Windsor, London make world juniors short list

Windsor and London have made the shortlist for hosting the 2019 IIHFWorld Junior Hockey Championship.

The two cities are bidding for the event jointly, with London in line to host the final. The tournament is held annually during the Christmas and New Years holiday season.

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"At the end of the day, we are junior hockey communities," Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkenstold CBC News. "There's no better place to hold a junior hockey tournament than communities that are passionate about junior hockey to begin with."

Dilkenssaid he's not sure how many other cities remain in the running but he said he believes there is a bid from Edmonton as well as a joint bid fromVancouver and Victoria.

"We don't actually know our competition, but it'sOK," he said.We're two strong hockey communities in both Windsor and London and we have a good bid and presentation to make on our behalf."

The joint bid includes $600,000 in approved spending from the City of London and $400,000 approved by the City of Windsor. That money will only be spent if hockey tournament comes to the southwest.

Canada has hosted the world juniors 11 times. The 2016-17 tournament will be hosted by Toronto and Montreal.

Dilkens will be part of a group travelling to Calgary later in October to make a formal presentation to Hockey Canada.A final decision on where the tournament will be held is expected in December.