Storm, Centennials to battle it out for Coquihalla Cup

Sep 30, 2026 | 9:15 AM

KAMLOOPS and MERRITT, B.C. — There will be a little more than points in the standings on the line when the Kamloops Storm face the Merritt Centennials in BC Hockey Conference action this season.

The Junior A teams have announced their six head-to-head matchups will see them battle it out for a new trophy – the Coquihalla Cup.

In a news release issued Tuesday (Sept. 29), Storm owner Matt Kolle said the teams conceived of the mini-series in an effort to build up a rivalry between the two cities.

“This is exactly the kind of rivalry that is good for junior hockey,” said Kolle. “Kamloops and Merritt are close enough that our fans can travel to each other’s buildings, and every time these teams play there should be something extra on the line.”

“The Centennials mean a great deal to Merritt and the Nicola Valley, and the Storm have built something special in Kamloops,” added Centennials majority owner Brad Anstey. “This is a natural rivalry between two proud hockey communities. We want

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“Our fans to circle these games on the calendar, make the trip down the highway and have some fun with it.”

Teams will be awarded three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime win and one point for an overtime loss. The team with the most points at the end of the six-game series will be awarded the Coquihalla Cup.

Games will take place on the following dates:

October 2 (in Kamloops)
October 31 (in Merritt)
December 11 (in Kamloops)
December 19 (in Merritt)
January 30 (in Kamloops)
February 26 (in Merritt)

by James Peters

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Storm, Centennials to battle it out for Coquihalla Cup

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