Revelstoke earned a letter of gratitude from the City of Grand Forks for the "warm hospitality" it offered residents of the frontier town who came to witness the final games of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) playoffs.
A note penned by Kevin McKinnon, Grand Forks' corporate officer who visited town for Games 3 and 4 of the Teck Cup championship finals between the Border Bruins and Revelstoke Grizzlies, was pleasantly received by Revelstoke's city council Tuesday, May 13.
The Grizzlies had been eyeing back-to-back championship titles this year, beating out the 100 Mile House Wranglers and the Princeton Posse before losing four consecutive third-round games to the Border Bruins last April.
But amid high turnout at the Revelstoke Forum the final nights by out-of-town spectators, who'd driven four-and-a-half hours from Grand Forks to support their junior hockey boys in their most successful playoff run in more than 50 years, McKinnon said Revelstoke treated his visiting community warmly and respectfully.
"I wanted to write to you to extend my appreciation for the warm hospitality your community showed to me, and to other Bruins fans and family members who were fortunate to spend the weekend there," he addressed to the City of Revelstoke.
The 2024-25 KIJHL playoffs marked the first time in franchise history that Grand Forks won the Teck Cup, and the only season it's ever reached the championship round besides back in 1973-74 when it lost to the Cranbrook Colts.
"While there is always the possibility of animosity when rival teams meet, particularly in a high-stakes event, every member of the Grand Forks fan base that I spoke to expressed their delight with the reception they received while in Revelstoke," McKinnon continued, "even while wearing the black-and-gold Bruins colours."
He also offered special appreciation for the many volunteers running the Forum on those long and busy nights. McKinnon said the staff's willingness to allow the visiting team to celebrate out in the rink after their triumphant Game 4, "probably while planning for the end of their workdays," meant a lot to the Border Bruins' players, staff, families and fans.
"Just really appreciative of how this community reaches out and treats others with immense respect and care," Revelstoke Mayor Gary Sulz summed up. "For our staff, I'm very thankful for how they supported them by allowing them to celebrate on the ice."
After a pleasant stay in Revelstoke, the Border Bruins went on to capture the KIJHL provincial Junior A championships at the Mowat Cup finals Sunday night, April 27, beating the Ridge Meadows Flames 9-6 in Game 4.
"See you guys next year!" Coun. Matt Cherry quipped to Grand Forks.
