HALIFAX, N.S. – The Memorial Cup is coming back to Halifax.
The Canadian Hockey League announced on Thursday the Mooseheads will be the hosts for the 2019 tournament. Halifax hasn’t staged the event since 2000.
“I am extremely pleased that the Halifax Mooseheads will be hosting the 2019 Memorial Cup,” Mooseheads majority owner Bobby Smith said in a news release. “I would like to express my thanks to Premier (Stephen) McNeil and Mayor (Mike) Savage for their support of our successful hosting proposal. Our team and our fans look forward to showcasing one of Canada’s great sporting events in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia. We are ready!”
The Mooseheads lost in the semifinals of the 2000 tournament but won the championship in 2013 in Saskatoon. It was their first national title. This year’s event is in Regina.
The only other QMJHL team to bid for the 2019 hosting rights was the Moncton Wildcats, who last held the event in 2006.
“It’s really exciting,” Savage said. “You get nervous when something like this comes up. You think there are a lot of reasons for you to host it - it’s the 25th anniversary year, you’ve got a great club, you’ve got a great venue and you’ve got a lot of excitement. But Moncton’s got a new venue and it’s a great city so it was really exciting to hear the news. I know that Moncton will host it someday again in the not too distant future.”
The tournament format features a host team, plus the champion from each of the CHL’s three leagues - the QMJHL, OHL and WHL. They play each other in a round-robin, followed by one semifinal and a championship game.
The Mooseheads will return several key members of their core next year. Goalie Alexis Gravel, defencemen Jared McIsaac, of Truro, Justin Barron, Jocktan Chainey, Patty Kyte and Walter Flower, and forwards Xavier Parent, Arnaud Durandeau, Bo Groulx, Raphael Lavoie, Bible Hill’s Ben Higgins, Kyle Petten and Joel Bishop all expected back.
It’s also possible defenceman Jake Ryczek and forwards Otto Somppi and Filip Zadina will return. They may have pro options but are eligible for another season of junior.
