Swift Current has entered a partnership bid with Medicine Hat to co-host the 2019 World U17 Hockey Challenge.

A decision is expected early in the new year - potentially January.

Representatives from Medicine Hat approached Swift Current recently about a partnership to host the tournament - which, in the past, has included three Canadian teams (Red, White, and Black), the USA, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. It's an eight-team tournament, so not all those will be there. The tourney would run October 30 to November 9.

Involved are the City of Swift Current, Swift Current Broncos, Swift Current Minor Hockey Association, Saskatchewan Hockey Association, the City of Medicine Hat, Medicine Hat Minor Hockey, Medicine Hat Tigers, and Hockey Alberta.

Broncos forward Logan Barlage played in the U17s this past fall in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek.

At Monday night's City council, the City of Swift Current agreed to contribute a $75,000 grant (that would be from the 2019 budget) if they're successful, and agreed to split the bill with Medicine Hat if there's a deficit, though numbers presented at council show an average of $4-6 million economic impact in recent tournaments.

Here's Swift Current's general manager of community services, Dean Robson: