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CSSHL renews deal to keep championship in Okanagan

The week-long CSSHL Championship event generates $1.76 million for Penticton
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OHA forward Tyler Popowich faces off with Delta’s Bradley Ong in the Midget Prep round robin at the 2016 CSSHL Championships. The CSSHL announced the championships will remain in Penticton for the next three years. Western News file photo

The Canadian Sport School Hockey League announced today that the CSSHL Championships will remain in Penticton for the next three years.

The CSSHL Championships is a week-long event that has been hosted annually in Penticton since 2015. The event has grown from 33 teams and 609 student athletes in 2015, to 49 teams and over 900 student athletes in 2017, with those numbers expected to increase yearly.

“The CSSHL is very pleased to be hosting its championship weekend in Penticton for the next three years,” said Andy Oakes, chairman of the CSSHL. “It is a great opportunity for the league to be in one place for a week-long period and celebrate the student athletes that play within the CSSHL. Hosting it in Penticton allows the league to partner with Spectra to host a world class event here in Penticton. This will hopefully become an event that the community of Penticton can be proud to host.”

Related: OHA Red looks for consistency in CSSHL playoffs

The 2016 CSSHL Championships generated a $1.726-million economic impact directly to the City of Penticton, while the 2017 event, which began Monday and runs through to Sunday afternoon, is expected to generate a local economic impact over $2-million.

“This event is the sum of the parts of the complex working efficiently. Together, OHG, the CSSHL, City of Penticton, Travel Penticton and Spectra have worked together to create an annual home for this tournament,” said Dean Clarke, general manager of the South Okanagan Events Centre Complex and regional vice-president for Spectra Venue Management, “Spectra is committed to bringing world-class events, like the CSSHL Championships to the region. We’re excited to see this event continue to grow over the next three years, it’s great for Penticton.”