Shannon Coulter
It’s been a long time coming, but the moment has finally arrived for the Prince Albert Bears. After almost five years of anticipation, the team is finally hosting the Esso Cup on home ice.
The Bears were initially named as hosts for the 2020 Esso Cup in September 2018, but just over a month out from the event, all Hockey Canada activities were cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prince Albert was then awarded the 2021 edition of the championship, but that was also cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic.
For the 2022 Esso Cup, the Bears finally had the opportunity to serve as hosts—only they did it 765 kilometres away from home. The Women’s U18 National Club Championship was moved to the centralized site of Okotoks, Alta., to ensure the safety of all participants. But in 2023—finally—all six teams will compete for the Esso Cup at Art Hauser Arena.
“It was kind of funny because I think earlier in the year, there was still hesitation. Is it really going to happen?” says Prince Albert Bears head coach Steve Young. “But I have noticed since the New Year, the community and the people and the teams in the league are getting more and more excited that it’s being hosted in Prince Albert finally.”
“Hockey Canada coming out right off the bat and saying, ‘You are going to host it this year’ and ‘This is your event’ was a good feeling and a good thing to hear,” says Robin Wildey, host committee co-chair. “Now, we can focus on making sure that this event in P.A. is a good experience for everyone involved: players, officials, volunteers, fans. Everybody will have a good time in P.A. and focus on the product on the ice.”
Wildey is one of the original board members of the host committee that formed just after the bidding process concluded. Although it has turned into a five-year journey, Wildey says almost all the original board members have stayed the course.
“For our local committee, we’ve stuck close,” Wildey says. “As much as our volunteers and our board members have stuck by all these years, we have a huge support of sponsors in P.A. that stuck right by us [since] Day 1 and they have not wavered in their commitment to us, which is something that we are really grateful for.
The Esso Cup National Championship is only 21 days away, get your tickets now and support female hockey!! pic.twitter.com/640biBAYSK
— PA Northern Bears Female AAA (@PABears) April 2, 2023
This is the third time the Esso Cup will be hosted in Saskatchewan, with the 2010 tournament held in Regina and the 2016 edition hosted in Weyburn. For those making the trip to the Prairies, Wildey says to expect ”a welcoming force” and lots of things planned at the rink to enjoy.
“Yes, you’re here to cheer on your family, your daughters, but it’s also a chance for you to meet other people from other sides of the country and connect over the game of hockey,” Wildey says.
With the excitement bubbling in the city, Young is looking forward to a lot of hometown support cheering for the Bears from April 23-29. Prince Albert finished in fifth place last year with a 2-3 record in Okotoks and the team is taking that experience into this year’s tournament. Eleven players are back from 2022, with a week of national competition under their belts.
“With hosting the [Esso Cup], the excitement will always be there, which will raise our level of play,” Young says. “As everybody knows from last year’s experience, once [all the teams] get playing, anything can happen.”
Once the puck is dropped in Prince Albert, Wildey says it will be a bittersweet moment because that moment has been a long time coming. However, he’s looking forward to seeing the Esso Cup raised by whoever wins.
“Seeing the pride on their face winning it, I think I’ll have the exact same pride on our face with myself and our board, knowing that what we started back in 2018 finally completed in 2023 and hosting a really great event was a good experience,” Wildey says. “When their championship is done, our championship is done, and we hope that we can make everybody proud.”