The Nanaimo Clippers' bid to host the 2021 National Junior A Championship has not been successful, with Hockey Canada electing to award the event elsewhere. (Nanaimo Clippers)
Bid Bust

Nanaimo Clippers bid to host national championship falls short

Jul 15, 2019 | 5:14 AM

NANAIMO — If the Nanaimo Clippers are to be playing hockey at a national championship in May 2021, they will have to win their way in.

Hockey Canada informed the franchise late last week their bid to host the National Junior A Championship will not be proceeding.

Despite the end result, Nanaimo’s host committee remained proud of the work achieved in putting Nanaimo on the map as a potential host team.

“There was a group of people who came together to put this application through,” said Tali Campbell, Clippers director of Business Operations. “It was over 100 pages that had to be done in under two months.”

Campbell, who also co-chaired the bid committee, added the bid had support from the City of Nanaimo, Tourism Nanaimo, Nanaimo Hospitality Association and countless community members who lended their time and talents to the application.

In preparation for the bid, staff from the Clippers travelled to Brooks, Alberta in May to witness the 2019 national championship in person.

The work is not all for nought, as the team plans to bid for the event in the future.

Hockey Canada is expected to select their 2021 host team in the coming weeks.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley