JPHL Showcase comes to Cranbrook January 10-12

It's been a long time coming for the Kootenay Hockey Academy, as the club prepares for its long awaited home debut.

Now into its second year, KHA will host a JPHL Showcase for the first time in franchise history at Cranbrook's Western Financial Place January 10-12.

For KHA head coach Kelvin Cech, this is a weekend he has had his sights set on for quite some time.

"Everybody's really excited," Cech says. "Not only to we not have to take an eight hour bus ride to Edmonton, [forward] Sorren Nicol hasn't played in front of his parents for three years, and lots of other guys who were here last year have been scattered all over the place."

He says it's great for the players and program to get a chance to strut their stuff in front of friends, family and other familiar faces.

Cech hopes plenty of fans will come to check out the KHA squad and take in some excellent hockey through this weekend's JPHL event.

"Win or lose, we battle every single game," Cech says.

Through KHA's brief existence, the club has enjoyed a strong relationship with the BCHL's Cranbrook Bucks. Recently, Academy defenseman, and Cranbrook native, Adam Shypitka was called up to make his BCHL debut with the Bucks. This follows a similar story for Danik Reeves who was called up by the Bucks a few times last season.

The Academy has three games on deck this weekend starting Friday night at 6:00 pm vs Lloydminster, then Saturday at 6:00 pm versus Edmonton and Sunday at 1:00 pm versus Lethbridge.