Long rumored to be one of the teams prepared to bid on the hosting rights for the 2024 Memorial Cup, the news became official today that the Soo Greyhounds will be in the mix to host the annual event.
The Greyhounds will be among four teams that will submit bids prior to the Canadian Hockey League’s Jan. 31, 2023 deadline.
The other three teams which have submitted intents to bid on hosting the tournament are the Kingston Frontenacs, Niagara IceDogs, and Saginaw Spirit.
The winning bid will be announced in March.
The Greyhounds had previously planned to bid on hosting rights for the 2021 tournament, but the tournament was ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2024 tournament will be the first held in Ontario since Windsor hosted the event in 2017. The Regina Pats hosted the 2018 tournament after a national bid process for the tournament’s 100th anniversary before the Halifax Mooseheads hosted the 2019 event.
COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the 2020 tournament in Kelowna, B.C.
After the 2021 tournament was cancelled, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Saint John Sea Dogs hosted the 2022 tournament with the 2023 event slated for Kamloops, B.C. in late May, 2023.
Further details and reaction will be added to this story.