Hockey Canada announced Tuesday that Portage la Prairie, Man., will host the 2015 Royal Bank Cup, Canada’s national junior A championship.
The Portage Terriers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League will serve as the host team.
The 2015 RBC Cup will be held in May at the PCU Centre, with the Terriers joined by four regional representatives.
It will be the 45th year for the tournament.
“There are few tournaments in Canada with the history and prestige of the RBC Cup, and we could not be more excited to be going to Portage la Prairie for the 2015 event,” said Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. “The Terriers have a proud junior A tradition, and we know the organization and the city will do a first-class job hosting the nation’s top teams.”
The Terriers have made four previous appearances at the national championship, including three in the last nine years – in 2005, 2011 and 2012. Portage won the Centennial Cup as national junior A champions in 1973, beating the Pembroke Lumber Kings in a best-of-seven series.
This will be the fifth time the tournament is held in Manitoba, and the first since Dauphin played host in 2010. Winnipeg (1992) and Flin Flon (2001) have also hosted. Winnipeg and Brandon shared the duties in 1973 when Portage won its national title.
The 2014 RBC Cup will be held in Vernon May 10-18.