Doyle: Halifax to bid for 2012 Memorial Cup

While the bidders for the 2011 Memorial Cup in the Ontario Hockey League are getting their submissions in order, QMJHL teams are lining up for their next chance to host to the CHL's marquee event.

The Halifax Mooseheads have made it known that they are going to bid to host the 2012 Memorial Cup tournament. The Nova Scotia city hosted a hugely successful Memorial Cup in 2000. "Halifax has an excellent record of hosting big events and I think our fans will love it," said Mooseheads owner Bobby Smith to the Halifax Chronicle Herald. "We think our team is going to be very good."

With some of the larger buildings in the Quebec League being located in the maritimes, but the tradition guard being located in Quebec, the QMJHL appears to have taken the unofficial policy of alternating the location of the Memorial Cup across the two ends of the league. It was played in Hull (1997), Halifax (2000), Quebec City (2003), Moncton (2006), Rimouski (2009). This leads many to believe a maritime city will play host to the 2012 festivites. Some will argue it is too soon for Halifax after what would be 12 years since hosting the 2000 event. Saint John, NB appears to be one of the front-runners along with Sydney, NS, home of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Halifax has the largest capacity of all those arenas at just over 10,000 people.

The host city for the 2012 Memorial Cup will be announced during the late winter/early spring of 2011, allowing the host committee to attend next year's Memorial Cup in the OHL venue.

Personally, I will never complain about going to a major hockey event in Halifax. The city is built for events such as this with the arena, convention centre, hotels, a bit of shopping, restaurants, bars, casino and other social activities all within walking distance. I attended the 2000 Memorial Cup and 2003 World Juniors in the city and had a blast.

tdoyle@loosepucks.com
Twitter: Loosepucks