The Williams Lake Stampeders bid to host the 2011/12 Coy Cup senior men’s provincial hockey championship has been rejected by BC Hockey.
Instead, the tournament will return to Kitimat in March, 2012, for the first time since 2006.
The Stampeders were informed of the decision yesterday.
“We’re really disappointed,” said Stampeders secretary Lynn Hanson. “But I guess we’ll try again next year.”
Kitimat and Williams Lake were the only two applicants to host the Coy Cup in 2012.
As for the Ice Demons, team president Allan Hewitson said the team is thrilled to be the host, especially after winning last year’s Coy Cup and to now have the opportunity to defend at home.
“As defending Coy Cup champions we welcome the opportunity to defend the cup in front of our fans, just as we did, so successfully, in 2006,” he said. “We have targeted this season as key in our growth because it is our 10th anniversary season. However, like many organizations in northwestern B.C., we have been suffering from the downturn in the Kitimat economy over the past few years, so we see this as an opportunity to give back, stage a great event and focus attention on the turnaround we hope continues to take place in Kitimat in 2012.”
Kitimat won its first Coy Cup in Port Hardy in 2005, repeated at home in 2006, and won again in 2007 despite the tournament not being held (the league champions were declared the winner).
The Stampeders won the Coy Cup in the 2009/10 season.
“As in 2006, we will form a dynamic committee to drive this event as a highlight of the spring and playoff hockey season in Kitimat,” Hewitson said.
Hockey safety person clinic goes Oct. 19
The Williams Lake Minor Hockey Association is hosting a Hockey Canada Safety Person Clinic on Wednesday, Oct. 19 and Wednesday, Oct. 26.
Both sessions must be attended to be certified and start at 7 p.m.
Interested participants are asked to sign up online with BC Hockey in order to attend.
For more information e-mail Michelle Palmer at palmerwlmha@gmail.com.