Saskatoon and Regina prepare joint bid to host 2025 World Juniors

Despite the Blades and the Pats battling it out on the ice, Saskatoon and Regina have come together to prepare a joint bid to host the 2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Saskatchewan's two largest cities co-hosted the international hockey tournament in 2010.

"I'm happy to report that after 15 years we're ready to do it again," John Howden, SaskTel Centre, CEO told members of Saskatoon's Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services last Wednesday. 

"In order to be prepared for event opportunities like the World Junior Hockey Championships, we continually invest in our facility to ensure we are ready for the big, big shows."

Howden says Saskatoon would host 21 games including all Team Canada games and the playoff rounds. 

Regina would host all Pool B games and Team Canada's pre-tournament games. Other cities and communities in Saskatchewan could have the opportunity to host pre-tournament games as well. 

Howden, along with representatives from Discover Saskatoon and Saskatoon's Chamber of Commerce, requested that the City of Saskatoon provide $500,000 in funding to help with the tournament's costs.

The committee voted unanimously to approve the funding and it will come from the city's reserve for major special events, if the bid is approved by Hockey Canada.

On Wednesday, city staff in Regina will ask for $400,000 in funding from the city for the tournament. 

The 2025 tournament is already set to take place in Canada. A business plan needs to be submitted to Hockey Canada by April 24 to be considered as a potential host.

Howden says Hockey Canada approached Saskatoon to consider hosting the tournament about a month ago.

"We are very confident that this event will be a success just like