This could be the best local hockey action on the month -- and a big bargain at two games a day for $10.....

Hockey fans get a two-day treat with four CHIL western teams competing for Northern Challenge Cup in Kitimat

It will be exhibition hockey with an edge when four CIHL north-western teams, the Kitimat Ice Demons, the Terrace River Kings, the Prince Rupert Rampage and the Smithers Steelheads gather in Kitimat over the weekend of Sept. 23-24 to compete in two double-headers of hard hitting hockey, for Ice Demons' Northern Challenge Cup. There will be four games, two on Friday night and two on Saturday.

The tournament starts with a match-up of traditional rivals, the Kitimat Ice Demons and the Terrace River Kings, Friday night, at 7.30 p.m. And Smithers will take on the Prince Rupert Rampage at 9.45 p.m.

One $10 ticket gives fans both games.

Admission will be the same Saturday, when the Rampage and River Kings will clash at 3.30 p.m. And Kitimat and Smithers, a much anticipated game, will go at 7.30 p.m. The Prince Rupert Rampage hosted the tournament last season and will be defending the Cup, which has been won over the years by Demons, Steelheads and the Rampage, providing incentive for the River Kings.

A beer gardens is planned for both events and concessions will be open.

Teams will all get together for a social "pub night" at the Ol' Keg Pub following Friday night's double header.

Accommodations arrangements have been made by the host Kitimat Ice Demons in Kitimat for travelling teams.

Hope that someone is going to post scores for all teams' fans that aren't able to make it to Kitimat.

Good luck to all the teams...heads up, sticks down, safe travels.

The Kitimat Ice Demons, with a fairly veteran lineup, looked better prepared for the new season as they rolled over a Terrace River Kings team with a lot of new young faces in the opening game of the Ice Demons Northern Challenge Cup tournament in Kitimat last night.
But Terrace still managed to put the puck in the back of the Kitimat net four times, and showed a good level of energy and opportunism. Demons led 2-1 at the end of the first period on goals by Jeff Mildeberger (shorthanded, unassisted) and Terry Whelan (Ian Coleman) while Nathan Soucie had his first of two and the games, assisted by Joel Findlay. Soucie (Josh Murray) netted his second to tie the game at 2 - 2 early in the second, but Kitimat regained the lead for good with two goals, just 13 seconds apart, as Kyle Boudreault beat Patrick Leal (with assists to Nick Markowski and newcomer Derek DeLisser, followed after the next face-off by returning vet Scott McGregor (Jon Aiken, Jeremy Brady)scoring his first of two on the night. Ten minutes later Blaine Markwart and Craig Hewitson teamed up for a passing play that was finished off by winger Wade Masch with a tap-in behind mid-way change goaltender Steven Krupop. Skylar Andrews scored a third goal for the River Kings with three minutes left in the period. Jamie Moran played the first half for Kitimat and Brett Vilness brought it home. All four goaltenders made some exiting saves.

Early in the third Scott McGregor added his second goal (Jeremy Brady) before Blaine Markwart snapped home Kitimat's seventh goal (Wade Masch, Jeff Mildenberger)
The game evolved into up and down play, with Derek Jurista getting the River Kings back into the game 7 - 4, before Jonnie Aiken blasted his first of the game with just over two minutes left to play, assisted by Jeremy Brady and Scott McGregor, whop had a three-point night, with two goals and an assist.

Sorry I had to leave the Smither-Prince Rupert game early, with Smithers leading 1-0 in the second in a game where both teams seemed anxious to turn over the puck. The Rampage were short benched and picked up three Kitimat players to fill out the roster for the game.

All in all, with over some 600 in attendance and a packed beer gardens, the tournament got off to a good star. I hope someone has final scores for the Smithers-Rupert game and I'll be back tomorrow with a roundup covering the afternoon River Kings- Rampage tussle (3.30 p.m.) and the night finale between Smithers and old rivals, the Ice Demons (7.30 p.m.)

Kitimat plans to field a few less vets and more youngsters Saturday -- so come on down -- the action should be great.

It's a good way to start the season, give an edge to exhibition games and add meaning to the pre-season for the young players trying to make the teams.

Smithers Steelheads were not as convincing as they hoped to be in 4-0 win...over a short-handed Prince Rupert Rampage squad that filled out its playing roster with a couple of Kitimat rookies pickups, winning 4-0, but with two late goals making the advantage look a bit better than it was.

Both teams played it a little scrambly in the first period in particular as players began getting used to the ice again. Timing was off and passes were bouncing around. There was no score at the end of the first period, although Mike Wall was a lot less busy in the Smithers net than his counterpart at the other end.

Early in the second period Cody Kringer (Bobby Smith) put the Steelheads on the board.
Wall stopped a deke attempt on a Rampage penalty shot as the second period followed the pattern of the first, allowing Smithers to take their 1-0 lead to the second intermission.

Former Hazelton Wolverine addition Stu Barns got assists on two setups in the third period, with Matt Arnold scoring at the 1.24 mark and Adam Devries at 13.38. Jared Sketchley finished off the scoring with two minutes left in the game when he shot a long one that skipped past the Prince Rupert goaltender, (sorry, I don't have his name) but it was an easy cover he would have wanted to try again on. Overall both teams showed a lack of playing time and cohesion, but the main impression of the Steelheads was that they are a bigger team than last year.

Competition continues this afternoon at 3.30 with, as it turns out, the two losing teams fro yesterday, Terrace River Kings and the Prince Rupert Rampage playing for third place while the regular rivals, Kitimat Ice Demons face off against the Smithers Steelheads at 7.30 p.m,. The Ice Demons lost the Challenge Cup to Smithers the last time the two met for the silverware...so will be looking to put their name back on the trophy this pre-season.

The same $10 ticket gives admission to both games.

in the third period over the Prince Rupert Rampage in game three of the Northern Challenge Cup, in Kitimat's Tamitik arena. This was a fairly fast-paced end to end game - where both sides were featuring a lot of young players still trying out. More details later when I pick up a sheet. Some good goal tending or the scores could be a little higher... Rupert had a few more of their players than last night.

Don't forget, the Challenge Cup game final goes at 7.30 with the Kitimat Ice Demons and Smithers. Both were winners yesterday so it's a matter of the winner takes the cup...

Beer gardens again tonight. Jammed last night when total attendance was over 700 and the 50-50 was just under $600...

with some justification after bringing the heavy shooting in the third period for an eventual 8-2 win over the Prince Rupert Rampage in the consolation third and fourth place game Saturday afternoon in the Northern Challenge Cup in Kitimat. Goal scorers for Terrace were:
Period 1

Derek Jurista (Cam Kerr, Mark Dhami),

Period 2

Nathan Soucie (Corbin Legros), Chris Kerby (Joey Carmano),

Period 3

Josh Murray (Nathan Soucie), Joey Carmano (Jeremy Vanderbroek), Joey Carmano (Raja Sangha),
Raja Sangha (Nathan Soucie, Josh Murray), Joey Cormano (hat trick), (unassisted)

Rampage scorers were:

Period 1

Justin Fontaine (Jacob Surbantano)

Period 3
Jacob Surbantano, (Greg Sheppard, Jared Davis)