Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada is heading back to the west coast.
Kamloops has been announced as the host city of the the 16th annual celebration of the iconic Canadian game. The event, hosted by Ron MacLean, will take place Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 with local Hockey Day festivities in Kamloops beginning on Feb. 3.
In addition to showcasing Kamloops’ hockey tradition — and they’ve got plenty of it — the day will also feature all seven Canadian teams in action over the course of a 13-hour broadcast.
The first time B.C. held the event was in Nelson in 2007.
In light of Wednesday’s announcement, we’ve got five reasons why Kamloops (pop. 87,000) will make a great host for Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada.
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1. Their hockey history runs deep.
Kamloops’ first outdoor skating area was formed on the bank of the Thompson River in 1894, and an outdoor skating rink (boards and all!) was built in 1899 by a local boat builder.
The first indoor arena built for Kamloops went up in 1926.
2. They have the largest Minor Hockey Association in BC
This is where it all begins for hockey players. The Kamloops Minor Hockey Association was named Association of the year by the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association twice (1982-83 and 2004-05). According to the KMHA’s website, they now have approximately 1,300 registered minor hockey players and have access to six public rinks, giving the city more arenas per capita than most cities in Canada.
3. The city is home to the Kamloops Blazers.
2016 marks the WHL’s 50th anniversary, so it’s only fitting that one of its most prominent teams should be in the spotlight.
The Blazers have only missed the WHL playoffs four times and won the Memorial Cup three times. Over 80 pro hockey players got their start with the team: Shane Doan, Devan Dubnyk, Jarome Iginla, Scott Niedermayer, Colton Orr, Mark Recchi, Darryl Sydor, Darcy Tucker, Scottie Upshall, Kris Versteeg and more.
Doan, Iginla, Recchi and Sydor are now part owners of the team, and the arena is located on Mark Recchi Way in honour of the city and team’s hometown hero.
The team has also seen some big-name coaches, including Ken Hitchcock, Tom Renney and Sydor. Longtime coach Don Hay even returned to the team — the former NHLer played with the Blazers prior to coaching them, and then returned as head coach this past season after stints in the NHL and with other WHL teams.
4. Plenty of famous Canadian athletes hail from Kamloops.
In addition to being the birthplace of NHLers like Mark Recchi, Kamloops has also produced some pretty great athletes in a variety of sports. Olympic medallists Dylan Armstrong (shot put), Jessica Hewitt (speed skating), and Canada’s Athlete of the Century, Nancy Greene (skiing) have called Kamloops home.
5. Kamloops is known as the “Tournament Capital of Canada”
In addition to hosting around 25 minor hockey tournaments each season, Kamloops also hosts enough regional, national and international events to earn it the title of Tournament Capital of Canada.
They have several top-notch facilities, including the world-class (and aptly-named) Tournament Capital Centre, which is equipped with an Olympic length pool, a FIFA-certified soccer field, track and field facilities, a gymnastics centre and more.
“Kamloops is home to not only world class facilities and athletes, but a community of volunteers and residents who make us a premiere host for any event,” Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar said in a press release.
For more information about Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, visit their website.
