Oakville Blades to host national junior A championship in 2024

Canada’s top Jr. A teams will be battling for a national championship in Oakville next year.

Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) announced Thursday (May 4) that the Oakville Blades have won the right to host the Centennial Cup in 2024.

It marks the first time in franchise history that the Blades, a member of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), will host the Centennial Cup, with all games taking place at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex from May 9-19, 2024.

The Blades will officially announce their winning bid at a scheduled media conference on Friday morning at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex.

Hockey Canada also announced Wednesday that Okotoks, Alta., will host  Canada’s National Junior A Championship in 2025 from May 8 to 18.

“We are ecstatic to bring Canada’s National Junior A Championship to Oakville next year and to Okotoks in 2025,” said Dean McIntosh, vice-president of strategic partnerships and community impact for Hockey Canada. “The Centennial Cup has a storied history and we cannot wait for fans in both communities to watch some of the top junior hockey players in the country compete to become national champions.”

The 10-team field for the Centennial Cup includes a host team, along with champions from the Alberta Junior Hockey League, Central Canada Hockey League, Ligue de hockey junior AAA du Québec, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Maritime Hockey League, Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, Ontario Junior Hockey League, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and Superior International Junior Hockey League.

Oakville will become just the 11 community in Ontario to host the Centennial Cup.

“The CJHL is thrilled that the Oakville Blades and Okotoks Oilers have been named hosts of the Centennial Cup in 2024 and 2025, respectively,” said Andy Harkness, president of the CJHL.

“Both teams put a significant amount of resources towards bidding for the right to host the event, and we know they will each put on an unforgettable tournament for the competing teams and fans.”

Details regarding schedules, ticket packages and broadcast information for the Centennial Cup in 2024 and 2025 will be announced at a later date.

The 2023 Centennial Cup is set to begin on May 11 in Portage la Prairie, Man.