Major sports event in Penticton a boon for businesses and spectators

PENTICTON – Residents of Penticton, get ready for some great hockey.

The Canadian Sport School Hockey Championships will take place in Penticton this year, from March 12-15 at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Canadian Sport School and Okanagan Hockey president Andy Oakes made the announcement during a media conference held this morning. The four-day hockey event is expected to inject $1.5 million into the Penticton economy with more than 600 student-athletes and 100 staff attending and milling about the city.  As well, it's estimated 1,000 family members and hockey scouts will be part of the influx. Demand for 2,000 hotel rooms is anticipated for the tournament.

Players will include top end prospects, including nine, first round draft picks from the 2014 WHL Bantam draft. The CSSHL has seen several players move on to the ranks of the NHL, such as Ottawa Senators’ Curtis Lazar and Minnesota Wild’s Matt Dumba.

Mayor Andrew Jakubeit described the SOEC venue as an ideal hub for the CSSHL to come to, noting the easy proximity to three ice surfaces, the convention centre, golf course and motels.

Full event passes are $30, with one day passes at $15. Tickets can be obtained at: www.valleyfirsttix.com, in person at the Valley First box office or at the Wine Country Visitor Centre. For a full schedule, go to: csshl.ca.

“It’s a great way to showcase Penticton,” he said, adding the city was proud and excited to be partnered with Global Spectrum, Penticton Tourism and the Penticton Hospitality Association to stage the event.

The CSSHL has 11 sports schools across Alberta, B.C. and Idaho. The majority of players come from Western Canada, but many also come from the rest of Canada, the U.S., Mexico and 16 other countries beyond North America.

in a cooperative effort by the Okanagan Hockey Academy, Global Spectrum, the City of Penticton and the Penticton Hospitality Association.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.