The junior hockey landscape continues to evolve in BC.
After three years of team applications and evaluations, BC Hockey has unveiled the new BC Hockey Conference or “BCHC” to begin play across three divisions in the fall. The new Junior “A” Tier One league will include 14 current KIJHL members including the Kamloops Storm and the Merritt Centennials.
Those divisions:
Interior Division: Kamloops Storm, Merritt Centennials, Osoyoos Coyotes, Princeton Posse, Quesnel River Rush, Revelstoke Grizzlies, Summerland Jets, Williams Lake Mustangs.
Kootenay Division: Beaver Valley Nitehawks, Columbia Valley Rockies, Fernie Ghostriders, Grand Forks Border Bruins, Kimberley Dynamiters, Nelson Leafs.
Mainland Division: Burnaby Steelers, Chilliwack Jets, Coastal Tsunami, Delta Ice Hawks, Langley Trappers, Port Coquitlam Trailblazers, Richmond Sockeyes, Ridge Meadows Flames.
In a news release BC Hockey says “With the launch of the BCHC, all Junior A hockey in the province of B.C. will fall under one league umbrella with teams located in the Cariboo, Kootenays, Lower Mainland, the Sunshine Coast and the Thompson-Okanagan. The BCHC winner will be awarded the Mowat Cup as provincial Junior A champions.”
“We continue to take measured and thoughtful steps to build our junior hockey pathways in B.C. and to restore a strong and connected ecosystem for our leagues, teams, and junior hockey participants,” BC Hockey Chief Executive Officer Cameron Hope said. “We are now positioned to return to competition for Hockey Canada’s national Junior A championship and, more importantly, to deliver a high-quality player experience for players and families.”
In Kamloops, Storm General Manager Matt Kolle welcomes the chance to fill what he calls a gap in the development model when the BCHL left the Hockey Canada umbrella three years ago.
“We’re filling a vacant position in BC. BC was the province that had a vacancy at the Junior “A” Tier 1 level. The opportunity to fill that vacancy is big. We are the representatives for BC now,” said Kolle who sounds very bullish on the new league.
“We’ll shoot to be the best we can be. We are filling the vacancy (when the BCHL left Hockey Canada). If this helps us elevate above, great. We will strive to be the best. I hope we do.”
The changing landscape also means the end of the KIJHL after 60 years. A strong brand that has survived a lot of changes over the years.
Dubois says that’s something very personal to him.
“I would hope and will work hard to make sure the KIJHL brand comes back and is strong in the future. That’s down the road, but we’ll have to take a mindful approach to that,” Dubois said in an interview with Radio NL
BC Hockey’s news release stated “The return to the Junior A and Junior B designations in British Columbia follows three seasons of work by BC Hockey, the KIJHL and other junior members, and key stakeholders to ensure clubs were prepared to commit to processes aimed toward operating at a level that players and families should expect of organizations at the Junior A level. As part of this process, interested teams were evaluated by an independent third party, Blackfin Sports Group, for promotion.”
Two weeks ago, eight teams in the KIJHL including the Chase Heat formed a new Western International Junior Hockey League. It plans to affiliate with the BCHL as an unsanctioned league not under the Hockey Canada umbrella.
The BCHC says it will make a number of announcements regarding plans for the 2026-27 Junior A season through its website and social media channels.
