The cold weather came at just the right time for organizers of this weekend’s Winter Classic in Fort St. James.
And with snow in the forecast, it’s a good thing Ermie Sam Memorial Arena has a roof over that outdoor rink.
The fifth annual event starts tonight at 6 p.m. when the Northern Capitals of Prince George take on the Vancouver Island Seals in the first of a two-game BC Elite Hockey League U-18 triple-A female weekend set.
Then on Saturday at 6 p.m. the Cariboo Cougars U18 squad, sporting vintage Cariboo Canucks jerseys from their first two seasons (2004-06), will face off against the Okanagan Rockets at the Ernie Sam rink.
“The ice is perfect, Brian and Tony and Mike nailed it,” said Cariboo Cougars general manager Trevor Sprague. “There was a lot of hours put in. They were long days.”
The Fort St. James U-13 team practiced and played on the rink on Thursday.
The fifth annual event also has the teams visiting elementary schools and working with minor hockey players on the ice sharing their tricks of the trade.
“I know the boys are excited and we’re gearing up for the smaller ice surface and the outdoor elements, it’s just something we look forward to every year,” said Cariboo Cougars U-18 head coach Tyler Brough.
“Me and my assistant coach and the captains head out early to do some school visits and make everybody aware of the game and the program and what we do, and hopefully there’s the odd little hockey player that wants to be a Cariboo Cougar one day. It’s just nice to get into another community and share our story and spread the wealth a little bit.”
The Cougars (19-5-2-0) rank third in the nine-team U-18 standings, one point behind the first-place Vancouver Northeast Chiefs and tied in points with Fraser Valley Thunderbirds, who have two games in hand over the Cougars. Okanagan (15-7-1-1) is in fourth place.
The Cougars and Rockets play again Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Fort Forum.
“There’s big points up for grabs this weekend and we know Okanagan plays a rough style like we do, it should be a war,” said Brough.
In the five-team triple-A female standings the fourth-place Northern Capitals (8-17-0-1) hold a one-point lead over Vancouver Island (5-14-0-5).
The same teams will meet in a rematch Saturday at 9 a.m. at Vanderhoof Arena.
