Memorial Cup on the radar

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

The Stanley Cup was one of the star off-ice attractions at the 2004 Memorial Cup in Kelowna

Kelowna Rockets fans have seen it all at Prospera Place.

Every event available to the junior hockey supporter has travelled through Kelowna at one time or another over the past 11 years.

The city has hosted the Memorial Cup (2004), World Junior Hockey Championship (2006), Top Prospects Game (2012) and the Subway Super Series (2009 and 2015).

Any time the Rockets announce they will host another major event, as they did Tuesday with the Subway Super Series for November of this year, the topic always comes around to another Memorial Cup bid.

Photo: Contributed

That question was posed by Castanet News to Rockets president/GM Bruce Hamilton following Tuesday's announcement.

While there is nothing imminent, Hamilton does admit a number of renovations would have to be made to Prospera Place before the Rockets could host the event again.

"There's dressing room issues and there would be scoreboard issues," says Hamilton.

"Lighting is another. There is television lighting that they require to be different, but we're not far from that anyway."

The arena has only two dressing rooms large enough to accommodate CHL clubs. In 2004, two of the four teams used temporary trailers set up in the parking lot as dressing rooms.

"I think the city would be pretty excited to be involved with us if we had to get some things done here to get it (building) to the next level again. That's something we're going to look at for sure in time," says Hamilton.

"I think the city is in a better state than it was when we hosted it the first time to be able to accommodate those kind of things."

There is also the issue of when the WHL will host the event again.

This year's Memorial Cup is in Quebec City and the 2016 tournament has already been awarded to Red Deer.

At issue is the 2018 Memorial Cup.

"The 100th anniversary of the Memorial Cup is coming up (2018) and they're not certain where that game is going to be held."

Several scenarios are being rumoured including the possibility the tournament could be held in Ontario in both 2017 and 2018 with Toronto a possible location for the 2018 game.

Regardless of when the event comes out west, Hamilton says the move to Red Deer in 2016 is good news for the Rockets.

"I think the CHL is really looking at this now, that we have to make sure we get this event into the cities that are mid market size for sure and not just make it a big market event."

Of course, it doesn't hurt that Kelowna and the Rockets changed the way the Memorial Cup is hosted.

In 2004 the Rockets turned the event from just a hockey tournament to a hockey festival with events around the city for local and out of town fans to enjoy away from the rink.