By Adam Donnelly

World Junior Showcase showing Kamloops off on a national stage

Jul 31, 2018 | 5:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — Despite the summery weather we’ve been experiencing in Kamloops, there’s elite level hockey event taking place at the Sandman Centre this week.

The World Junior Showcase is an opportunity for some of the top 18- and 19-year old hockey players in the world to begin making their case to play on their country’s national team in the 2019 World Junior Hockey Championships which will take place in Vancouver and Victoria beginning Boxing Day. Event Co-Chair Norm Daley says While the crowds for the games up to this point haven’t been record-setting, more fans should pack into the Sandman Centre for the games featuring Team Canada.

“It’s going well. We have about 100 volunteers, which is a little less than other events, but we just want to make sure the athletes have a good experience,” Showcase Co-chair Norm Daley explained. “Our ticket numbers are about what we expected… I’m looking forward to seeing what Team Canada playing tonight brings to the table. I think there’ll be quite a few more fans in the stands, later on.”

While the event isn’t nearly the same size as the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championships, it’s still taken a significant contribution from the Kamloops community to make sure it’s a success. Daley says the city should see a positive bump in the local economy thanks to the additional people in the town for the showcase.

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“Obviously it’s bringing more money to the community this time of year, probably $500,000 to $750,000 with all the people who are going to be here, the scouts travelling in. Things like that.”

With temperatures remaining warm throughout the rest of the week and into the weekend, sitting in a nice cool Sandman Centre seat is a sure way to beat the heat.

According to Daley: “There are still tickets available. Come out and enjoy the games.”