The Vancouver Hockey scene is going to have a big 2019. Gary Bettman announced on Wednesday that Vancouver will be hosting the 2019 Entry Draft on June 22nd-23rd. Not only will all the young stars be all converging on the city in June, many of the young stars will have already been there in December and January. The stars of tomorrow will be in Vancouver when they play in the World Juniors. The WJC will be split between Vancouver and Victoria from December 26th 2018 to January 5th 2019. This big year for Vancouver falls on The Canucks’ 50th anniversary of the franchise.

Vancouver has hosted the Draft 2 other times in the past. In 1990 the draft was held in BC Place, right next door to Rogers arena. In 2006 Vancouver hosted in what was then called GM Place. In 2019 it will once again take place in the home of The Canucks, Rogers Arena. Montreal was the last Canadian city to host the Draft and it will mark a 10 year gap since it has been up north.

Bettman went on to say that hosting the draft could bring an economic surge to Vancouver of up to $8-$10 Million.

The last league event the city has hosted was The Heritage Classic in 2014 when The Canucks played the Ottawa Senators in a loss riddled with goalie controversy. The last time Vancouver was on the world stage for hockey was the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

All sights will be on Vancouver in 2019 while they hope to try and shake the stigma of the 2011 riots after losing the Stanley Cup to The Boston Bruins.