When the Centennial Cup comes to Estevan next May, the hope is it's not only going to be the biggest hockey event in the city's history but one of the biggest events in general. That can only happen, however, if certain provincial restrictions are rescinded.

The planning committee for the event got the news they and so many other people in Saskatchewan were waiting for on that count when the province announced all restrictions on crowds would be lifted as of July 11. That gives them more than ten months to arrange everything before the event begins. 

"The relaxed restrictions and the notion that we might be able to host the Centennial Cup with packed crowds is just delightful," said committee co-chair Greg Hoffort. "We all remember the playoff run a few years ago when the team was playing, the packed houses and it looks like the team is shaping up to be a great team this year in a competitor in the national final."

With public health orders dropping off, the committee can focus on things like ticket sales far earlier than they otherwise would. They can also focus on the season ahead of the Centennial Cup as well, the schedule for which is being drafted by SJHL teams right now. 

"I think things are looking up for sports in general," Hoffort said. "The Centennial Cup planning committee is just getting going, we just had our green light as far as committee meetings from Hockey Canada. The fact that we're now doing this with the optimism that we can sell a great deal of tickets, that we can make ends meet in this tournament and move forward, it helps with that little bit of clarity."

Affinity Place seats up to 2650 for hockey games, and the hope for the committee is to fill it every single night. Before the Centennial Cup, or the season leading up to it for that matter, can begin, there is some more work for the committee to do now that they've gotten that important good news from the provincial government.

"There will be about 17, 18 subcommittees from all kinds of different activities to the cup," Hoffort said. "Some will get going right now, some will be more present during the week of the event itself. Things that are hot topics right now are ticket sales. We're starting to set prices and purchase options."

The Estevan Bruins will host the Centennial Cup, the national championship for Junior A hockey, from May 20-29 next year.