The Canadian Hockey League announced Monday that the Rimouski Oceanic have been awarded the hosting rights to the 2025 tournament. The city previously hosted in 2009.
“We are very excited to be coming back to Québec, in the city of Rimouski for the 105th edition of the Memorial Cup,” said Dan MacKenzie, president of the CHL, in a news release. “I want to express my gratitude for the work and time dedicated by our selection committee, who were presented with two very strong bids. I’d like to thank the Shawinigan Cataractes for putting forward an outstanding bid and making the decision by the committee extremely difficult. On behalf of the Canadian Hockey League, we are looking forward to working with the Océanic organization and the city of Rimouski to put together what will be a memorable event in 2025.”
It's the first time the Memorial Cup will be hosted in Quebec since 2015 in Quebec City. Halifax hosted in 2019 and Saint John in 2022.
The only other team to bid on the 2025 event was the Shawinigan Cataractes, who previously hosted in 2012. The Moncton Wildcats opted not to bid after seemingly being told it would go to a Quebec city.
The event is still a ways in the future, but this decision could have a big impact on the upcoming QMJHL trade period. With Rimouski locked in as host and Shawinigan no longer in the running, both team's now know their priorities heading into the trade window.
The 2024 Memorial Cup will be hosted by the OHL's Saginaw Spirit. The WHL's Kamloops Blazers hosted the 2023 event.
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