UNB Bidding for Soccer Nats

Canadian Interuniversity Sport announced Tuesday the reception of bid proposals from 18 universities to host 22 national championships over the next five years.

The University of New Brunswick, which will host the men's hockey nationals in 2011 and 2012, is one of four schools to bid for the 2013 and 2014 men's soccer nationals.

UNB has one turf field, Chapman, and another turf field is planned for land next to the Grant*Harvey Centre, which is scheduled to open in 2011. The University of Alberta, University of Prince Edward Island and Windsor are also vying to host those two years, while Western Ontario and the University of Toronto would both like to host the 2014 tourney.

This latest round of bidding for CIS championships also included men's basketball (2013 and 2014), women's basketball (2011, 2012, 2013), cross country running (2012, 2013), men's hockey (2013, 2014), women's hockey (2013, 2014), women's rugby (2012, 2013), women's soccer (2013, 2014), men's volleyball (2014, 2015), women's volleyball (2014, 2015) and wrestling (2011, 2012, 2013).

The CIS Selection Committee will meet during the week of June 21-25. A final decision on all championships up for bid will be announced in the days following the meeting.

"We want to ensure that student-athletes have unforgettable competitive experiences at CIS championships, CIS CEO Marg McGregor said in a release."We are very pleased with the candidates who have bid to host championships. We are confident they will organize technically sound events, will create a memorable student-athlete experience and will attract spectators and generate excitement."

It looks as though one of CIS' flagship events, the men's basketball Final Eight, will return to the nation's capital in 2013 and 2014 following a two-year stint in Halifax, as Carleton University was the lone bidder for the event.

After the tournament was held in Halifax for 24 straight years from 1984 to 2007, Carleton hosted three very successful editions of the championship at Ottawa's Scotiabank Place from 2008 to 2010.

Women's basketball - in need of a host starting next spring - attracted more suitors with four universities expressing interest to host over the next three years including Alberta (2011 & 2013), Calgary (2011 & 2012), Regina (2012 - would also accept 2013) and Windsor (either of the three years or for a two-year period).

In men's hockey, no fewer than six institutions put their names in to host both the 2013 and 2014 University Cup tournaments including Alberta, Calgary, Dalhousie, Nipissing, Regina and Saskatchewan.

In women's hockey, Toronto was the lone bidder for the 2013 championship. The Varsity Blues hosted the second-ever CIS tourney back in 1999. No bids were received for 2014.

In women's soccer, Toronto was the lone bidder for the 2013 championship, while Laval was the only school vying to host in 2014. Toronto hosted the event for the first time last fall, while Laval held the tournament on one occasion in the past, back in 1997.

In men's volleyball, Brandon (2015), Calgary (2014 & 2015), Saskatchewan (2014 & 2015) and Toronto (2014 or 2015) will compete for the rights to the 2014 and 2015 national championships.

In women's volleyball, Brandon (2015), Regina (2014 - would accept 2015), Toronto (2014 or 2015), Trinity Western (2014 & 2015) and Winnipeg (2014 & 2015) put in bids for the same time period.

Finally, Lakehead and Western Ontario both hope to host the top CIS wrestlers between 2011 and 2013. Lakehead bid for all three years, while Western wants to bid for one year.