The Rupert Rampage's Central Interior Hockey League (CIHL) season is only one-game old, but the team already knows it will be playing in the provincial championship tournament.
Last night, BC Hockey announced the Rampage's bid to host the 2025 Coy Cup was successful.
"The Rupert Rampage hockey club is thrilled to be selected to host the 2025 BC Hockey Senior Men鈥檚 AA championship," said Rampage head coach Roger Atchison.
"Hosting the Coy Cup is a privilege, and we are grateful for this opportunity. We know the teams and fans are in for excellent high calibre hockey, and first-class small-town hospitality. The Rupert Rampage organizing committee is looking forward to delivering an unforgettable experience for all participants."
The Cup is contested annually, traditionally between the CIHL champions, the North Peace Hockey League (NPHL) champions, a qualifier from another part of the province and the host city team.
Last year, however, the NHPL did not send a representative, so both the CIHL champion Terrace River Kings and runners-up Williams Lake Stampeders went to Powell River. The River Kings ended up defeating the host Powell River Regals to win their first-ever Coy Cup.
In 2023, there were also two CIHL teams represented because Quesnel won the CIHL championship, but was already in the tournament by virtue of being the host city. Terrace went to that championship as the CIHL runner-up and lost in the final to Quesnel.
The Coy Cup was donated to BC Hockey by Colonel Coy of the 50th "Gordon Highlanders" Regiment of Victoria, B.C. The first Coy Cup was awarded in the 1922鈥�23 season.
The tournament is a round robin format and will be played at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre in the last week of March.