Molnár-Tamás Bence (Image Credit: CFJC Today/Anthony Corea)

By Marty Hastings

FOUR KAMLOOPS TEAMS

Romanian club returns to KIBIHT, which gets underway this week

Dec 16, 2025 | 4:29 PM

KAMLOOPS — Seklerland Hockey Academy goaltender Molnár-Tamás Bence is confident his club can compete for the Tier 1 AA Randy Lindros Division title at the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament (KIBIHT). 

“To come here, win games, play against Canadian teams and win the tournament,” 15-year-old Bence said when asked about his team’s aspirations in the Tournament Capital. 

The 56th KIBIHT is slated to run from Wednesday (Dec. 17) to Sunday at six rinks across the city. 

“The community gets behind it,” tournament committee member Rob Fryer said. “It’s a buzz. It’s a different feel. You walk into the lobby and see the decorations…  it’s a special event for the kids in Kamloops.” 

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Last year’s edition of the tournament featured 36 teams, none of which were from outside of North America. 

This year, there are 35 teams competing across three divisions – the Tier 1 AA Randy Lindros Division, Tier 2 Founders Division and Female A Kendra Woodland Division – including two international squads. 

Seklerland, which iced a team at KIBIHT two years ago, is from the Transylvania region of Romania. The AA Spokane Junior Chiefs are competing in the Founders Division. 

The Thompson Zone Blazers will compete in the Lindros Division, Tier 2 and Tier 3 teams from Kamloops will toil in the Founders Division and the female Under-15 A Kamloops Blazers are in the Kendra Woodland Division. 

“It’s such a big tournament, teams from all across the world come and lots of people come to watch, so it’s very exciting,” said Jessica Ritchie, captain of the female Blazers. “We’ve been counting down the days until KIBIHT.” 

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday on the Olympic ice at McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre. 

“It’s beautiful,” Bence said of Kamloops. “It’s way bigger [than his hometown] and the people are way kinder. We can win games. We are a good team. It will be great to see that we can keep up with the Canadian teams.” 

Seklerland and Thompson Zone are slated to square off at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday on the Olympic ice on Mac Isle. 

Go online to kibiht.com for the complete schedule. 

The tournament, which has been around since 1968, featured 41 teams three years ago. 

Fryer said the Tier 3 division that was introduced last year has been discontinued due to a lack of interest.