were significant deficiencies that needed to be upgraded for the facility to meet the CHL standards for hosting the Memorial Cup.
“Ultimately, an agreement with the Rockets, City of Kelowna, and the GSL Group could not be reached to make the necessary capital improvements to the building. As a result, the building did not meet the minimum standards required to host the event by the CHL, and consequently, the Rockets could not proceed with our bid to host the 2023 Memorial Cup,” said the statement.
The 2022-2023 season marks the 23rd year the Rockets have been in the building now known as Prospera Place.
“We have enjoyed playing and hosting over 900 games in front of our loyal fans over the last 23 years and are tremendously proud to have been able to bring all of these games to Prospera Place.
“Our hope as we look toward the future is that the GSL Group will work to complete the necessary improvements the audit identified so that we can once again bring a Memorial Cup back to Kelowna,” the statement concluded.