Reports surfaced this week - via le Journal de Quebec - that the Quebec Remparts are considering a bid to host the 2022 tournament. Quebec was awarded the fifth overall pick in June's QMJHL Entry Draft this week, a pick that could prove crucial in their efforts to build a strong team for the 2021-22 campaign.
The Saint John Sea Dogs have expressed interest in hosting the tournament for a number of years now. Despite the team's rebuild still having quite a few question marks and the troubling financial conditions surrounding basically the entire planet right now, Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie made note in a video shared before the league's Draft Lottery on Wednesday that 2022 remains the target.
No other teams have publicly brought up a potential 2022 bid of late.
The Cape Breton Eagles came out last year saying they had interest in a 2022 bid, but they seemed to have stepped back from that talk.
The Gatineau Olympiques have also been brought up as a potential host. 2022 may be just a bit early for their rebuild (although they could very well be strong contenders by then) and there is now some uncertainty about when their new arena will be completed due to pandemic related financial challenges mid-construction.
If Quebec does host in 2022, it would be the third time they've held the tournament since 2003. Saint John has never hosted before, previously bidding in 2012 when they lost to Shawinigan.
The host of next year's Memorial Cup in Ontario has not been announced yet. Oshawa and Sault Ste. Marie have put bids forward. The expectation is that the tournament will be pushed into June to allow for more scheduling wiggle room should next season not start on time due to the pandemic.
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