Okotoks hoping to host Minto Cup
Okotoks could soon be host to one of the oldest championships in Canadian sports.
By this fall, the Canadian Lacrosse Association will decide the 2011 host of the Minto Cup, Canada’s national Junior A lacrosse championship, and Okotoks could be the site. Donated in 1901 by Lord Minto, then Governor General, the cup is annually awarded to the best Junior A lacrosse team from British Columbia, Ontario or Alberta.
“This is a great opportunity to bring one of the premiere events in Canada and one of the oldest events in Canada to the town of Okotoks, which is a thriving lacrosse community and a thriving business community,” said Brad Banister, owner, general manager and governor of the National Lacrosse League Calgary Roughnecks.
Banister is involved with the bid to host the Minto Cup, which must be approved by Alberta Lacrosse before being made official. Banister appeared before Okotoks Town Council looking for support in the form a letter.
“It’s a great opportunity that may not come around that often, that we can get behind and put on a great show,” said Banister.
Banister said a possibility of holding the National Lacrosse League’s annual draft in conjunction with Minto Cup also exists, something he will bring up at the league’s next board of governors meeting.
“As of this time we haven’t hosted the draft in Calgary at all, so we’d like to tie it in with the Minto Cup,” said Banister.
Calgary hosted the Minto Cup in 2008, which the Orangeville Northmen won by defeating the Victoria Shamrocks, 9-4, at Max Bell Arena. The Orangemen were declared champions again last year, this time in Ontario.
On Sept. 1, 2009, the Canadian Lacrosse Committee announced the Coquitlam Adanacs will host the 2010 Minto Cup.
If Okotoks’ bid is successful the event would run Aug. 20 to 28, 2011 at the Centennial Arena. The draft would likely be held next door at the Foothills Centennial Centre.
Host teams get a bye into the tournament and the top teams from Alberta, B.C., and Ontario would travel to Okotoks to compete.
“I know for a fact the lacrosse community will get behind this and I’m positive the town of Okotoks and the people of Okotoks will be behind this as well because it is one of those once in a lifetime opportunities to host an event like this in Okotoks,” said Banister.
As a community, Okotoks would likely see economic spin-offs from hosting an event such as the Minto Cup. Scouts, coaches and players would travel from all over Canada and the United States to play and watch according to Banister.
“The hotels will be busy, the restaurants will be busy, the entire community will get a lift from having this event in this town,” said Banister.
Early in the cup’s history, it was awarded to the Canadian senior men’s lacrosse champion. Starting in 1910, the Minto Cup became a professional championship of Canada before being given to the national Junior A lacrosse champion starting in 1960.
“It’s one of the oldest trophies and one of the hardest championships to win,” said Banister.
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