With the Coy Cup back in Powell River for the first time since 2010, the Regals are hoping to take another win in the historic tournament.
Kicking off this week, the Powell River Regals managed to take a tie game with rivals from Terrace and get a win over Penticton.
The team will face off with Williams Lake tonight, which will be a tough battle, according to archives and history volunteer Troy Butler.
The Coy Cup is very significant to the area, according to Butler. He says Regal hockey started in the 1950s when the mill was recruiting workers and put together a senior men’s hockey team that had some success.
“In 1970, they won a Canadian National Championship, the Coy Cup, I think that was the third Coy Cup back in the late 60s,” said Butler. “The Regals won it again in 1991-92 at home and then they hosted the tournament in 2010 and won it for a fifth time.”
With Powell River playing host once again, the pressure is on, but Butler also says it brings a big boost to the local hockey community.
“The atmosphere has just been incredible. The first two nights, we had over 1,000 fans and going into Thursday night, we’re hoping for 1,500 and maybe we’ll have that building full by Friday night and Saturday night,” said Butler.
Butler adds he remembers watching the Regals play, and it is an inspiration for many minor hockey players wanting to move up in the sport. He says everyone comes out for Regal hockey, and it brings family and friends together in the city.
The Regals have their next game today (Thursday) at 7:30 p.m. If they win, it will push them straight into the final on Saturday night.
Terrace is also looking for their first-ever Coy Cup win, and Butler adds he is hoping for a Powell River vs. Terrace final.
He adds there will be a tribute to long-time Regals players, executives and volunteers Denny Dyre and Cliff Milne at 7:15 p.m.
“Between the two of them, they put in 98 years for the green and gold,” said Butler. “We lost those two during COVID, so the town never had a chance to pay their respects properly and tonight’s that opportunity.”
