| New division lineups create competitive changes in Central League. Teams welcome the new Prince Rupert Rampage | |
With the addition of the Prince Rupert Rampage to the West Division of the Central Interior Senior Men's AA Hockey League, there will be some new and interesting rivalries created. In the West Division, the new Rampage team will start its season on the road against perennial CIHL champions, the Kitimat Ice Demons. Their division also includes the Terrace River Kings and the third year Hazelton Wolverines. Meanwhile, much of the Bulkley Valley rivalry between the Smithers Steelheads and the Houston Luckies, will switch divisions to the East Division, where the Omenica Ice and the Williams Lake will provide the remainder of the opposition. The 100 Mile House Bears have withdrawn from competition, to be replaced by Prince Rupert - but the change resulted in a second realignment in the divisions in two years. West Division Hazelton Wolverines, Kitimat Ice Demons, Terrace River Kings, Prince Rupert Rampage. East Division Houston Luckies, Omineca Ice (Vanderhoof), Smithers Steelheads, Williams Lake Stampeders. Each team will see two teams from the other division during the season, but not necessarily home and home, as the league had scheduled an 18 game season. Referees are expected to be in short supply and each team has agreed to ensure officials are available for all home games. All teams will make the playoffs, eliminating the bye for the league division winners, which created a lengthy hole in the schedule. League has a new sponsor - Rio Tinto Alcan The Central Interior Hockey League has a new sponsor, Rio Tinto Alcan. The multi-national metals firm has agreed to a new three-year sponsorship. A new contract is scheduled to be signed in the next week or two. It's wait and see for the Coy Cup in Terrace Although the Coy Cup Provincial Men's AA championship was scheduled to be held in Terrace at the end of last season, the late withdrawal of the defending champions, the Rossland Warriors, resulted in the tournament being cancelled at the last minute, when a fourth team could not be found to complete the four team schedule. The Cup was awarded to the winner of the CIHL playoffs, the Kitimat Ice Demons. However, according to Ray Hallock, general manager of the Terrace River Kings, the community of Terrace is still anxious to host a provincial championship in its new and improved two-ice sheet facility. "We entered into correspondence with Bob James, BCAHA's director of senior hockey. He felt that of there were no new teams elsewhere in the province seeking to compete for the Coy Cup, it would likely again be awarded to the CIHL champion. However, he said, if the CIHL felt that a new playoff for the provincial championship was called for, and an acceptable format presented, the BCAHA would be amenable to the competition being held in Terrace, subject to no alternate applications being received to host the Coy Cup. "Indications are that there will be no new AA senior teams outside the CIHL, so it will be a matter for further discussion as the season progresses," said Hallock. | |