Eoin Colquhoun, Pronghorn Athletics
LETHBRIDGE – U SPORTS announced on Thursday that the University of Lethbridge has been awarded the right to host the 2018-19 U SPORTS Men’s Hockey Championships, University Cup.
The University of Lethbridge, City of Lethbridge and the Enmax Centre partnered to bid on both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 championship. Acadia University was awarded the 2019-20 event.
Both the University and the City are excited and honoured to be selected to host the U SPORTS Men's Hockey National Championship.
"Hosting the U SPORTS Men's Hockey Championships reflects the hard work in rebuilding our hockey program especially by our Coach Spiros Anastas," said Ken McInnes, Executive Director or Sport and Recreation Services. "It also highlights the community support we enjoy as evidenced by the leadership our City Council demonstrated in supporting the Bid with a Major Sporting Events grant."
The event will mark the fourth time that Lethbridge has hosted a university national championship. Lethbridge hosted the women’s rugby national championship this past fall and in 2008. Lethbridge also hosted the 1987-88 women’s basketball championship, when the governing body was known as CIAU.
In the program’s only trip to the University Cup, the Pronghorn men’s hockey team claimed their only national championship at storied Maple Leaf Gardens in 1994 beating the Guelph Griffins 5-2 in the final.
The 2019 U SPORTS Men’s Hockey Championships will bring the top eight teams in the country to Lethbridge March 14th to 17th, 2019. All games during the will be played at the Enmax Centre.