Prince George, BC- Hot off  winning the BC Division title for Major Midget Hockey,  Council has  approved  giving financial support  to  a bid for the Showcase 2018 event.

The BCMML Showcase is an event where all eleven BCMML teams and a 12th invited American team come together in one community to play regular season games over a three day period. The Showcase provides the opportunity for Junior A and WHL hockey scouts to evaluate all BCMML players in one location.  Approximately 40 scouts attend the Showcase.

Normally, this event is held in the lower mainland.  The dollars requested would be used to cover travel expenses to  Prince George.  The Showcase was held once in Kelowna,  but that’s as far north  as it has come.

The  event  is estimated to generate an economic benefit of about $400 thousand dollars.

Councillor Jillian Merrick said she was “on the fence” about  providing the $50 thousand dollars because  it would drain the Council contingency fund.

Councillor Brian Skakun said he had “no interest in  eliminating our contingency fund” .  He wanted more information on what possible sponsorships or donations may be forth coming  before he could support  spending the money.

BC Major Midget Hockey League rep Sean Orr  says  while the Showcase has a  budget,  the cost of  travel and accommodation  for teams to come to Prince George, exceeded that  budget by  about $50 thousand dollars.

So instead of  dealing with it this evening,  Council  has  decided to  postpone a decision until Administration can bring back some more information on the full budget.  That  information is expected  to be provided   at the next meeting of Council which is set for the 24th.