Photo: Jasmine Aantjes

The Penticton Vees will be hosting the 2021 Centennial Cup.

The Penticton Vees have announced the 2021 Centennial Cup will be coming to Penticton, at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

This will be the first time ever the Vees and the City of Penticton will be hosting the annual tournament which determines the National Junior 'A' Champion.

The tournament was re-named the Royal Bank cup between 1996 and 2018, but in 2020 the tournament will reclaim its original name, the Centennial Cup.

The Vees won the Centennial Cup in 1986 in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia and the Royal Bank Cup in 2012 in Humboldt, Saskatchewan.

Penticton has also participated in three National Junior 'A' tournaments duriing 1985, 2015 and 2017.

“With our organization about to celebrate its 60th anniversary of Junior A hockey, we are very appreciative to have been awarded the 2021 Centennial Cup,” said Vees President Fred Harbinson,

“It is our mandate to raise the standard of this tremendous event both on and off the ice; the next 20 months will be extremely memorable for all Vees fans, young and old.”

Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki is also looking forward to hosting the tournament.

“It’s an honour to have Penticton announced as the host community for this great Canadian Junior A national hockey championship. The tradition of hockey in Penticton needs no introduction; our local team and facilities are some of the best you’ll find anywhere, as is our love for the game and status as World Champions," said Vassilaki.

"The Centennial Cup will see the entire SOEC complex in use, with wider benefits for the whole community.  I look forward to welcoming the players, coaches, families and spectators to Penticton.”

Vees season ticket and club seat members will be the first to access the 2021 Centennial Cup tickets but more information will be released at a later date.