For three more years Penticton will play host to one of the largest sport tourism events in the South Okanagan.
The Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) today announced that their championship tournament will remain in Penticton for 2021, 2022 and 2023.
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Since 2015 the BDO CSSHL Championships have been held in the Okanagan community, and organizers estimate it has brought in $12 million for the city of Penticton. It is one of the top weeks for tourism, annually.
The CSSHL said the winning bid was a partnership between the Okanagan Hockey Group (OHG) and Spectra Venue Management, two groups the CSSHL says have been an example of professionalism over the last six years.
The event attracts 1,300 student athletes and 250 staff members, representing 73 teams, as well as 3,073 paid spectators in attendance.
Over the course of the tournament, athletes travel around the Okanagan playing at the South Okanagan Events Centre, Okanagan Hockey Training Centre, Memorial Arena, Summerland Arena and Oliver Arena.
The CSSHL explained that many of the top male and female athletes in Canada have played in the championships, including 310 students athletes in the Western Hockey League Bantam Draft, seven members of the Canadian National Women’s Under-18 team, as well as NHLers Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Jake Bean, Beck Malenstyn and Michael Rasmussen.
OHG president Andy Oakes says they’re extremely excited to host the CSSHL Championships for another three years. He explained that support from both the City of Penticton as well as Travel Penticton was instrumental in obtaining the bid.
“This event allows us to showcase the Okanagan Valley,” said Oakes, adding that the OHG is grateful for their partnerships with the District of Summerland and Township of Oliver.
“The CSSHL Championships is one of the top tourism weeks for the City of Penticton and the businesses in Penticton,” continued Oakes. “We feel we are going to be able to enhance the overall student athletes experience with some of the added items that we will be bringing to the event. We want all the student athletes and families leaving the event stating, ‘what an amazing community and what an amazing event and we cannot wait to come back next year.'”
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