Smithers stays loyal to the CIHL, declining opportunity to host junior hockey project from unsanctioned Ontario league.

Smithers Steelheads logo

With an Ontario based Junior A hockey league making the rounds of a number of Northwest communities seeking an opportunity for ice time and a footprint in the northwest, one community Council has decided to take a pass on the plans to set up in their community.

As we noted last week, the Greater Metro Hockey League had contacted such communities as Smithers, Houston and Kitimat in recent weens seeking a home for their plans; with the town that calls the Steelheads the hometown team taking a pass on the proposed expansion.

At their most recent Town Council session on June 22nd, the Smithers council noted of a number of letters of opposition from those that currently use the local arena and how the new league would impact on the amount of ice time available.

While Smithers has outright said "Thanks but no Thanks", the Kitimat council was a bit more welcoming towards the Ontario proposal. 

With the Council split on how to approach the request from the unsanctioned league for ice time, the discussion highlighted by a number of the Kitimat councillors expressing their concerns over the impact a new team would have on the CIHL's Ice Demons in the community.

The Ontario league is looking for at least four willing communities to say yes before it will consider plans to move forward with their project in British Columbia.

As for the CIHL, as we outlined last week, plans are in motion for a return to the ice this fall with the existing teams perhaps to be joined by a new team to be based in Vanderhoof.

For more notes on the CIHL as the season ahead moves forward see our archive page here.