A blow to the CIHL Season launch ... as Smithers Steelheads announce that the team will withdraw from league play for 2021-22

While there's much anticipation for a return of the CIHL to rinks across the Northwest and beyond, today brought word of a challenge ahead for league officials, with the Smithers Steelheads Hockey Club announcing that it will not be participating in league play this season.

In the announcement posted to the teams Facebook Page, Steelheads officials make note of the  many circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic as to the reason for their decision.

The Steelheads only returned to league play in 2019 following a previous leave of absence in 2017-18, all of the CIHL teams found themselves off the ice in 2020-21 owing to COVID

 

The decision from Smithers will mean that a new schedule will now be required, with league officials still having been working on a final draft for 2021-22 prior to the announcement of out the Bulkley Valley today.

A first draft of the schedule had the league launching the season in mid-October, the league however can only operate at half capacity for its venues with COVID protocols  in place, which will make for the need for some creative approaches to managing team budgets.

While the Steelheads have bowed out for the year, a new entry will be taking to the ice with a combined team featuring players from Vanderhoof and Fort St. James to be known as the Nechako North Stars bring that area of the Northwest back into the CIHL fold, making for seven teams now for the season ahead covering a geographic expanse from Prince Rupert eastbound and on into the Cariboo region.

The remaining CIHL teams are already moving into training camp mode as they look to regain some ice legs after a much longer than planned absence from the rink.

The first game for the Prince Rupert Rampage was scheduled for October 16th, a night which would have seen  the team pay tribute to long time trainer June Robinson who passed away earlier this year. 

As well the team planned to pay its respects to the Every Child Matters commemorations. 

An update on the schedule revision plans, if that first game still holds that date,  as well as any other impact on the Rampage will be released in the days to come. 

You can find updated notes on the Rampage plans as they add them to their Social Media feed.

More notes on the CIIHL season ahead can be reviewed from our archive page.