The 2014-15 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League All Star Classic is returning to a one-game format.
The league has decided to drop the Prospects Game and go with just the All Star Game. The Comox Valley Glacier Kings host this season's star-studded affair on Sunday, Jan. 18.
"The rationale behind the governors' decision was that it just makes the day way too long for the travelling teams," said Glacier Kings' governor/owner Marsha Webb. "It is essentially two games, so we've gone back to the previous format of just one all-star game."
Webb said the Glacier Kings will have a player banquet followed by jersey presentation, with the game scheduled for 1 p.m.
The North vs. South format will feature 18 skaters and three goalies per team. Goalies will be chosen by stats and must have a minimum of 10 games played.
Players that have been acquired from other teams retain their stats from their previous team.
Coaching staff from the first-place team in each division will be the all-star coaches.
Standings as of Dec. 1 will determine the following:
•1st place team in North – 3 Fwd, 2 Def
•2nd place team in North – 3 Fwd, 2 Def
•3rd place team in North – 3 Fwd, 1 Def
•4th place team in North – 3 Fwd, 1 Def
•1st place team in South – 3 Fwd, 2 Def
•2nd place team in South – 3 Fwd, 1 Def
•3rd place team in South – 2 Fwd, 1 Def
•4th place team in South – 2 Fwd, 1 Def
•5th place team in South – 2 Fwd, 1 Def
More details on the All Star Classic will be available closer to game time.
Meanwhile, the Glacier Kings open the December portion of their regular season with a bang – three games in four days.
On Thursday, Dec. 4 the Yetis visited the Nanaimo Buccaneers, who they are battling for second place in the North.
On Saturday, Dec. 6 they host North leaders Campbell River Storm (7:30 p.m. Sports Centre #1) then hit the road Sunday, Dec. 7. to take on the Kerry Park Islanders in a 3 p.m. start.