KIJHL to host two regular season games in Whitehorse
Two top teams from the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League will be in the Yukon in January to play two of their regular season games on Whitehorse ice.
Two top teams from the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League will be in the Yukon in January to play two of their regular season games on Whitehorse ice.
The teams 鈥� the Fernie Ghostriders, located in Fernie, B.C. and the Creston Valley Thunder-Cats in Creston, B.C. 鈥� are currently sitting at first and third place, respectively, in the Junior B league, located in the Kootenays in the southern interior of B.C.
While the two teams play almost 3,000 kilometres away from Whitehorse, the Thunder-Cats have a Yukon tie that made the January games happen.
Not only is head coach Joe Martin a former Yukoner, four Whitehorse natives, all of whom did their time in Whitehorse Minor Hockey, play for the Thunder-Cats.
"The KIJHL has attracted a number of Whitehorse players over the years,鈥� said Walter Brennan, one of the organizers of the January games.
Martin coached for the Whitehorse Midget Mustangs, Team Yukon in the Arctic Winter Games and for Team Yukon at the Canada Winter Games in 2007.
Eighteen-year-old Joe Densmore, current player of the month for the KIJHL plays centre, Kane Dawe, 19, plays left wing, Robbie Stuckey, 19, plays centre and Lawrence Brennan, 18, plays defence for the Creston Valley Thunder-Cats.
Brennan hopes that the four Whitehorse players hitting the ice in their hometown will help local kids see where they can go in hockey coming from the north.
"We're hoping that those four people will be role models for our pee wee, bantam and midget kids,鈥� said Brennan.
The game will also be a chance for Whitehorse to see a higher calibre of hockey.
"We want to raise the profile of hockey here,鈥� said Brennan. "Here's an opportunity to bring up a greater level of hockey than we've seen in awhile.鈥�
Brennan recalls the great games that happened in Whitehorse in 2007 when Whitehorse hosted the Canada Winter Games, and hopes the Ghostriders and Thunder-Cats game will bring back a similar excitement to hockey in Whitehorse.
The plan to bring the KIJHL teams here arose when Pat Quinn, head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, was invited up to Whitehorse to speak.
Brennan approached Quinn and asked him if it would be feasible to bring an NHL team up to Whitehorse for a practice camp.
Quinn's reply was that the expense would be too great, but he suggested that Brennan look to a junior A or B league, which is how Martin got involved.
Martin contacted the Ghostrider's management and they agreed to attend.
A deal was reached that the Thunder-Cats and the Ghostriders would be able to come up if the trip were revenue neutral.
Once the plan was in motion, Brennan began looking for sponsors to support the games.
The games are so far being sponsored by a number of donors from the business community, with the capital sponsor being NorthwesTel. They have also received a contribution from the Community Development Fund.
"The biggest issue for us is booking airlines to fly up here,鈥� said Brennan.
With the two teams plus coaching staff, 60 people will be coming up from the Kootenays.
Brennan says Air North has helped out with flights, and the community has so far been helpful.
"The community has been fabulous,鈥� said Brennan.
Organizers are hoping to billet the players while they stay here.
The teams will arrive on Jan. 18 and will play two games on the 19th and 20th at Takhini Arena, both games starting at 7:30 p.m., then return to B.C. on the 21st.
"We're excited about it,鈥� said Brennan. "There's going to be a lot of volunteer help go into this.鈥�
Brennan said he and his fellow organizers are well aware that many other sporting initiatives ask the business community for funds, but is happy with the response he has gotten so far.
"The business community supports everybody,鈥� he said.
Most KIJHL games are webcast online at www.kijhl.ca. Brennan said they are working on figuring out what they need to do to set up Takhini Arena to be able to broadcast the games. NWTel may also show the games on community TV.
The games will be a food drive for the local food bank, Brennan said. While no discounts to the ticket price of $12 will be offered, spectators are encouraged to bring in a non-perishable food item.
Brennan said the tickets are being printed soon, and will hopefully be out in time for Christmas so that they can be purchased as stocking stuffers for hockey fans.
For more information on the Fernie Ghostriders, visit www.fernieghostriders.com and for the Creston Valley Thunder-Cats visit www.crestonvalleythundercats.com
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