Smithers-Kitimat
Kitimat is flying high after a romp over the wolves last weekend. Even with the new blood in the lineup Smithers won't be able to overcome this momentum. Kitimat is a confident bunch and tough to play at home at the best of times. Kitimat wins 7-4.

Terrace-Rupert
Terrace played well in the backend of last weekends set against Smithers almost squeeking out a win, this should give them confidence going into Rupert this weekend. However Rupert is very tough at home and may have the best fans in the league who turn out in droves. If Rupert can stay disciplined and not get drawn into any stupid penalties by a less talented team they should handle Terrace in a tight game. Rupert 7-5

Omenica-Houston
Houston needs 4 points this weekend badly after stumbleing out of the gate. Thier record isn't representitive of their squad and they know it. They are suffocating to play at home and have one of the best goalies around. Omenica also needs points and have picked up some new faces, will this add some depth or screw up what little chemistry may have existed, we'll have to see. Omineca also has a good young tender and if their new guns can produce i'm predicting a split.
Sat Houston 7-3
Sun Omenica 5-4

Smithers vs Kitimat
Kitimat is on a roll and very confident right now. Smithers had a little stumble against Terrace last weekend. They didn't have there usual lineup but not all the teams ever do. It just shows that they don't have the depth that kitimat has and thats why i do believe kitimat will win this battle. It will be a great game nonetheless. Kitimat wins 6-2 (ouch hey Steely)

Terrace vs Rupert
Well this should be a great divisional battle as Terrace needs to get some wins to make the playoffs. Look for them to battle hard and hopefully stay out of the box. I still think that Rupert is playing with an extra man in there barn as the fans are great. Rupert seems to be hurt so i think it will be a close one. Rupert wins 7-6 or 8-6 empty net.

Omenica vs Houston
Wow 2 teams that need to turn there season around in a bad way. I agree with hardy that houston needs a home game badly to get them up and going in the right direction. I think that houston will punish omenica into the ice and will take 2 easy wins. houston 7-3 and 6-2

Safe travels all
check ya later

Kitimat v Smithers... Kitimat will win this game as they have the depth and....my prediction gor the forum after is that steely-on will complain about either the reffing or the fact the steelies traveled with reduced squadand thats why they lost.... relax steely just kidding...I'm expecting a good game...hopefully ...we need something to pull the fans into our arena we are down in support and need some help.. and if a game against one of the best teams in our league doesn't do it I don;t what will...it will be a good game...

Rupert and Terrace... Rupert will win hands down....

Omenica...houston.. good tilt... houston...trying to get back on the rails... this should be a good one...Houston wins it...

Steelheads @ Ice Demons

The battle between the top 2 in the West is sure to make for an exciting game. From what I've seen Kitimat has the edge here as they are more solid in net and on the back end... but boy can Smithers move that puck. If Kitimat gets into penatly trouble Smithers could come out of this with 2 points. However I think Kitimat knows that they need to do and will win in regulation.

River Kings vs. Rampage

I'm usually on the fence when it comes to the River Kings.. I don't want to overly display my obvious bias towards my home team but this weekend I think Terrace will win. Prince Rupert seemed a little soft on Defence last time they played. The River Kings should be able to establish a better forcheck against The Rampage than the last few games against Smithers and that will create more scoring chances. Look for a big game from Steve Cullis who will be feeling much better this weekend. If there is one Team in the league used to playing infront of an excited crowd its Terrace so the Home crowd advantage will not affect them like it may have affected the Braves last weekend. Last time these teams met on October 10th it went to a shootout, which Terrace won 6-5. With the confidence of knowing they can win and The Rampage being a weaker team than Smithers I think the River Kings will take this one.

Omenica @ Houston

Havn't seen these 2 teams play at all this year... But I get the feeling we'll be welcoming the Hoston Luckies we've come to know back into upper rankings after these 2 games. Sunday will be a closer game than Saturday night but I still think with Houston at home at the Claude Perrish Memorial Arena it will carry them to 4 points and they will be breathing down the Braves necks with 2 games at hand by the end of the weekend.

Enjoy this weekends Hockey CIHLers!

Smithers vs Kitimat - Definately the game of the week. Should be a great battle in a barn Smithers has had some success in. The Steelies know that this is close to must win if they are gonna battle to the end with the Demons for first in the west. Both teams are very talented up front, Smithers is way deeper on the back end though and Kitimat has the ig advantage in net. Should be a great game. I think Smithers will get thier revenge for an earlier home loss and pay back the Demons in a tight one. 4-3 Smithers.

Terrace vs Rupert - Should be a physical battle here. Rupert has played well recently, but I think Terrace is gaining alot of confidence aswell after a solid weekend against the Steelheads. This should be another close one, but Terrace just has to much trouble generating any offence with anyone other then the Cullis line and that will be thier down fall saturday. Rupert 6-3.

Omineca vs Houston - This is a hard one to call. Houston hasn't played in a long time and you never know what kind of line-up Omineca will have. If Omineca has a full team including the new faces they will win a game, if not... they will be blown away again. Let's pretend they have everyone. Houston 6-4 and Omineca 6-5.

Go Stamps Go!

Omineca Ice - Houston Luckies

I haven't seen the Ice play this year, they cannot be a better team then last year. I have seen the Luckies, their not as strong as last year, if it wasn't for Kenzel, they would not of won a game this year. Two of the weaker teams in the League, a split.

Terrace River Queens - Rupert Rampage

The Queens have a team that can compete with any team in this league, just short on brain cells. Have not seen the Rampage yet, but the stats say their in every game. I would say the Rampage power play, will win the game, on a goal from Rob Millar.

Smithers Steelheads - Kitimat Demons

The Game of the week, the out come means a lot for both teams.

For the Steelheads to win, GrampVrod has to make arrangements with the Demons fans and trainer not to holler at Poor Stevy Bellsh*thead, It dosent take much for him to penaltize the Steelheads. He could take lesson from any ref from the East. Gramps I am not kidding and you know that......

Other than Stevy trying to be on centre stage, it should be a hell of a close game. I like the Steelheads on this one.

WOW I can't believe u just said that about the reffing in kitimat. In no means is it the greatest but cmon steely. If i recall going to smithers earlier in the season and was penalty killing half of the game and ohh ya still won. I also was looking at the standings and i couldn't help to notice that smithers has the least amout of penalties in the league by alot and you have played all home games this year. All i can say there is homer reffing at its best. LOL The reffing isn't the greatest anywhere but its a fast game so calls are always missed. Looking forward to a great battle this Saturday. Check ya later

Steve Bell has not reffed a game on Demons Ice this season -- so that can't be it.

And he certainly wasn't in Smithers a couple of weeks ago, when Demons took eight minors to Steelies' six..four in the first resulting in two pp goals for the Steelheads.

Whoever it was also had the Demons in the box when Markwart scored his short-hander in the second. I believe the Demons won by a goal! Wew don'yt schedu;le our own refs...

Steely-on needs to learn a new tune!!! ...or a new excuse even!

Don't know who's scheduled Saturday tho' ...

Smithers - Kitimat: After two closer than expected games against Terrace the Steelheads will be looking to lessen the gap between them and Kitimat. But I don't see it happening, as Kitimat is clicking on all cylinders and Smithers is on the road again. Pick Kitimat to take this one.

Rupert vs. Terrace: Based on how they played against Burns Lake, which had the on-two punch of the Wilejtos and a solid goaltender, Rupert will take this one to the delight of what should be another loud and near sell-out crowd (if not another sell-out).

Houston vs. Omenica: I'll go with a split in this one because, while Omenica hasn't been that impressive this season, Houston has yet to impress either (although they only have five games under their belt). Houston wins Saturday (bus legs for Vanderhoof) and Omenica wins Sunday.

Safe travels everyone...

you better recheck your ref stats. Who reffed the last game of the Northern challange Cup?

Tell me how does a team get a bench penalty for a Demons Fan Hollering, or the Demons Trainer Hollering at the Reff? Its not an even game. I have seen Stevy look after a real tough game and stay on top it, but I have and many have seen THE OTHER SIDE....

I am sure you remember two years ago in the playoffs, second game.
A goal was scored to tie the game with Stevys bench penalty, correct, I know your trainer will agree with me, and a few players, that have any balls. The winning goal that game was a interference penalty at centre ice, Bell was way out of play, not being able to keep up, Whalan falls at centre ice, Mitch Pederson better than 10 feet away gets called for interference. I bet Hewey Jr could tell you a story on how one goal went in. Hewey was litterly pushing Jamie Holden into the net, and bell was in the corner watching, holden trying to protest, a goal was scored, Bell skates up to Holden and says when the puck went in Hewey wasn't touching you and laughs. cool ref. Am I bitter... you be the judge.

We always have good clean, skilled, fun games with the Demons and I do not exspect it to change. We look forward to playing against the Demons.

Making a bad call is part of the game, making up a call, that's BellView.

We do not expect any other than the Man.

I just said get a new tune, not add a symphony orchestra, lights and a make-up gal...

What a memory -- since when is the exhibition game part of a season?

Bitter -- yeah!

I think Steely is setting up the Steelhead loss tonight to poor reffing!!!

I agree with lefty on this one.....Just play the game...The refs are going to do the best they can do....But on that note....If it was Steve Bell who reffed the Prince Rupert vs. Burns Lake...Fine he dictated the way the game went in the 3rd...Do I think he did a good job? NO!! After the knee to knee on Colt not even getting a whistle, I knew he wasn't doing the Rampage any favors....But if it is the same ref that I am even thinking of...He should quit reffing....Especially if he is giving bench penalties to a fan, trainer, or even the music man for playing 3 Blind Mice....The ref should be be paying attention to what is going on on the ice, and not to anything off the ice. What does anything off the ice have to do with the game? You could be the Ice Demons,Smithers Steelheads, or any team for that matter. If this ref is worried about things going on off the ice, then the putz should stop refereeing..

haha I laugh at you all for saying these things about Steve or Refs in general. I have talked to Steve numerous times, and have a done a few games on the ice with him and he does the best job he can all the time. Yes he goes out there to have fun, but when you have 20 players bitching you out over a blown/missed call it takes all the fun out of the game.

Keep saying what you guys are saying. We're going to lose alot of good refs in this league because of poor sportsmanship by players/coaches and FANS! I know for myself (2nd CIHL season) that I wont be around in this league long if I get the type of **** I get at the game all the time. And let me tell you, Steve wont be around much longer either if this keeps up.

Like I said, we're going to lose ALOT of good refs because of Poor Sportsmanship.

missed calls are not the problem, that will happen for ever.............

I didn't just say 'missed'...

I got a feeling the refs that come on here and bitch and moan about the way they're treated every year are the guys that ref at a level that we wont miss. The guys who ref at a high level usually have the respect of the players and have developed thicker skin.

Go Stamps Go!

but what we are seeing here ius a repeated, consistent complaint, by name about one referee supervisor, who does a lot of work for the CIHL. This is not really acceptable -- there's a point where you have to put your suspicions and allegations (beliefs) behind you and get over things...

I don't know about you -- but I'm a tad tired of it all...but it's not just that-- it seems to be centred on all volunteers who aren't worshippimng at the shrine of the Steelheads...who don't always lose because of the refs.

your right on.
I have never ever complained about any other ref in the League, except maybe in Hazelton, if I didn't I should have. I also have been on here numerous times, and have given this Ref credit for a game that he has done, he can do it.
He knows and KitimatFan knows how bad they screwed us, Kitimatfan just hates being reminded.

Maybe I will never bring it up again........

But it sounds like on another thread, that his name pops up.......

What is needed, is some of the western Refs should spend some time working with these young Refs from the east, it would be rewarding for everybody, and League money well spent.

Its alright KitimatFan you should stay #1 until after the playoffs......

I should of said Battling it out with the Stampeders for #1 until after the playoffs.

alot of talk about the reffing and i have to say it is a very tough job that doesnt get the respect it deserves. and i think everyone would agree that a well reffed game is one where the refs aren't really noticed. they make (only) the calls they see and of course calls will be missed also.
i'll keep it short about the burns lake/rupert game on sunday. only that to say that as some calls were missed one of our players yelled out to bell as he skated by "there are 2 teams out there ref." 1 we have all heard before. a classic. and his response was "really" then "actually there are 3 teams out here." now this really is true as there is the reffing team as well and somewhat witty at the time. he sure followed up that comment with the reffing displayed as the fans and both teams couldn't help but notice that 3rd team out there. i fielded questions from fans and friends for days after this game. basically asking what the hell was up with the ref? and so forth.
which brings me back to the first paragraph about a well reffed game where the ref team isn't noticed and the one on sunday where he was the first star.
so i didn't keep it to short but i did leave out parts like confused players like the burns lake players on the ice with me asking "why did he let us carry the puck and shoot on your goalie if the (delayed)penalty is on us?



the reffing was much better the weekend before vs kitimat(4-3 shoot out loss) and this weekend vs terrace (4-2 win) GOOD JOB GUYS!