New ice, new hopes for CIHL return as Rampage debut 2021-22 season Saturday

After a long, long break in the action the CIHL returns to the ice at the
Jim Ciccone Civic Centre tomorrow night

It's been a long time between games for fans of the Prince Rupert Rampage and tomorrow night, the Jim will be rocking, as the home side digs into the ice for the first time for 2021-22 hosting the Kitimat Ice Demons for a 7PM start.

With the 2020-21 season cancelled owing to COVID, the CIHL regrouped this spring with a plan to move forward with a return to the ice, though as the summer progressed, a return that will see a familiar partner sitting thins out for the year, that after a decision by the Smithers Steelheads to take the year off owing to their own concerns related to the coronavirus.

While Smithers is out for the year, a new arrival is in, with the return of Vanderhoof to the league, the Nechako region city sharing the North Stars with neighbouring Fort St. James.

All of the teams, new and existing, now ready to chart their journey towards what they hope will be a Coy Cup berth come next February/March.

For the Rampage and Ice Demons that journey starts tomorrow night, as they look to shake off a year of rust from their legs the roosters a mix of some familiar and new names for the season ahead.

Tomorrow night's game at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre will also be of significant community note, with the Rampage making note of the Every Child Matters initiative in support of Residential School surivivors and observing of the  lost lives of the past.

Towards that commemoration, the Rampage has asked that everyone attending the game wear Orange for Saturday night's game, with the team's largest corporate sponsor the Port of Prince Rupert pitching in to help towards that goal.

The Rampage will also be paying tribute to one of their own on Saturday, with the team set to celebrate the life of Jules Robinson, the teams long time trainer who passed away earlier this year.

With the CIHL returning to action with COVID still the major story for the province, there will be COVID related protocols in place for Saturdays game.

The Rampage have noted that BC Vaccination Cards and Face masks will be required for attendance at the game, with entrance to the arena to take place through main entrance of the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre.

As well attendance is limited at the arena due to the provincial COVID restrictions.

You can access the latest information from the team through their Facebook page.

Saturday night will see six teams take to the ice, in addition to the Rampage/Ice Demons matchup, Hazelton will travel to Vanderhoof, while Quesnel and Williams Lake will renew their Cariboo acquaintances over the weekend.

We will track the Rampage work this year through our Results page available here, with updates to come following each home and away game from the Prince Rupert side.

As well, you can review all of our CIHL coverage from our archive page here.