Former Liberal MLA Steve Thomson and Âé¶čAV lawyer David Rush have been tapped to lead the cityâs 2026 Memorial Cup bid.
âBoth men bring years of experience and dedicated service to Âé¶čAV making them ideal candidates to spearhead this important initiative,â a city media release reads.
Thomson and Rush will co-chair the bid, building on work done by the 2020 bid committee. The tournament bid, which Âé¶čAV won, was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Thomson served three terms as the Âé¶čAV-Mission MLA held three cabinet posts, and was past president of the Rotary Club of Âé¶čAV and the Âé¶čAV Chamber of Commerce.
Rush is the co-founder of Rush Ihas Hardwick LLP. He has been involved in various boards and advisory committees, including the City of Âé¶čAV Advisory Planning Commission, and president of the Âé¶čAV Chamber of Commerce among many others.
If the 2026 committee is successful, it would be the second time the Âé¶čAV Rockets would host the ten-day tournament. The Rockets won the 2004 bid and the championship.
The 2026 Memorial Cup will be the 106th edition of the tournament, which features the playoff champions from the Western, Ontario, and Quebec Major Junior hockey leagues.