Logos of the TRU Wolfpack Athletics Department and the Logan Lake Miners in the BCIHL/via TRU
For the first time since 2014, the TRU Wolfpack will have hockey under it’s athletic umbrella again.
TRU has affiliated with the Logan Lake Miners of the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) as they head into a new season in the fall.
“We are able to operate completely self-funded, and we won’t require any money from the school” says Logan Lake GM/Head Coach Grant Friesen in an interview with Radio NL.
“It just made a lot of sense to combine with the strength of the TRU Wolfpack and bring that brand out to our home in Logan Lake.”
The program will also add a women’s hockey team into the mix for the first time.
That’s something that also caught the attention of the TRU Athletic Department.
“That was a real positive and an opportunity to be a part of that, especially with the growth of the game on the women’s side,” said TRU Athletic Director Curtis Atkinson.
“It adds more students, but I just want to highlight the work the Miners have done with that program in Logan Lake – it’s been very positive.”
Logan Lake Recreation Centre, home ice for the Logan Lake Miners in the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League/via TRU
Back in the 1970’s thru to the early 1990’s, the College of the Cariboo featured the “Chiefs” brand.
The program then disappeared for close to 20 years until It was rebranded under TRU from 2009 to 2014, spanning five seasons.
Atkinson points out that TRU doesn’t have to fund the hockey program in Logan Lake, which he says was a critical part of making the arrangement work.
“We wouldn’t be able to do it if there was a financial component attached to us,” noted Atkinson. “I’d love to support all sport offerings on campus but that’s not the financial reality.”
“Our commitment remains to the six core Varsity teams [soccer, basketball, volleyball],” he added.
Friesen says the new affiliation has added a jolt of excitement within the hockey community — and beyond — in Logan Lake.
“There’s a ton of excitement around it so far, especially around the new women’s team,” said Friesen. “We’ve had people reach out on the coaching and volunteer side and some interest from potential players as well.”
The BCIHL currently features four other hockey programs, including Simon Fraser University, Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, the University of Victoria and the Okanagan Lakers squad which represents UBC Okanagan.
