THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Another Superior International Junior Hockey League season is rapidly approaching and as a prelude to the commencement of the 2012-13 campaign, there will be seven preseason games to be played.
Exhibition action gets underway Friday in Fort Frances as the hometown Lakers host the rival Dryden Ice Dogs at Ice for Kids Arena. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
The two sides will finish off a home-and-home Saturday at Dryden’s Memorial Arena in another 7:30 p.m. start.
Among the other tilts on the preseason slate includes a pair of inter-league contests as the OCN Blizzard of the Manitoba Jr. Hockey League travel to northwestern Ontario to take on the Sioux Lookout Flyers on Sept. 13 before visiting Dryden the following night in a couple of 7:30 p.m. starts.
Other SIJHL exhibition action sees the Flyers meeting the Ice Dogs in Dryden on Sept. 15.
That same evening the Lakers welcome the new-look Minnesota Wilderness to Fort Frances in a re-match of last season’s SIJHL final.
Preseason play concludes Sept. 16 as the Wilderness take to the ice in their new home venue, Northwoods Arena, in Cloquet, Minn. with a 4 p.m. matinee.
The SIJHL’s 12th season gets underway Friday, Sept. 21 on three fronts with Duluth visiting Dryden, the Wilderness travelling to Sioux Lookout while the Minnesota Iron Rangers entertain the Thunder Bay North Stars.
SIJHL preseason schedule Schedule
GAME NO DATE AWAY HOME TIME ARENA
1 Friday, Sept. 7 Dryden Ice Dogs Fort Frances Lakers 7:30 p.m. Ice for Kids
2 Saturday, Sept. 8 Fort Frances Lakers Dryden Ice Dogs 7:30 p.m. Dryden Memorial
3 Thursday, Sept. 13 OCN Blizzard (MJHL) Sioux Lookout Flyers 7:30 p.m. Sioux Lookout Memorial
4 Friday, Sept. 14 OCN Blizzard (MJHL) Dryden Ice Dogs 7:30 p.m. Dryden Memorial
5 Saturday, Sept. 15 Sioux Lookout Flyers Dryden Ice Dogs 7:30 p.m. Dryden Memorial
6 Saturday, Sept. 15 Minnesota Wilderness Fort Frances Lakers 7:30 p.m. Ice for Kids
7 Sunday, Sept. 16 Fort Frances Lakers Minnesota Wilderness 4 p.m. Cloquet Northwoods
WEBSITE: A new and improved SIJHL website is just days away from being launched. Featuring news, statistics and other league information, the site, when up and running, can be found online at either www.sijhlhockey.com or www.sijhl.com.
The SIJHL has reached a multi-year agreement with both FASTHockey and TST Media to provide both live webstreaming of games during the course of the 2012-13 season as well as new websites for the league and each of its seven teams.
Also being provided will be live in-game scoring of every contest throughout the regular season and playoffs. Both companies have extensive background in providing their services to leagues and organizations across North America.
WEEK 1 IN THE SIJHL: A total of eight games will make up the opening weekend of the regular season with every team, with the exception of Fort Frances, seeing action. The Lakers will take to the ice in their 2012-13 debut Sept. 26 as they head to Hoyt Lakes to meet the Minnesota Iron Rangers.
SIJHL Week No. 1 schedule
GM NO. DATE AWAY HOME TIME ARENA
1 Fri. Sept. 21 Duluth Clydesdales Dryden Ice Dogs 7:30 p.m. Memorial
2 Fri. Sept. 21 Minnesota Wilderness Sioux Lookout Flyers 8:30 p.m. Memorial
3 Fri. Sept. 21 Thunder Bay North Stars Minnesota Iron Rangers 7:30 p.m. Hoyt Lakes
4 Sat. Sept 22 Thunder Bay North Stars Minnesota Iron Rangers 7:30 p.m. Hoyt Lakes
5 Sat. Sept 22 Duluth Clydesdales Dryden Ice Dogs 7:30 p.m. Memorial
6 Sat. Sept 22 Minnesota Wilderness Sioux Lookout Flyers 7:30 p.m. Memorial
7 Sun. Sept. 23 Minnesota Wilderness Dryden Ice Dogs 7:30 p.m. Memorial
8 Sun. Sept. 23 Minnesota Iron Rangers Duluth Clydesdales 6 p.m. Heritage
SIJHL SHOWCASE: The SIJHL will once again hold their annual showcase weekend, with the Duluth Clydesdales serving as the host for a second consecutive year.
The three-day event will be held Dec. 21-23 at the Heritage Sports Center in Duluth. Each of the seven member clubs in the league will play two games apiece with all the results counting in the standings.
CJHL PRESIDENT: The Canadian Junior Hockey League announced Thursday that Mr. Kirk Lamb, a lawyer and a former junior, college and professional hockey player, has been appointed as the first full-time Chairman and President of the CJHL.
Lamb has served as the CJHL’s volunteer Chairman since January of 2011 and during that time has substantially elevated the profile of the CJHL.
The creation of a full-time position and selection of Lamb is a critical step towards strengthening the hockey and business operations of the CJHL and growing the Junior A game.
“Our Junior A leagues are working together like never before,” stated Lamb. “Their renewed commitment to national cooperation and organization presents a number of unique hockey and business opportunities that can grow the game for our players, teams and fans,” added the CJHL chairman and president.
“I am honoured to be asked to lead this proud organization and I want to thank the CJHL Board of Governors and member leagues for allowing me to contribute to the proud tradition of Junior A hockey.”
Boasting an extensive hockey and professional background Lamb has practiced law with the Calgary firm of Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP for the past five years. He is also an alumnus of the CJHL, CHL, NCAA, and ECHL, and is a graduate of Princeton University.
PIZZA HUT PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Once again this season Pizza Hut is on board as the league’s premier sponsor of the player of the week award.
Each week during the course of the regular season a deserving player in the league will be recognized for his efforts on the ice and will be presented with the Pizza Hut player of the week award. The SIJHL’s most valuable player will also be honoured with Pizza Hut player of the year accolades.
SPORTOP PERFORMER OF THE MONTH: Sportop Marketing of Thunder Bay also returns as a corporate partner of the SIJHL as premier sponsor of the SIJHL’s Sportop performer of the Month award.
Each month during the course of the season a deserving player in the league will be recognized for his on-ice efforts and will be presented with a gift pack courtesy of Sportop. The top playoff performer will also receive the Sportop Playoff MVP award.