Chilliwack will host the Bauer BCHL Showcase for the next three seasons.
The league’s board of governors voted last week to keep the annual event in the only home it has ever known.
Prospera Centre has been the venue since the BCHL Showcase was born in 2012.
The arena, with two ice sheets and several dressing rooms, is well suited for an event that sees the league’s 17 teams gather for one weekend.
Chilliwack’s central location makes travel easier for the teams and the legion of college and pro scouts who come to watch them play.
“Knowing we’ll be in Chilliwack and Prospera Centre for at least the next three seasons gives us a great deal of confidence the Showcase will continue to thrive,” said BCHL commissioner John Grisdale. “The event has gotten smoother each year and we expect that will continue and our players will receive maximum exposure.”
Last season, the BCHL established new marks with three players selected in the first round of the NHL Draft, including Chilliwack Chiefs defenceman Dennis Cholowski. The league had 148 college commitments, more than 120 of those to NCAA Div. I programs.
This season also saw the first former Showcase participants make their National Hockey League debuts as Danton Heinen suited up for the Boston Bruins and Troy Stecher laced up his skates with the Vancouver Canucks.
“We’re thrilled to have the support of the BCHL and all the other teams in coming back to Prospera Centre for three more years,” said Chilliwack Chiefs president Glen Ringdal. “Over the past five years, we’ve shown we can run this event successfully for the players, coaches and most importantly for the college and pro scouts. We look forward to welcoming everyone again this coming season and into the future.”
Dates for the 2017 Bauer BCHL Showcase will be announced after the league’s annual general meeting in June.