ItSA国际影视传媒檚 time for the biggest hockey game of the year in Yellowknife.

Maybe you havenSA国际影视传媒檛 heard of it since itSA国际影视传媒檚 been hidden away for the better part of the last two years, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 the one game of the year neither Sir John Franklin High School nor St. PatSA国际影视传媒檚 High School wants to lose.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the Wade Hamer Challenge Cup, the longstanding hockey battle between the two high schools, and it takes place Wednesday at the Multiplex. The last time the games were played was February 2020 during the Hockey Day in Canada bonanza, one of the last events that happened before the world shut down because of Covid-19. In case youSA国际影视传媒檝e forgotten, Sir John Franklin holds both the boys and girls titles.

Everything is back to its normal time slot on the calendar and not a moment too soon, according to Peter Curran, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 helping oversee things on the Sir John Franklin side.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 planning on using the pep rally to speak to the pressure of defending both titles,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪ome years, weSA国际影视传媒檝e had both, some years weSA国际影视传媒檝e had none, but the last couple of times have been good.SA国际影视传媒�

One thing Curran was afraid of was whether people would remember that the game even existed, considering it hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 happened for quite some time.

SA国际影视传媒淚 would say about 75 per cent of our student body and roughly 25 to 30 per cent of our staff have never experienced it,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou may get some people wondering what all the fuss is about because it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 take long for people to forget about it. Luckily, our turnout for both teams has been great and ISA国际影视传媒檓 hearing the same over at St. PatSA国际影视传媒檚.SA国际影视传媒�

ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 the same dilemma facing Rob Hart, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 helping with the organizing at St. PatSA国际影视传媒檚. He said it was a bit of a chore explaining exactly why the games are a big deal.

SA国际影视传媒淚 would say about half of our staff have never experienced this and they didnSA国际影视传媒檛 exactly get it at first,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭rying to tell them that the entire day revolves around Challenge Cup was a bit tricky.SA国际影视传媒�

The rules for the games differ a tiny bit from a routine hockey game. Instead of three periods, each game is played in two 20-minute stop time halves. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 also no body-checking of any sort, though body contact is allowed.

Curran, who will be coaching the Sir John boys, said heSA国际影视传媒檚 ready to go out with a full complement up-front.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have four solid lines and I like what we have,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪t. PatSA国际影视传媒檚 has probably all of the real good defencemen, from what ISA国际影视传媒檝e been told.SA国际影视传媒�

That was news to Hart.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 know about that SA国际影视传媒� I would say weSA国际影视传媒檙e pretty solid from front to back,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The girls rosters are bit more evenly spread out, according to Hart.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 where I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think either team has an advantage,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淏oth schools have a lot of girls who tried out for Canada Winter Games, so itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be interesting to see how that all plays out.SA国际影视传媒�

The action is set to start at 1 p.m. with the girls game up first. The boys game will follow shortly after that SA国际影视传媒� around 3 p.m., said Curran.

SA国际影视传媒淕ive or take a few minutes for each one,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be a great atmosphere, especially since we havenSA国际影视传媒檛 had this for a while.SA国际影视传媒�