Stampeders to host tryouts for upcoming season

The Williams Lake Stampeders would like to invite interested individuals to attend their September-long tryout session.

The Central Interior Hockey League season is just around the corner and the Williams Lake Stampeders would like to invite interested individuals to attend their September-long tryout session.

Tryouts will be held at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex every Tuesday and Thursday beginning at 9:15 p.m. each night throughout the month of September.

There will be a one-time fee of $50 for tryouts.

The team is also looking for a coach and a general manager, or a coach/general manager.

Anyone interested in either position is asked to contact Stampeders’ president Marko Zurak at 250-305-4499.

The Williams Lake Stampeders are scheduled to begin Central Interior Hockey League play in October.

Fans of the CIHL will notice a few changes this season, as one team has dropped out of the league and the schedule has been shortened from 18 games to 16 games.

Additionally, instead of all eight teams making it to the playoffs, only the top four will now compete for the Coy Cup.

“The Houston Luckies are having a lot of player commitment issues, especially with the mill closing down,” said CIHL president J.C. Brown.

“They lost a few players and some guys are going to school. They couldn’t get a commitment for a full roster in the community so they had to pull out this season.”

Despite the changes, Brown said the league is still in good shape.

“Things look good, although it doesn’t look good that we went back,” he said.

“A team like Houston mentioned they’re going to try to get back into the league next year.”

He added Mackenzie and Omineca have also shown interest in rejoining the league for the 2015/16 season.

For more on the CIHL and the Williams Lake Stampeders visit www.wlstampeders.com.

Williams Lake Tribune