With only one weekend left in the Central Interior Hockey League season, both Bulkley Valley teams have punched their tickets to the playoffs.
The Hazelton Wolverines have known they would be going to the post-season for weeks now with the Kitimat Ice Demons languishing in the cellar of the west division. But there was a slight mathematical chance they could be relegated to third place up until Jan. 11.
That's when the 'Rines put an exclamation point behind the question mark by crushing the rival Prince Rupert Rampage 11-3 in Rupert's barn. That sets up a semi-final between Hazelton and the Rampage for the third year running. This will be the first time, however, the Wolverines will have home-ice advantage.
The Wolverines have had the Rampage's number in recent sweeping them in both previous best-of-three series despite being the underdog. During the regular season, they beat Prince Rupert at both meetings.
The Terrace River Kings have been the class of the league all season — they have only one loss against Quesnel — and will have a bye to the west division final against the winner of the Hazelton-Rupert series.
Hazelton has been dominant of late having not lost since Dec. 7 and putting up 52 goals in their last five games.
The Smithers Steelheads, meanwhile, spent a good chunk of the season uncertain of their playoff hopes until it became apparent the hapless Nechako Northstars were well ensconced in the basement of the league.
Both the Wolverines and the Steelheads beat up on the Vanderhoof/Fort St. James squad last weekend leaving them with just one win on the season with one game remaining against Quesnel on Feb. 1.
Smithers and Hazelton have inconsequential games remaining with the Wolverines facing off at home against the Ice Demons on Jan. 31 and the River Kings on Feb. 1. The Steelheads are scheduled to visit Prince Rupert on Feb. 1.
The only question that remains is who Smithers will face in the first round of the playoffs. The Wlliams Lake Stampeders and Quesnel Kangaroos have gone neck-and-neck all season.
Currently, the Stamps hold a half-game edge over the Roos in the standings at 26-25 points. Williams Lake has one game left, while Quesnel has two.
The decider could come in the head-to-head matchup on Jan. 31 in Williams Lake. If either team wins in regulation, they will be the eastern division champs. If that game goes to overtime, however, with the Stamps winning, they will clinch by virtue of having won the season series.
If Quesnel wins in overtime on Friday, however, they can clinch with a win or tie against the Northstars on Saturday.