The field bidding for the 2006 World Junior Championships was reduced to five today. Ottawa, Vancouver, Saskatoon, Quebec City, and Kitchener/London remain in the field. It appears that Hockey Canada eliminated the markets without a CHL team along with the previous winner, Halifax.

From my obviously biased point of view, Ottawa should be the winning bidder. Ottawa has the best main venue in the Corel Centre (it's slightly bigger then GM Place). Ottawa has the best supported CHL team in the Ottawa 67's (while across the river in Gatineau the Olympiques are a viable CHL franchise as well). Ottawa has also put on a successful Memorial Cup tournament.

But who knows who these things get decided? Hockey Canada might prefer to choose a market that doesn't have an NHL franchise. One of the markets might offer up a huge cash guarantee that's subsidized by the bidder.

I've got my deposit down for tickets to the World Juniors in Ottawa. I just hope it doesn't get returned.