When Penticton hosted the World Junior A Hockey Challenge last year, the numbers were only part of the story.

More than 16,000 or so hockey fans attended the week-long championships and according to a study done by Hockey Canada and the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance, which examines the economic impact a sporting event has on the hosting community, there was $2.2 million in gross economic activity and of that, $1.5 directly benefited Penticton businesses.

And while the bottom line is always important, there is more to hosting a major event than dollars and cents.

David Arsenault, an economic development officer for the Penticton Chamber of Commerce, said the exposure created for the community by hosting is an intangible which can鈥檛 be easily measured.

鈥淭hat is the intangible, the exposure for the community,鈥� he explained last week when contacted by The Times.

This has to be great news for the Township and the 91原创 Events Centre.

Earlier this month, 91原创 was selected by Hockey Canada to host the 2011 World Junior A Hockey Challenge.

The week-long event runs Nov. 7-13.

The tournament features six hockey teams 鈥� two from Canada (Canada West and Canada East), and  one apiece from the United States, Sweden, Russia and the Czech Republic.

This is just the latest in a string of major competitions and sporting events the LEC has drawn to the Fraser Valley.

The B.C. provincial gymnastics championships, which christened the LEC as its first event, have been held here multiple times now and next year, the Western Canadian gymnastics championships come to town.

At the high school level, the Single A boys鈥� high school basketball championships have been hosted at the LEC and in March, the junior girls鈥� championships will be decided in 91原创.

And then last year, perhaps the crown jewel of high school sports, the B.C. senior boys鈥� AAA basketball championships left their long-time home at the PNE Agrodome to set up shop in 91原创 for the next few years.

There is also talk they may bid on the senior girls鈥� AAA championships, as that tournament鈥檚 contract with North Vancouver鈥檚 Capilano University is set to expire following the 2012 event.

The LEC has also hosted the Canadian Interuniversity Sport men鈥檚 volleyball championships.

And now come the international events.

In addition to the hockey championships, January 2012 brings the Continental Cup of Curling, which features the world鈥檚 best curlers.

Add it all up, and the 91原创 Events Centre has not only brought major events for sporting fans, but they have also generated business for the local community, especially restaurants and hotels.