It’s every student’s dream — the chance to stick it to their teachers. And, in this case, quite literally.
On Wednesday, female hockey players from Williams Lake Secondary School will lace up their skates and attempt to beat up on their teachers, on the ice, for the Second Annual Williams Lake Secondary Hockey Classic students versus teachers game.
Morley Wilson, teacher and organizer of the event, said the idea came about last year while talking to students during one of his physical education classes.
“A bunch of the students from the [high school] hockey program in my Grade 8 P.E. class would talk about hockey,” Wilson said. “One of the girls said: ‘We should play you guys.’ I said, ‘That sounds like a lot of fun.’ I thought it would be a nice way to recognize the kids that don’t always get recognition in sports and our girl hockey players don’t get as much exposure.”
From there both the teachers and the students put together teams and played last year’s first annual game.
Kate Neufeld, Grade 12 student and captain of the WLSS student team, said this week’s game should be a lot of fun.
“It’s really fun,” Neufeld said. “It’s fun to see the teachers on the ice that can’t really skate and it brings out kind of a nice competition and everything.”
That said, the students wasted no time rubbing last year’s 7-6 victory in Wilson’s face.
“We won beautifully,” Neufeld said. “Mr. Wilson was in goal and he’s going to be in goal again this year so that means we’re going to win again.”
Wilson was quick to fire back at his opponents, letting them know of their secret weapon.
“We’ve got Terry Duff, who’s going to be playing out, and he plays for the Williams Lake Stampeders,” Wilson announced.
Neufeld predicts a 7-4 win in regulation for the students, who are being coached by Grade 12 student Caleb Carpenter.
Wilson, on the other hand, said it won’t be that easy and predicted his comrades will even up the series at one game a piece.
A trophy was awarded last year and will be presented following this year’s contest. Bragging rights are on the line as the cup is displayed in the school’s trophy case year-round.
“The purpose is to have fun and bring the school together and to promote girls in athletics,” Wilson said.
The game will also have announcers commentating throughout.
Puck drop is at 1:15 at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex. Admission is free and everyone is invited to attend.