OSHAWA - The Oshawa Generals are hoping the third time is a charm when it comes to bidding to host the Memorial Cup.

For the third time in just over a decade, the Generals have expressed their intention to bid for the tournament, which annually crowns the top team in the Canadian Hockey League.

Having most recently lost out on the 100th anniversary tournament, which went to Regina in 2018, the Generals expressed their intention to bid for the 2021 Memorial Cup by filing contact forms to the Ontario Hockey League office on Monday.

Roger Hunt, vice-president and general manager of the team, cautioned that it's only a starting point and plenty more has to fall into place for the process to continue.

But, he's nevertheless excited to take that first step.

"I think it would be embraced with open arms here to certainly get something as prestigious as this to be here in Oshawa and the Durham Region," he said. "The city and all the parties are working together and if there's an opportunity for us to do it, and certainly if we were ever to be successful, it would be a great opportunity here."

The Generals were thought to be a favourite for the 2008 tournament - with a brand new arena, then known as the General Motors Centre and now known as the Tribute Communities Centre, and a roster that included John Tavares - but the tournament instead went to the Kitchener Rangers.

In 2018, Oshawa lost out in a process that was open to all CHL teams to Regina, a team that arguably had a better combination of history and talent at the time.

The Generals are currently in the midst of a competitive 17-10-0-2 season, but could switch their focus to next season's roster to enhance the bid if it moves forward.

The next important deadline is in February, when bid guidelines are due.