By Trevor Greenway

Local Journalism Initiative

It was the calm before the second storm on Saturday, Feb. 15, as the Rupert Winter Carnival snuck in a day of winter fun that was bookended by two major storms that dumped close to 75 centimetres of snow over parts of the region. 

But it was a day of winter bliss during the winter carnival Saturday; a balmy -10 C, which was perfect for a classic ice hockey game, the traditional egg toss, a three-legged race and hours of tobogganing fun on Rupert’s epic hill. 

The day started off with the first-annual Rupert Winter Classic: a friendly but competitive hockey game between two iconic squads, which featured the likes of Liam Hale, Brad Stewart, Dylan Rollo, Nick Steers and a handful of other well-known Hills hockey players. 

It was a special moment for the players as well as the spectators, who were wrapped around Rupert’s outdoor rink, as it was the first time in several years that a hockey game had been played during the winter carnival. The pandemic and past weather issues have plagued the traditional tournament for years, so it was a poignant ceremonial faceoff. And, instead of a full tournament, organizers went with just one classic game and then opened the rink up to kids, who took over with shinny, ice games and an evening dance party to the tunes of DJ Matt Tamblyn.