Road to the 2023 Esso Cup: Fraser Valley Rush
Almost 5 years after they had been first introduced as hosts, the Prince Albert Bears are excited and desirous to welcome Canada’s finest ladies’s U18 membership groups to Saskatchewan
It’s been a very long time coming, however the second has lastly arrived for the
Prince Albert Bears. After nearly 5 years of anticipation, the staff is
lastly internet hosting the Esso Cup on house ice.
The Bears had been initially named as hosts for the 2020 Esso Cup in September
2018, however simply over a month out from the occasion, all Hockey Canada
actions had been cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prince
Albert was then awarded the 2021 version of the championship, however that was
additionally cancelled as a result of ongoing pandemic.
For the 2022 Esso Cup, the Bears lastly had the chance to function
hosts—solely they did it 765 kilometres away from house. The Women’s U18
National Club Championship was moved to the centralized web site of Okotoks,
Alta., to make sure the protection of all individuals. But in 2023—lastly—all
six groups will compete for the Esso Cup at Art Hauser Arena.
“It was sort of humorous as a result of I believe earlier within the yr, there was nonetheless
hesitation. Is it actually going to occur?” says Prince Albert Bears head
coach Steve Young. “But I’ve seen because the New Year, the neighborhood
and the individuals and the groups within the league are getting increasingly more
excited that it’s being hosted in Prince Albert lastly.”
“Hockey Canada popping out proper off the bat and saying, ‘You are going to
host it this yr’ and ‘This is your event’ was an excellent feeling and an excellent
factor to listen to,” says Robin Wildey, host committee co-chair. “Now, we are able to
give attention to ensuring that this occasion in P.A. is an effective expertise for
everybody concerned: gamers, officers, volunteers, followers. Everybody will
have an excellent time in P.A. and give attention to the product on the ice.”
Wildey is among the authentic board members of the host committee that
shaped simply after the bidding course of concluded. Although it has turned
right into a five-year journey, Wildey says nearly all the unique board members
have stayed the course.
“For our local committee, we’ve stuck close,” Wildey says. “As a lot as our
volunteers and our board members have caught by all these years, we have now a
enormous assist of sponsors in P.A. that caught proper by us [since] Day 1 and
they haven’t wavered of their dedication to us, which is one thing that we
are actually grateful for.
The Esso Cup National Championship is just 21 days away, get your tickets now and assist feminine hockey!! pic.twitter.com/640biBAYSK
— PA Northern Bears Female AAA (@PABears) April 2, 2023
This is the third time the Esso Cup will likely be hosted in Saskatchewan, with
the 2010 match held in Regina and the 2016 version hosted in Weyburn.
For these making the journey to the Prairies, Wildey says to anticipate ”a
welcoming power” and many issues deliberate on the rink to get pleasure from.
“Yes, you’re right here to cheer on your loved ones, your daughters, however it’s additionally a
probability so that you can meet different individuals from different sides of the nation and
join over the sport of hockey,” Wildey says.
With the joy effervescent within the metropolis, Young is trying ahead to so much
of hometown assist cheering for the Bears from April 23-29. Prince Albert
completed in fifth place final yr with a 2-3 report in Okotoks and the staff
is taking that have into this yr’s match. Eleven gamers are
again from 2022, with per week of nationwide competitors beneath their belts.
“With internet hosting the [Esso Cup], the joy will all the time be there, which
will increase our stage of play,” Young says. “As all people is aware of from final
yr’s expertise, as soon as [all the teams] get enjoying, something can occur.”
Once the puck is dropped in Prince Albert, Wildey says it will likely be a
bittersweet second as a result of that second has been a very long time coming.
However, he’s trying ahead to seeing the Esso Cup raised by whoever
wins.
“Seeing the pleasure on their face successful it, I believe I’ll have the precise
identical pleasure on our face with myself and our board, realizing that what we
began again in 2018 lastly accomplished in 2023 and internet hosting a extremely nice
occasion was an excellent expertise,” Wildey says. “When their championship is
carried out, our championship is finished, and we hope that we are able to make all people
proud.”
