TERRACE — The social fabric of the Skeena region during January 24–25, 2026, was defined by local sports rivalries, cultural celebrations, and the arrival of national entertainment. The Central Interior Hockey League (CIHL) season reached a peak during late January, with the standings tightening as teams battled for home-ice advantage in the looming playoffs.
River Kings Resilience
Despite a dramatic 6–5 shootout loss to the Prince Rupert Rampage on January 17 at the Terrace Sportsplex, the Terrace River Kings remained atop the league standings with 25 points. In that contest, Terrace surrendered a three-goal third-period lead, ultimately falling when Prince Rupert’s Judd Repole scored the lone goal of the shootout. Even with the setback, the River Kings (12-3-0) maintained their lead over a surging Hazelton squad.
Hazelton on the Hunt
The Hazelton Wolverines followed closely in second place with 23 points. Their momentum was bolstered by a dominant 10–3 victory over the struggling Kitimat Ice Demons earlier in the month. As of January 24, the Wolverines (11-5-1) remained just two points behind Terrace, keeping the pressure on their regional rivals.
CIHL Standings (as of January 24, 2026)
| Team | Points | Record |
| Terrace River Kings | 25 | 12-3-0 |
| Hazelton Wolverines | 23 | 11-5-1 |
| Quesnel Kangaroos | 22 | 10-5-2 |
| Williams Lake Stampeders | 18 | 9-6-0 |
| Prince Rupert Rampage | 16 | 8-7-0 |
| Smithers Steelheads | 9 | 4-12-1 |
| Kitimat Ice Demons | 0 | 0-16-0 |
Sunday Showdowns
On Sunday, January 25, several key games were scheduled to impact the final push for postseason positioning:
- Terrace at Williams Lake: A 1:00 p.m. matinee at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.
- Prince Rupert at Quesnel: A 2:30 p.m. clash at the West Fraser Centre.
- Kitimat at Hazelton: The Ice Demons traveled to the Upper Skeena Recreation Centre for a 1:30 p.m. puck drop.
The Kitimat Ice Demons continued their historically difficult season, remaining winless (0–16) at the bottom of the table as they searched for a late-season spark.
