North Bay still in running to host World Junior Camp

Hockey Canada has advised the city of North Bay that its still in the running to host a World Junior Hockey camp in December of 2008.

Hockey Canada and the IIHF were taking submissions from Ontario and Quebec communities that were interested in hosting a week-long camp for one of the nine World Junior teams that will be taking part in the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championships that will take place in Ottawa starting December 26th, 2008.

The city put together the submission shortly after the Hockeyville game on September 17th.

Originally North Bay was expected to find out if it made cut by late January but that decision will now be made on February 29th, 2008.

City Councillor Mike Anthony, who chairs the Community Services committee is confident that North Bay will get the good news in late February.

“It's great we still are one of the locations that has a chance to have the great event," Anthony told BayToday.ca this afternoon.

"I’m still optimistic and looking forward to the news on February 29th."

The chosen communities will host a week-long training camp that would likely include at least one exhibition game.

Anthony says the local steering committee including himself, arena staff and local Hockeyville committee members Heath and Debbie Marson, ideally would like Team USA to have their camp in North Bay.

They believe the Americans would already have a unique USA connection since the NORAD complex at CFB North Bay employs at least 50 USAF personnel.