AMHERST, N.S. — The oldest franchise in the MHL is getting ready for it’s moment in one of Jr.A hockey’s biggest spotlights.
Yesterday, the town of Amherst, Nova Scotia, home of the Ramblers, were officially named the host team for the 2019 Fred Page Cup.
The event is emblematic of Eastern Canadian Jr.A hockey supremacy and will feature the host Amherst Ramblers along with the playoff champions from Quebec (LHJQ), the Ottawa Valley (CCHL) and a second MHL representative, either the league’s playoff champion or second finalist should the Ramblers earn that distinction.
The MHL last hosted the tournament in 2016, when the Woodstock, New Brunswick earned the honor. This is the first time the event will have been held in Nova Scotia since 2013, when the tournament was hosted by the Bearcats in Truro.
The decision was made to award the 2019 Fred Page Cup to Amherst following presentations made at the MHL Showcase in Summerside, PEI earlier this week.
“The league Executive were impressed with the presentations held during the Showcase,” MHL President Brian Whitehead remarked. “As we’ve come to expect, the teams of the MHL are more than capable of proving their ability to host events of all sizes and profiles. It was our opinion that the Town of Amherst as well as the Ramblers organization will put on a fantastic Fred Page Cup. To witness such an important event in a building steeped in tradition with some of the most passionate fans in our region will be special.”
This will be the first time Amherst has hosted the Fred Page Cup. Previously, the town hosted the Centennial Cup (now RBC Cup) National Jr.A Championship in 1993. More recently, the area played host to the 2016 MHL Entry Draft and Annual General Meetings.
“The Ramblers organization, the Town of Amherst and the Municipality of Cumberland County are thrilled to be hosting the Fred Page Cup for the first time,” Amherst Ramblers President Andrew Reid said. “We know there will be challenges and a lot of hard work ahead, but are at the same time very excited to have this opportunity. We are thankful to the league for having been picked.”
It is the goal of Reid and the Ramblers organization, who are currently celebrating their 50th anniversary, to include the entire region in the tournament festivities.
“(The Ramblers organization) look forward to working in conjunction with the Town of Amherst and the Municipality of the Cumberland County. Our goal is to make this the greatest Fred Page Cup ever. We realize that no one can do it by themselves. Working with experienced event co-ordinators such as (Town Recreation Department Director) Bill Schurman as well as an army of volunteers, we want to do everything to make this tournament a success. We want to raise the bar.”