The Northern Capitals and U18 Cariboo Cougars are headed outside for the fifth Winter Classic this weekend.
The Ernie Sam Memorial Arena in Fort St. James will see the Capitals host the Vancouver Island Seals tomorrow (Friday) night at 6:00, while the Cougars host the Okanagan Rockets Saturday night at 6:00.
“It’s going to be well run again, and the weather’s perfect, we got good ice,” said Cariboo Hockey General Manager Trevor Sprague
“There’s going to be not as much maintenance because it’s cold, so it should be a lot of fun.”
Environment Canada is predicting temperatures between -10 and -13 throughout the weekend.
They’re also predicting snow, but the Ernie Sam Memorial Arena is covered with a roof.
Sprague added the biggest part of the weekend is giving back to Northern Communities.
“It’s making sure we really get youth out there to want to be playing the game of hockey and show them that experience and the professionalism that these players in the league have for promoting our guys to move onto the Western Hockey League or Junior A, and then on the Northern Capitals side, U Sports, NCAA,” Sprague said.
“There’s a lot of things kids can dream about on being able to move forward in the game of hockey and their life.”
Sprague said for the Vancouver Island Seals, only three of their players have ever played on an outdoor rink before.
“When they have their banquet at the end of the year, a lot of the teams, that’s what they’re talking about, they got to play in the Winter Classic,” he said.
“It’s a pretty cool experience for the players, but also for the fans and the kids that get to come out and experience this.”
Cariboo Hockey is still the only club in the BC Elite Hockey League to host outdoor games.
“It’s been very well supported by both communities here, and then also Hockey Canada and BC Hockey,” Sprague said.
“The BCEHL, it’s been awesome to have each team up here, we’ve got about four more years to do this to get everybody up to have this experience to play in the outdoors here in the North.”
In addition to the two outdoor games at the Ernie Sam Memorial Arena, the Seals and Capitals will play at the Vanderhoof Arena Saturday morning (9:00), and the Rockets and Cougars will play at the Fort Forum Arena in Fort St. James Sunday morning. (10:00)
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