Here we go!

It’s what we’ve been waiting for since Sunday April 21^st …ok maybe Monday the 22^nd.



Here we are at the beginning of another BCHL hockey season.

All 16 teams gather in Chilliwack this weekend for the second annual BCHL Showcase.

The Smokies are looking to fare better than last year's showing in Victoria.

They dropped both outings - being outscored 12-2.

Their first match this weekend will be against the Langley Rivermen on Friday night.

Trail won each of the two meetings with Langley last season, including an overtime finish on home ice.

The orange and black will have the day off Saturday before wrapping up the Showcase Sunday against the Cowichan Valley Capitals.

With the entire league watching, this is a chance for redemption after the Smokies were shut down 8-1 by the Caps in their opening game of last year’s Showcase.

The two sides went on to split the following two meetings last season.

Trail head coach Bill Birks says that it is very important for his team to see some success in these two games.

"[We got to] start where we finished off last year. We were the second best team in the league from Christmas on. We got to come out and have that desperation we had from Christmas on."

After getting erased from the playoff picture during the last weekend of the regular season, Birks says his returning guys haven't forgotten that feeling and that they'll have to work hard to avoid putting themselves in that position again.

"We're a hard working group. We got some skill. We got a little bit of everything. Everyone's played in the league before [and] they know what to expect. It's hard work and perseverance - hopefully we come out on a good end of it."

Trail hits the ice 7PM Friday night at and 2:30PM Sunday.

Their home opener goes 7:30PM Friday September 13^th at Cominco Arena against the Penticton Vees.