Wildcats partner with Acadia for Telus Cup bid

BERWICK, N.S – The Valley Wildcats hockey organization is proud to announce it has partnered with Acadia University and will submit a bid to host the 2021 Telus Cup, national midget hockey tournament.

Known as the Wrigley Cup from 1973 to 1978 and Air Canada Cup from 1979 to 2003, the Telus Cup is held every April by Hockey Canada. Nova Scotia last hosted the tournament in 1997 at New Glasgow. The Wildcats competed in the tournament in 2013 under current Wildcats junior A coach Nick Greenough.

The Wildcats hockey organization, owned and operated by Cambridge businessman and Windsor native Graham Baxter, includes bantam, midget and junior A franchises and is based in Berwick. Baxter says hosting this prestigious tournament, which has featured legends such as Steve Yzerman, Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic, would help further grow the game in the Annapolis Valley and the province of Nova Scotia.

"The Telus Cup is a breeding ground for the most elite young hockey players in Canada and counts a dozen or so Hockey Hall of Famers among its alumni," said Baxter. "This is one of Canada's most important hockey tournaments and one of its most heavily scouted. By hosting, we hope to help develop the next Sidney Crosby or Al MacInnis, just a couple of the Nova Scotians who have played in this event."

The Wildcats bid includes a partnership with Acadia University in nearby Wolfville. Games would be played at Acadia's 1,800-seat Andrew H McCain Arena.

"We're thrilled to partner on this bid with the Wildcats," said Kevin Dickie, Executive Director of Athletics and Community Events at Acadia. "Acadia prides itself on being a regional, community-minded institution and one that believes in the benefits of athletics, so we jumped at the opportunity to help bring this historic tournament to the Annapolis Valley."

The Wildcats expect to submit the bid to Hockey Canada by the end of April and a host to be chosen in June. This year's Telus Cup will be played in Thunder Bay, with the 2020 edition slated for Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec.