Shortly after announcing they were going to bid on the 2012 World Junior 'A' Challenge, a group from Brandon, Manitoba has announced it is abandoning its plans.
One of the organizers, Darryl Wolski, says, "The Manitoba Junior Hockey League says they will not support a bid from Brandon. Hockey Canada says it would be difficult to endorse a bid that does not have the support of its local Junior 'A' league."
Wolski says it is a complete mystery to him as to why the MJHL would not support the bid. According to an email, Wolski says that Commissioner Kim Davis informed him that there was a wide range of information absent in terms of what the plan might be. Wolski says Davis was unclear as to what his group wanted to do and how they wanted to do it and, therefore, in the best interest of members of the MJHL and for sound business reasons, he was unable to endorse the request for support.
Wolski says, "I have been involved as an NHL player agent for six years and I've been part of groups that have organized multi-million dollar rock concerts. Our committee were the ones behind the Memorial Cup last year. My business is operating hockey tournaments for the last 15 years. This is not my first rodeo."
Damn shame for Manitoba's second largest city. Very short-sighted for the MJHL in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteHey Mike,
ReplyDeleteJust wanted your opinion on this or if Mr. Wolski reads this maybe he can chime in. I have no problem with Brandon hosting this event as I don't feel that the event necessarily has to be in a CJAHL city. That being said, do you believe the people in a Major Junior City are going to come out and embrace Junior A hockey during a week long event? I am not saying they will not, I am just curious if they had gauged the interest in the city before putting forth the application. If the event was in Regina for example, I just can't see people in Regina or Moose Jaw for example, I just can't see people from those communities getting behind the event. Maybe I am wrong.
- Brad M.
For those wondering, here's the Memorial Cup Committee:
ReplyDeleteJeff Cristall
Kelly McCrimmon
Chad Lang
Rick Dillabough
Bernie Chrisp
Dan Robertson
Event General Manager Lois MacDonald
Dan Robertson and Lois MacDonald were also on the WJAC bid group.