London has scored a star-studded Hockey Canada event.
On Tuesday, officials announced London has been selected to host the 2018 Hockey Canada Foundation Gala and Golf.
The event will be held June 18-19 and will feature a gala where Canada’s national teams are honoured.
The event, which leaves roughly half of its net proceeds within the host community and surrounding region to help grow the game, has raised approximately $4 million since 2009.
London has bid more than once to host the World Junior Hockey Championship but has never landed the prized international event. Earlier this month, Hockey Canada and Budweiser Gardens announced Team Canada will meet the Czech Republic in a World Junior pre-tournament game on Dec. 20 in London.
“There’s no reason to doubt why we can’t do something like the World Junior Championship here in London in the future,” said Hockey Canada chief executive officer, Tom Renney.
“All I can suggest is again as you did the last time, put your nose to the grindstone and present a great bid and let the rest of the details fall into place.”
Mayor Matt Brown says London has demonstrated the ability to host large sporting events like the World Junior Championship.
“I know that we were on the right track when we put t
That (joint) bid in with Windsor and we received some very positive messaging today from Hockey Canada,” said Brown.
London’s Jeff Macoun is chairing the local host organizing committee and announced that owner and vice-president of the London Knights Mark Hunter and former Knights star Corey Perry will serve as honorary co-chairs.
“I am honoured to have been asked to act as an honorary co-chair of this great event,” said Hunter in a media release. “The financial legacy provided by the Hockey Canada Foundation will serve to inspire disadvantaged youth to play the game of hockey and contribute to its growth.”
Tickets to the pre-tournament game between Team Canada and the Czech Republic will go on sale on Wednesday, online, by phone at 1-866-455-2849 or at the box office at Budweiser Gardens, at the Fanshawe College Biz Booth, and at Books Plus.
Comments