The risks and rewards of hosting the world junior tournament amid Hockey Canada scandal
CBC
Despite numerous sponsors pulling out, community leaders in Halifax and Moncton, N.B., expect to generate economic benefit from the world junior men's hockey championship next month — and maybe help Hockey Canada turn the page on a scandal that has left December's event under a dark cloud.
"I think that there's an opportunity to look at hockey in a new way and I think there's no better place than here in Maritime Canada," said Halifax Mayor Mike Savage.
"We have strong hockey traditions, but also really strong activities by the hockey associations to promote diversity and to make sure that people realize hockey belongs to all of us, not just to a few."
Hockey Canada invited Halifax to bid after the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) pulled the tournament from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. In May, Halifax, in a joint bid with Moncton, won the rights to host the event.
At that time, intense pressure began to mount against Hockey Canada following revelations it had quietly settled a lawsuit after a woman claimed she was sexually assaulted by eight players, including members of the world junior team, following a 2018 gala in London, Ont.
After a summer filled with disastrous news for the scandal-plagued national sport organization, Hockey Canada announced last month its CEO and board of directors would step aside.
A recently de-classified report to Halifax city council shows a $1 million investment as part of the city's bid for the world juniors, while the province of Nova Scotia has committed $2 million.
New Brunswick and Moncton haven't shared their individual commitments, but their total comes to $2 million.
Halifax Coun. Tony Mancini has said the tournament will bring a $50 million economic boost to the two cities, with $35 million of it being in Nova Scotia.
Savage doesn't think there's a financial risk, even with major sponsors Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons, Telus, Sobey's and Esso pulling out in the wake of the Hockey Canada scandal, and the cost of everything going up.
"We're told that the risk for us is pretty low," he said.
The head of Moncton's Chamber of Commerce is a little more cautious because of the "uncertainty" over sponsorship dollars.
John Wishart says the city will use money from a local tourism hotel levy to organize fan events.
"I think from the local perspective, we need to do the best we can to separate what's happening with Hockey Canada from the product that's going to be on the ice and the experience when people are here," he said.
This First Person column is the experience of Shannon Flaman, who lives in Red Deer, Alta. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
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