Cochrane Crunch to participate in SIJHL Showcase Jan. 26-28 in Hoyt Lakes & Virginia, Minn


SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016

Cochrane Crunch to participate in SIJHL Showcase Jan. 26-28 in Hoyt Lakes & Virginia, Minn.

THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Tuesday its schedule for the upcoming SIJHL Showcase, which will be hosted by the Minnesota Iron Rangers Jan. 26-28 in Hoyt Lakes and Virginia, Minn.

This three-day event will feature all five SIJHL member clubs competing while the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Cochrane Crunch will also be taking part.

Entering play this week the Crunch, led by team president, head coach and general manager Ryan Leonard, sit in top spot in the NOJHL’s Eastern Conference with an impressive 26-5-1-2 overall record.

Cochrane also leads their league in goals scored with 201 in 34 outings and are currently ranked ninth in the 131-team CJHL.

Each of the five SIJHL Showcase contests will count towards the league’s overall standings while the two games Cochrane competes in will be exhibition affairs.

Day 1 at the Showcase starts Tuesday, Jan. 26 with the Thunder Bay North Stars taking on the league-leading Fort Frances Lakers at 3 p.m. at Hoyt Lakes Arena followed by the host Iron Rangers squaring off with visiting Cochrane at 7 p.m.

Day 2 of the SIJHL Showcase will then shift to nearby Virginia, Minn., with a trio of tilts set to be played at the Miners Memorial Building Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

The initial contest in Virginia will feature Cochrane taking on No. 5 CJHL-ranked Fort Frances at 1 p.m.

Next up will be a 4 p.m. match-up between the Dryden GM Ice Dogs and Thunder Bay.

The third game of the day has Minnesota meeting the English River Miners.

Returning to Hoyt Lakes on Thursday, Jan. 28, the Showcase will conclude with the Lakers meeting the Miners at 3 p.m. while the Iron Rangers and GM Ice Dogs wrap things up at 7 p.m.

“This years’ event should provide a tremendous brand of Jr. A hockey that features all of our member clubs competing in the same venues,” stated SIJHL Commissioner Bryan Graham.

“We are also very pleased to welcome the Cochrane Crunch to this year’s event, one of the premier teams in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League,” added Graham.

“We look forward to showcasing our players to not only the fans from across the Iron Range, but as well to the scouts from various NCAA programs, the USHL and the like,” offered the SIJHL Commissioner.

Serving as host of the SIJHL Showcase for a second straight year will be Minnesota, who will expose the SIJHL and Canadian Junior Hockey League brand across the Iron Range.

“We as an organization and community are excited for the opportunity host the SIJHL Showcase again this season,” said Iron Rangers head coach and general manager Chris Walby.

“The league is once again deep with talent and we welcome hockey fans from the Iron Range, the SIJHL and dedicated scouts to join us for three days of incredible hockey,” surmised Walby.

“Also, by going to Virginia for Day 2, it will allow us to introduce our team, organization and the SIJHL to our brand of hockey to fans across the Iron Range,” offered the Minnesota coach and GM.

“If we can get interested first-time fans to attend a Rangers game by hosting Day 2 in Virginia, then they’re going to be hooked on coming to Hoyt Lakes for the rest of the season.”

Each SIJHL Showcase game is also scheduled to be available on a pay-per-view basis on FASTHockey, the official online broadcaster of both the SIJHL and NOJHL at www.FASTHockey.com.

The following is the 2016 SIJHL Showcase schedule

SIJHL Showcase
All start times Central Standard Time
Tuesday, Jan. 26
Thunder Bay North Stars vs. Fort Frances Lakers 3 p.m. (Hoyt Lakes)
Cochrane Crunch (NOJHL) vs. Minnesota Iron Rangers 7 p.m. (Hoyt Lakes)

Wednesday, Jan. 27
Cochrane Crunch (NOJHL) vs. Fort Frances Lakers 1 p.m. (Miners Memorial – Virgina)
Dryden GM Ice Dogs vs. Thunder Bay North Stars 4 p.m. (Miners Memorial – Virgina)
English River Miners vs. Minnesota Iron Rangers 7:30 p.m. (Miners Memorial – Virgina)

Thursday, Jan. 28
Fort Frances Lakers vs. English River Miners 3 p.m. (Hoyt Lakes)
Minnesota Iron Rangers vs. Dryden GM ice Dogs 7 p.m. (Hoyt Lakes)