September 24, 2009 / By BCHockey.net /
A number of firsts will be established and key rivalries will be renewed when the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League’s (BCIHL) 2009-10 regular season kicks off with the first of six (6) opening weekend match-ups on Friday, September 25.
The University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University are set to open the season in a re-match of last season’s Championship finalists at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre in Burnaby, while the Vikes will travel to Abbotsford to face the University of the Fraser Valley a night later.
On Saturday, the league’s two (2) newest teams – the Okanagan College Crusaders and Thompson Rivers University WolfPack – will meet in Kamloops in the first BCIHL regular season game for both teams. The Crusaders and WolfPack both expect to be competitive in their inaugural seasons in the league, with a number of WHL, BCHL and Junior B alumni featured on both squads.
In Castlegar, Selkirk College hosts Trinity Western University in a two-game weekend set. The Saints and Titans, who have battled one another for playoff positioning the past two (2) seasons, will have a chance to gain early separation in the standings when they hit the ice at 7:30 pm on Saturday and 10:00 am on Sunday.
Key Offseason Additions around the BCIHL
The BCIHL’s seven (7) member team draws talent from junior hockey leagues in BC and throughout Western Canada. Below are some of the key additions making their intercollegiate debuts with their respective teams this weekend:
Okanagan College:
Sasha Golin (Kamloops Blazers/WHL)
David Mann (Penticton Vees/BCHL)
Andrew Rebus (Quesnel Millionaires/BCHL).
Simon Fraser University:
Patrik Martin (Trail Smoke Eaters/BCHL)
John Bokla (Burnaby Express/BCHL)
Justin Mulholland (Dalhousie/CIS).
Selkirk College:
Cam Humphrey (Trail Smoke Eaters/BCHL)
Adam Makaroff (Nelson Leafs/KIJHL)
Jay Stuart (Castlegar Rebels/KIJHL)
Thompson Rivers University:
Cody Lockwood (Alberni Valley Bulldogs/BCHL)
David Boychuk (Spokane Chiefs/WHL)
Joel Leonard (Quesnel Millionaires/BCHL)
University of the Fraser Valley:
Brett Reusch (Delta Icehawks/PIJHL)
Matt Ehrenreich (Grandview Steelers/PIJHL)
University of Victoria:
Matthew Bell (Port Moody Black Panthers/PIJHL)
Michael Bunting (Comox Valley Glacier Kings/VIJHL)
For more information visit www.bchockey.net.
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