Sudbury lands 2018 bid for Telus Cup, national midget hockey championship

The only championship for men's minor hockey in Canada is coming to Sudbury.

The Nickel City will host the 2018 Telus Cup championships, a Hockey Canada tournament that brings together the best midget hockey players from across the country.

The Hockey Canada tournament is for players 17 years old and younger.

The host team, the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves, who won the 2008 TELUS Cup, will get a spot in the event.

The Wolves will join five regional winners (Pacific, West, Central, Quebec, and Atlantic) to compete for a national title.

"There's no shortage of opportunities for these kids," said Albert Corradini, the Wolves' general manager and the person behind the bid.

Sudbury unsuccessful at winning past bids

Corradini told CBC News that, along with getting exposure for the city's hockey community, the event is also a chance for Sudbury to put itself on the map as a sports tourism destination.

"I think it sets the bar and really puts in place the framework for whether or not you can as a community create, bid for, and host other events," Corradini said.

Sudbury hasn't always been seen as a sports tourism destination, Corradini said, despite community support.

"This is one of the things that's comes up over and over again. We haven't been successful for whatever reason in winning a lot of bids," Corradini said.

"I don't know if that's the arena situation in the city, which is an ongoing debate and has been forever. But for whatever reason, I don't think we've been as successful at hosting events."

The Telus Cup has come to northern Ontario five times since it began in 1979. 

The last time Sudbury hosted the cup was about 20 years ago.