100 Mile House will get a little taste of what Junior B hockey will bring to this community next season on Jan. 11, as the Penticton Lakers take on Kamloops Storm in a league game at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre.
The Lakers is the team in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), which was recently acquired by the 100 Mile House Wranglers Junior B Hockey Club, so there can be Junior B hockey in 100 Mile next season.
Wranglers president Tom Bachynski says the game will be a local debut of sorts for the team, and a club and community dress rehearsal for what’s to come when the new season gets rolling next year. The club president says he is very excited.
“We want to start building a volunteer base and get people with expertise to see how a game is run. It’s all fairly involved and we’ll be needing lots of event staff.”
He says the club would like the game to be a show of a lifetime for the public and he also wants to prove to the KIJHL the Wranglers are capable of hosting games to the standards expected by the league.
“And we want those teams to leave with the ‘wow factor’ that we put on an incredibly good show.”
He anticipates fans will be impressed by the high quality of hockey they see.
“It’s fast-paced with lots of emotion and has young players with lots of talent. It will be one of the fastest games ever seen in the local arena and I certainly hope the community comes out and fills the stands.
“It will be non-stop entertainment from start to the final whistle and people will have the time of their lives.”
The puck drops on Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. and advance tickets are available at Donex, Canlan Ice Sports and Central GM at a cost of $12 each. People can also get them at the door if they are still available.
