International hockey is making its return to Bonnyville with the 2018 World Jr. A Challenge (WJAC).
Hockey Canada announced the tournament would be coming back to the area just two years after hosting what was regarded as an extremely successful 2016 WJAC.
From Dec. 9 to 15, six teams from around the world will battle it out at the R.J. Lalonde Arena for Jr. A supremacy.
“We're doing it again. This is so awesome. When Robb told me we had a chance to do this again, I said, ‘yes, we can do it, and we can make it better than it was,'” exclaimed Bonnyville Mayor Gene Sobolewski Not only that, we're doing it again two years after we had it. Lets go Bonnyville and lets go world.”
MD of Bonnyville Reeve Greg Sawchuk echoed his counterpart's statement, expressing excitement for the repeat opportunity.
“For the MD, this was a no-brainer. When we saw the impact it had on our region, this was an easy one. We're really looking forward to hosting again,” Sawchuk said.
Bid co-chairs Robb Hunter and Neil Langridge invited residents to celebrate the announcement on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre. After having little trouble filling the seats in 2016, the organizing committee has a tall-task ahead of them if they hope to improve on a previously successful tournament.
“I've heard that 2016 was the best ever WJAC, and I tend to agree,” expressed Hunter. “We had a Friday night bronze medal game between the Russians and the Czechs. That might not have been a big draw in other communities, but the R.J. Lalonde Arena was packed for that game. I couldn't have been happier with the community's response.”
Despite their success, the organizing committee won't be satisfied unless they deliver a better overall experience.
They're already reviewing the 2016 event, hoping to improve on any inefficiency. Planning is currently in the preliminary stages, but Hunter expressed interest in increasing youth attendance at games, or even expanding the arena's capacity.
Any additional bells and whistles haven't been released, but Hunter promises the 2018 WJAC will be anything but a repeat of the last event.
“This year will not be another Hollywood rerun. We're not going to have success, re-package it, and roll out the same thing. We're going to hit the ground running, and we're going to take what we learned in 2016 to make sure this event is the best one ever for a WJAC,” Hunter explained.
Over the next few months, the organizing committee will put out a call for volunteer help, hoping to exceed the 150 volunteer mark they were able to reach the first time around.
The reason the 2018 tournament is possible is the success of the 2016 event. None of this could happen without thousands of hours of volunteer work, along with organizing and planning by staff at the C2, and amazing community support.
On the ice, the tournament promises compelling drama. Team Canada West will look to repeat as gold medalists, while team USA hopes to reclaim the top spot two years after raising the trophy in Bonnyville.
Team Canada East, Russia, Switzerland and the Czech Republic will lay it all on the line in the hopes of claiming their first gold medal in tournament history.
While volunteers and organizers have their work cut out for them, Hunter has no doubt the community will step up to make the 2018 WJAC the best there's ever been.
“Be proud Bonnyville. Your spirit, people, community support, and passion for Jr. A hockey makes the statement, not, ‘why Bonnyville?' But, ‘of course Bonnyville,'” expressed Hunter. “This is a world class hosting community, and we're going to prove that once again with this WJAC.”
