Hurricanes optimistic about 2026 Memorial Cup bid
By Lethbridge Herald on September 26, 2024.
Lethbridge Hurricanes Leo Braillard and Kooper Gizowski take part in a practice on Wednesday at the VisitLethbridge.com arena. The Hurricanes are one of five Western Hockey League teams that have put in successful bids to host the 2026 Memorial Cup.
Herald photo by Al BeeberAl Beeber – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – abeeber@lethbridgeherald.com
If the Lethbridge Hurricanes win their bid to host the 2026 Memorial Cup, it will be the first time the Western Canada League host of Canada’s major junior hockey championship has been a community-owned club.
Brian Wichers, chair of the 2026 Lethbridge Hurricanes Memorial Cup bid committee, says the time is right for Lethbridge to win the bid and put the city once again in the national and international spotlight.
The Hurricanes are among five teams seeking to host the ’26 Cup, the others being Medicine Hat Tigers, Brandon Wheat Kings, Spokane Chiefs and Kelowna Rockets.
“This is absolutely great for the City of Lethbridge, it’s great for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the region itself,” said Wichers at the VisitLethbridge.com arena Wednesday morning.
He called the bid a great partnership. That partnership includes the hockey club, Lethbridge Sport Council, the City of Lethbridge and VisitLethbridge.com arena, and Tourism Lethbridge.
“We grouped together understanding how big of an impact this would be for Lethbridge and the region and we just know we all have all the assets, we have all the boxes checked for everything that the league needs for this to have this event in Lethbridge. It’s very positive for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the City of Lethbridge and we have all the requirements,” Wichers said.
The event could have a huge economic impact for city, roughly $12 million to $15 million during the 10-day championship, Wichers added, noting all hotels will be full and all regional attractions will be busy.
“It’s a good way for us to showcase Lethbridge and the region to the nation and to the world,” he said.
The city has a history of hosting successful national and international events, said Wichers, adding Lethbridge has “an awesome” volunteer base and there’s no doubt the city can successfully host the Memorial Cup.
“We have such a great community” with the community-owned team being a great model.
The Hurricanes have proven a community-owned WHL team is sustainable with its history in the WHL, he said.
Two community-owned teams have previously hosted the Memorial Cup, both in the Ontario Hockey League.
“We’ve had opportunities to put competitive hockey teams on the ice and we’re confident that that’s going to happen again and we’ll have no troubles moving forward,” added Wichers.
The work on the bid “has been a huge undertaking. Susan Eymann from the Lethbridge Sport Council has been a huge person in this, she’s been able to get all the information we need to stay on top of everybody and make sure we’re moving forward with the bid. Everybody from the City of Lethbridge, the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Tourism Lethbridge, Lethbridge Lodging Association, everybody’s come on board and helped us put the bid together,” added Wichers.
“Lethbridge is ready.”
The Hurricanes had previously put in a bid for the 2020 Cup and that process helped the team by being able to tweak things to make a few things better for the bid, Wichers added.
“This has been a huge undertaking, it’s been a great experience,” said Wichers, noting that the committee knows it has a bid that will be hard for the CHL not to accept.
Next steps in the process include the Canadian Hockey League creating a short list then interviews and a presentation with the Memorial Cup committee.
The City of Lethbridge has committed $1.25 million toward the Memorial Cup if the Hurricanes’ bid is successful.
Acting mayor Mark Campbell congratulated the committee for its work, noting he’s seen the passion the Hurricanes have to make the bid happen.
He said the city has hosted national and international curling events and has a proven track record, passionate fans and volunteers “unmatched across the country.”
He noted this year marks the 50th anniversary of the VisitLethbridge.com arena and Lethbridge has a long history of hockey success.
He mentioned the world championship team in the 1950s, the Lethbridge Sugar Kings, Byron Ritchie’s comeback goals in Quebec and the city still hates Mike Vernon, he joked, referring to the former Calgary Wrangler goaltender who chose not to play for the Lethbridge Broncos in the 1983 Memorial Cup after star goalie Ken Wregget was injured. Instead, Vernon, who went on to star in the NHL, joined the host Portland Winterhawks.
“I think it’s really important we get it,” Campbell said of the bid.
He said the Lethbridge has the facility, the accommodations and the fan base to host the Cup.
Campbell said the City’s potential investment could have significant spinoffs, citing the investment in the Brier which brought in millions of dollars in spinoff benefits, $16.8 million to be exact.
“Public relations wise, it’s fantastic,” added Campbell. And that exposure could have other impacts besides just financial from the event itself, he suggested.
“The more we get to be known about what we have here in the city, the more people say “hey, maybe I can sell my house in Toronto and pay cash for a house in here Lethbridge,” he laughed, noting that the exposure from such an event is significant.
Eymann noted Lethbridge has hosted 26 national and international events in the last 10 years “so Lethbridge definitely knows what we’re doing. Bringing the Memorial Cup is sport entertainment but it’s also about community and sport development. That needs to be intentional and within the bid we’ve outlined a framework for the host organizing committee to use to really develop the community and sport and have the Memorial Cup become a legacy to the residents.”
Bringing a high level sports event shows family and youth in person that success is achievable, said Eymann. And that can be inspiring to people to pursue their dreams.
Having a diverse group of people around the committee table with different perspectives and ideas as well as creativity “was really wonderful and I think that’s what really put together a great bid because as a community team, we worked together as a community,” added Eymann. And that community includes the region, she said.
“There’s a lot of excitement seeing it come together and seeing the end product. It’s not just about the content but it’s about showing that we can present it in a beautiful way,” Eymann said of the bid.
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Wichers is a fool who helped almost destroy the franchise 12-15 years ago. Now he is back and expects us to forget all of that?!
Medicine Hat has a brand new arena (with free parking) and a roster with several first round NHL picks.. they’re obviously the front runner.