Editor’s note: Games are scheduled to begin at 7:30, and doors open at 6:30.
The Gibson Cup begins tomorrow evening at 6:30 in the Calumet Colosseum. Friday evening marks the first of 3 games through the weekend. Saturday, the game begins at 6:30 p.m. at Dee Stadium and on next Wednesday, there will be a game at 4 p.m. back at the Calumet Colosseum if needed.
Last year, the Calumet Wolverines took home the Gibson cup.
“I expect everybody to be giving it their all, that’s for sure. We’re just fortunate enough to still be able to play and keep the tradition going… We thank all the fans that come out and support us throughout the entire year and when this place is hopping, it’s definitely a place to be on a Friday or Saturday night.” – Sherman Mowery, center for Calumet Wolverines.
The Gibson cup started back in 1939, and developed an intense rivalry between the Calumet Wolverines and Portage Lake Pioneers.
“Yeah, we’ve lost a few years in a row now, so we’re really just hoping to get the cup back down where it belongs. We have a really strong team this year, maybe the deepest we’ve had in the past 5, 6 years. We have the tournament coming up but we all say the Gibson Cup means more than the tournament so, it’s really special… Well you know I’m actually really good friends with one of the Calumet Wolverines, but once we’re on the ice it doesn’t matter. We’re rivals or enemies so, if it comes to it, we’ll hit each other, we’ll fight each other.” – Cody Sivonen, right wing for the Portage Lake Pioneers.
The Gibson Cup is the third oldest tournament cup in hockey, and it’s said the rivalry between the Pioneers and Wolverines is one of the oldest in the sport.