Rossland extends arena season as Warriors pursue 2027 Coy Cup

Rossland Arena will keep its ice in place until April 4, 2027, as the Rossland Senior Warriors pursue an opportunity to host the 2027 Coy Cup.

File photo

ROSSLAND — The Rossland Senior Warriors have cleared a key local hurdle in their effort to bring the 2027 Coy Cup to Rossland.

Rossland city council agreed Aug. 10 to extend the 2026-27 ice season at Rossland Arena until April 4, 2027, as the Warriors pursue an opportunity to host the Coy Cup, BC Hockey’s Senior Male AA provincial championship.

The approval does not mean Rossland has been selected to host the tournament.

BC Hockey currently lists both the host and dates for the 2027 Senior AA Coy Cup as still to be determined.

Under council’s decision, the Warriors will pay the standard adult prime-time ice rental rate and arena lounge rental rate. The team will also be responsible for additional arena overages between March 2 and April 1 associated with keeping the facility operating later than its usual ice season.

Council also required the Warriors to seek letters of support from other arena users who could be affected by keeping the ice in place into April.

The decision gives the Warriors certainty that ice would be available if Rossland is selected as the championship host.

A successful bid would bring some of B.C.’s top Senior AA teams to Rossland for a provincial championship with more than a century of history.

The Coy Cup was first awarded in the 1922-23 season after the trophy was donated to BC Hockey by Colonel Coy of Victoria’s 50th “Gordon Highlanders” Regiment. It remains the provincial championship for Senior Male AA hockey.

Rossland has recent history at the tournament.

The Warriors came within a goal of winning the provincial title in 2025, reaching the Coy Cup championship game in Prince Rupert before falling 5-4 to the Terrace River Kings.

The following year’s tournament was hosted by the Dawson Creek Canucks from March 31 to April 4, 2026, at the Dawson Creek Memorial Arena.

Rossland also has a Coy Cup championship in its history. BC Hockey records show the Senior Warriors won the provincial title during the 2006-07 season.

For now, however, the next step rests outside Rossland.

The city has agreed to make the arena available. BC Hockey has yet to announce where the 2027 Coy Cup will be played.