After the raging success of the World Junior A Challenge in December, Robb Hunter is leading another charge to bring a major hockey tournament to Bonnyville.
Hunter was joined with Bonnyville Pontiacs Assistant Coach Neil Langridge looking for town council’s support in making a bid for the 2019 RBC Cup, Junior A Hockey’s equivalent to the Memorial Cup.
“If we are successful in our bid, our own Bonnyville Pontiacs will get automatic entry into the event. They’ll get to compete for the national championship,” Hunter told council. He added that he was urged to submit a bid from the movers and shakers as soon as the World Junior A Challenge wrapped up.
“The night of our wrap-up party I was pulled aside by the President of the CJHL who said ‘Your team and your volunteers did an amazing job. You should seriously consider bidding on something else. Hockey Canada also expressed, ‘You guys ever think of bidding on anything else?'”
Hunter told council that his committee needed a preliminary bid in by March 20th. All he was asking from council before submitting was a letter of support saying they’re behind the bid and understand they’ll likely have to spend some money should it be successful. No specific amount of money was asked for and council enthusiastically agreed. The fully developed bid will be submitted at this year’s RBC cup in Cobourg, Ontario in May.
Hunter says competition is going to be stiff to host this tournament. He mentioned that Brooks and Drumheller were among the other potential bidders.