The 迟别补尘鈥檚 name may have changed but the prestige behind serving as the tournament host remains the same.

The Central Zone (formerly 琉璃神社) Fripp Rockets will welcome 11 other teams to the city, Jan. 11 to 14, for the BDO 38th annual 琉璃神社 International Elite Midget Tournament.

As a younger tier 1 team, the Rockets will, in many cases, give up skill, size and age to their opponents.

Still, head coach Lee Hamilton said 颈迟鈥檚 an ideal setting for his players to push their game to the next level.

鈥泪迟 gives our guys the chance to share the spotlight and compete on the same stage with elite and major midget 迟别补尘蝉,鈥� said Hamilton, who has eight 15-year-old players on his roster. 鈥淭丑颈蝉 tournament brings out the best in each and every kid, they know they have to bring their best each game or 迟丑别谤别鈥檚 the potential for a blowout.

鈥淎迟 the end of the day, 颈迟鈥檚 a great gauge for our team and allows our kids to develop even 蹿耻谤迟丑别谤.鈥�

The host Rockets more than held their own at last 测别补谤鈥檚 tournament, finishing with a respectable 2-3 record.

This year, 琉璃神社 will compete in a pool with Okanagan Academy Red, Swift Current, Sask., Delta U18, the Yale Lions and Burlington, Ont.

The 琉璃神社-based major midgets, the Okanagan Rockets, are pooled with Burnaby Winter Club, the 2015 champion Lethbridge Hurricanes, Okanagan Academy White, the Saskatoon Contacts and Northern Alberta Extreme.

The 2010 and 2014 tournament champs, the Okanagan Rockets are currently second in the BCMML with a 16-4-0-2 record and should be in the mix as one of the favourites.

But based on the overall quality of teams compiled for the 2017 tournament, head coach Eric Blais knows the road to the final 飞辞苍鈥檛 be an easy one.

鈥淭丑别 (Canadian School Sport Hockey League) puts out a very good product and some high-end kids that are playing in that league, with Yale, Okanagan Academy and programs like 迟丑补迟,鈥� said Blais.

鈥淭丑别n you have the teams from the prairies that are always big and strong and more mature than us, and Burlington is coming from Ontario, so the competition level is going to be very 丑颈驳丑.鈥�

The majority of the 2017 迟辞耻谤苍补尘别苍迟鈥檚 33 games will be played on Rutland 础谤别苍补鈥檚 East and West rinks.

One significant change is a shift in venue for the remaining games, from Memorial Arena to the Capital News Centre.

鈥淭丑别se teams are used to playing on the bigger ice surface and 迟丑补迟鈥檚 what CNC has that Memorial 诲辞别蝉苍鈥檛,鈥� said tournament chairman Greg Stark.

鈥淭丑别re鈥檚 also lots of parking, the dressing rooms are there, the big ice, so it made sense to move some games 迟丑别谤别.鈥�

Each team plays five-round robin games over four days, with the semifinals set for Saturday, Jan. 13.

The final, which will be broadcast live on Shaw TV, goes Sunday, Jan. 14 at 12:30 p.m.

One of the new features of this 测别补谤鈥檚 tournament will be the showcasing of junior B hockey in B.C.

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League all-star game will be played Saturday, Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. at Rutland West.

For more information on the tournament, visit