(HALIFAX): Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) today awarded the 2015 and 2016 Men's Hockey Championships to the innovative joint bid between StFX, Saint Mary's and Sports & Entertainment Atlantic (S|E|A). Halifax hockey fans will have the opportunity to see Canada's top university hockey teams compete for the CIS University Cup at the Halifax Metro Centre in March 2015 and March 2016.
"We are very excited and energized about the opportunity to host two championships that will showcase the highest level of amateur hockey in Canada," comments StFX Director of Athletics & Recreation Leo MacPherson. "StFX is honoured to be the official host in 2015 as we know SMU is equally honoured to be the official host in 2016."
"Our creative, collaborative three-way partnership between StFX, SMU and S|E|A was key to winning the bid and it will be key to delivering two amazing championships where the ultimate winners will be the student-athletes, the hockey fans in Nova Scotia, and the corresponding enhancements to the brand equity of CIS and AUS hockey."
Saint Mary's Director of Athletics Dr. David Murphy echoes MacPherson's comments, stating "Saint Mary's University is pleased and honored to have been chosen along with StFX to host the University Cup in 2015 and 2016. This will have positive effects for our universities, the CIS and AUS and the city of Halifax as we bring the top tier of amateur hockey to this city."
"We look forward to collaborating with StFX and S|E|A to bring this outstanding event to the Metro Centre and to showcase our CIS student-athletes. We thank the selection committee for choosing to bring the University Cup to Halifax for the first time, we will continue the great East Coast hospitality and will not disappoint," continues Murphy.
In partnership with Sports & Entertainment Atlantic, the two schools will host the annual CIS event for the first time in Nova Scotia since its inception in 1963. The StFX X-Men, led by head coach Brad Peddle, will be the host team for the 2015 championship, while the Saint Mary's Huskies, led by head coach Trevor Stienburg, will be the host for the 2016 championship.
Both championships will be played at the Halifax Metro Centre, which has hosted hockey events such as the 2000 Memorial Cup, 2003 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, 2005 IIHF World Women's Hockey Championship, and the 2008 IIHF World Men's Hockey Championship, held for the first time outside Europe in the IIHF's 100 year history.
StFX University has successfully hosted the 2006, 2009 and 2010 CIS women's hockey championship in Antigonish, N.S. and most recently the 2012 CIS women's rugby championship to a sold-old crowd of over 5000 fans.
"We are thrilled to partner with StFX and Saint Mary's to deliver an outstanding championship experience for the student-athletes, alumni and fans participating in the CIS University Cup," says Derek Martin, President of Sports & Entertainment Atlantic. "Our focus will be on leveraging a myriad of strong partnerships to elevate the CIS and AUS hockey brand both here in Halifax and across the country."
X-Men hockey head coach Brad Peddle, currently in his ninth season as bench boss comments, "We are extremely excited in winning the bid to host the 2015 CIS national championship. It is a tremendous step and opportunity for our X-Men hockey program and an absolute honour to be able to host the first ever CIS men's hockey championship in Nova Scotia."
"To be able to share this experience with a passionate group of StFX alumni and X-Men hockey supporters close to home on the national stage will be very special and one we very much look forward to. The committee assembled from S|E|A, and both StFX and Saint Mary's did a tremendous job in preparing a first class bid and the support from both institutions was outstanding," says Peddle.
Student-athletes at the Antigonish, N.S. school are equally excited with the CIS announcement. X-Men hockey forward and assistant captain Rob Slaney will be eligible to play in the national championship when the X-Men host next season and he comments, "I can speak on behalf of my teammates in expressing that this is a fantastic opportunity for our program, it gives us an extra drive to compete each day we hit the ice as we have that goal of bringing home the national banner always in our minds."
The StFX X-Men have appeared in 10 previous CIS University Cup championships and have one national banner to their credit, winning in 2004. They also took home silver medals in 2003 and 2001 and claimed three bronze medals in the 1960's. Their last appearance at the national championship was in 2011 as the AUS finalists where they went 1-1 in pool play.
"The Halifax Metro Centre is proud to partner with Sports and Entertainment Atlantic, Saint Mary's University and StFX University to bring CIS hockey to Halifax," said Scott Ferguson, president and CEO of Trade Centre Limited, the Crown corporation that manages the Halifax Metro Centre. "We're excited to add the CIS Men's Hockey University Cup to a long list of world-class hockey events that we have successfully hosted."
Ticket package information will be available in the coming weeks through Ticket Atlantic.
Mayor Mike Savage, an ardent supporter of the bid from its inception, is at a mayors conference in Cape Breton and couldn't attend the announcement but had this to say: "Congratulations to Sports & Entertainment Atlantic, Saint Mary's and StFX on their successful bid. The CIS championship is a great win for our city and an opportunity to demonstrate to the rest of Canada that Halifax is a great hockey town."
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For more information contact:
Derek Martin
President
Sports & Entertainment Atlantic
902.444.3773 x1
derek@seatlantic.ca
Leo MacPherson
Director of Athletics & Recreation
StFX University
902.867.2280
lmacpher@stfx.ca
Dr. David Murphy
Director of Athletics
Saint Mary's University
902.420.5427
david.murphy@smu.ca