Photo via Canadian Hockey League
The Kamloops Blazers have been named hosts of the 2023 Memorial Cup, scheduled to take place between May 26 and June 4 at the Sandman Centre.
After months of speculation, the official word came down in a pre-game ceremony ahead of game five of the WHL’s Western Conference Championship series, a game which the Blazers won 4-3 in overtime.
Canadian Hockey League (CHL) President, Dan MacKenzie, and Blazers majority owner, Tom Gaglardi, were both on hand for the announcement Friday in front of over 5,000 fans at Sandman Centre.
They were joined by Blazers alumni Jarome Iginla and Scott Niedermayer – both past Memorial Cup winners with Kamloops.
“We are very excited to bring back the Memorial Cup to Kamloops after an almost 30-year hiatus,” MacKenzie said, in a statement. “The Blazers and the City of Kamloops put together a first class bid and will be outstanding hosts.”
The Blazers had openly said they were interested in hosting the 2023 Memorial Cup but it is not clear what sort of opposition they ran into during the bidding process. There was speculation that both Kelowna and Seattle were thinking about throwing their hats into the ring.
The successful Kamloops bid means the Blazers have already secured one of four spots in the 2023 tournament. They will be joined by the three champions from the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL.
It will be the first time that Kamloops has hosted the event since 1995, where the Blazers went undefeated to capture a third Memorial Cup title in four years.
“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,” Host Organizing Committee Chair Norm Daley, added.
“We are ready to engage our fans, partners, and volunteers to make the 2023 Memorial Cup special.”
Added Mayor Ken Christian, “Council have unanimously supported this bid and are very anxious to host the nation and showcase the Kamloops Blazers and Sandman Centre.”
Kelowna was scheduled to host the 2020 Memorial Cup before the tournament – along with the 2021 edition – was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s Memorial Cup is set for Saint John, New Brunswick at the end of June.
– With files from Victor Kaisar
📸 from Kamloops! #MemorialCup presented by @KiaCanada pic.twitter.com/lmI8IXsxnW
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) May 28, 2022
What a night in Kamloops! 🥳
After they were named 2023 #MemorialCup presented by @KiaCanada hosts earlier tonight, Daylan Kuefler scores the OT winner against Seattle to give @blazerhockey a 3-2 series lead! #RoadtoMemorialCup pic.twitter.com/vI6wI3Z8Ey
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) May 28, 2022
