Chicago Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz has submitted a bid to bring the 2018 World Junior Championships to Chicago, reports Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune.

Kuc also reports Wirtz wants the future World Cup of Hockey in Chicago, and a practice facility near the United Center.

The World Junior Championships is a prestigious and popular tournament featuring the top junior players in the world, many of whom make the National Hockey League. About 350,000 attended this year's tournament in Montreal and Toronto.

Chicago, which will host the NCAA Championships Frozen Four in 2017 at the United Center, already has strong competition. Tampa Bay has already put in their bid while Detroit, Buffalo and Pittsburgh have also shown interest.

The host city will be decided by the end of the year. The recent success of winning three Stanley Cups since 2010 and a ever growing market for hockey in the Chicagoland area should favor Wirtz's bid.

Combo #Blackhawks-#Bulls tip: Goodbye Circus Trips? Rocky Wirtz said he will likely let circus and ice show contracts run out in two years. — Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) July 23, 2015

Allstate Arena (16,692 capacity) in Rosemont, home of the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves, the Edge Ice Arena (3,00 capacity), home of the United States Hockey League's Chicago Steel, in Bensenville will be considered options for a secondary arena for the tournament.

The Sears Centre (8,362 capacity), home of the Major Arena Soccer League's Chicago Mustangs, in Hoffman Estates also could be used. It formally served as the home of East Coast Hockey League's Chicago Express from 2011-12.

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