An annual student-athlete hockey tournament that brought close to 100 teams to Penticton earlier this year was reportedly a success both on the ice and for the local economy.

The 2024 Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) says its Western Championships from March 4 to 17, had an economic impact of $5.231 million. That's close to $2 million more than what the event brought to the city in 2023.

鈥淥ur partnership with the Canadian Sport School Hockey League is a win-win-win for everyone involved, and the chance to showcase our city has been incredibly beneficial to everyone,鈥� said Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield.

The tournament featured 96 student-athlete teams from across Western Canada and the states of Washington and Idaho, with around 3,800 spectators joining the 2,100 players to hit the ice in Penticton.

About 86 per cent of the spectators, tournament organizers added, travelled more than 320 kilometres to attend the event and stayed in Penticton for an average of five nights.

鈥淭he support for our business community that the CSSHL event brings in the shoulder season is incredible and it鈥檚 great to see our accommodations full, restaurants busy, and community on show for this event," said Anthony Haddad, Penticton's city manager.

Tournament games were played at Memorial Arena, Okanagan Hockey Training Centre and South Okanagan Events Centre.

Last spring's event marked the first since the CSSHL and City of Penticton inked a deal to keep the tournament local until at least 2028.

The 10-year agreement, worth a total of $500,000, includes a five-year renewal extension clause after the 2028 edition of the event.

A total of 105 teams are expected to attend the tournament in 2025, a 19-team increase from what the event brought to Penticton just two years ago.

"The CSSHL event happens in a normally quiet time of the tourism year," said Thom Tischik, executive director of Travel Penticton. "This initiative helps to fill accommodations, generate business to restaurants, craft breweries, wineries, retailers and other non-hospitality venues."

Eight different divisions at the U15, U17, U18 Male and U18 Female levels are included in the CSSHL. The student-athlete organization was established in 2009.

Its next Western Championships will run in Penticton in the spring of 2025 and is expected to feature close to 200 games in total.