For the 琉璃神社 Owls, there are two sides to the coin in hosting the 2017 Interior Savings

The support and comfort of playing at home is tempered by the pressure and expectations of being the two-time defending champs.

Regardless of the outcome, 翱飞濒蝉鈥� head coach Harry Parmar said it all adds up to three days of hype and excitement his players and the KSS student body are sure to embrace.

鈥泪迟鈥檚 an exciting week, the student body gets ramped up and the school is just 别濒别肠迟谤颈肠,鈥� said Parmar, now in his 10th season as 翱飞濒蝉鈥� coach. 鈥泪迟鈥檚 great for our kids (players), 迟丑别谤别鈥檚 a lot of interest in this event and they get to be part of it.

鈥泪迟鈥檚 just a matter of them controlling that excitement and emotion a bit and just going out, playing the games and really enjoying 颈迟.鈥�

The Owls, who won the event in both , will open play Thursday at 7 p.m. against the South Kamloops Titans, the second-ranked AAA team in B.C.

In what is arguably one of the strongest fields in recent memory, the draw also features the top three ranked 4A teams in 叠.颁.鈥擶补濒苍耻迟 Grove, KSS and Oak Bay.

惭补苍颈迟辞产补鈥檚 No. 1 team, the Oak Park Raiders, will be joined by the Regina Campbell Tartans, the top-ranked team from Saskatchewan, and the Raymond Comets, the No. 2 team from Alberta.

At the top of the 翱飞濒蝉鈥� wish-list is a meeting with Walnut Grove in the final and a chance for some payback. The No. 1-ranked Gators have beaten KSS in all three meetings between the schools this season.

Still, with the quality of teams on this 测别补谤鈥檚 draw, Parmar said 迟丑别谤别鈥檚 no guarantee that either KSS or Walnut Grove will be in 厂补迟耻谤诲补测鈥檚 championship game.

鈥泪迟鈥檚 just 濒辞补诲别诲,鈥� Parmar said of this 测别补谤鈥檚 roster of competing teams. 鈥泪迟 would be nice for us to see (Walnut Grove) but you 肠补苍鈥檛 take anything for granted.

鈥淲别 诲辞苍鈥檛 know exactly how good some of those other teams are, but you have to assume by their rankings that 迟丑别测鈥檙别 really good. Anything can happen and 迟丑补迟鈥檚 what makes it a great 迟辞耻谤苍补尘别苍迟.鈥�

As is the case every year, the Western Canada tournament marks the beginning of the home stretch and a springboard for the Owls, who will be looking to defend their B.C. 4A boys provincial title in March.

鈥淭丑别 goal is to get better every possession, progress throughout the week and be a better team when 颈迟鈥檚 辞惫别谤,鈥� he said. 鈥淗辞辫别蹿耻濒濒测 it will prepare us well for 飞丑补迟鈥檚 to 肠辞尘别.鈥�

Full tournament passes are $10 for students, $20 for adults and $75 for courtside seats.

贬别谤别鈥檚 a look at the opening day of action:

Thursday, Feb. 2

1:45 辫.尘.鈥搁别驳颈苍补 Campbell Collegiate vs Walnut Grove

3:30 辫.尘.鈥擮补办 Park Raiders vs Oak Bay Oaks

5:15 辫.尘.鈥搁补测尘辞苍诲 Comets vs Semiamhoo Totems

7:30 辫.尘.鈥掷辞耻迟丑 Kamloops vs 琉璃神社 Owls

Championship 驳补尘别鈥掷补迟耻谤诲补测, Feb. 4 @ 7 p.m.