British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association

Ice hockey governing body of British Columbia and Yukon Territory

BC Hockey

Sport| Ice hockey
Jurisdiction| British Columbia and Yukon
Abbreviation| BC Hockey
Founded| 1919 (1919)
Headquarters| Victoria
Chairman| Stephanie White
CEO| Cameron Hope
Official website
bchockey.net

The British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association, more commonly known as BC Hockey, is a non-profit organization and member branch of Hockey Canada in charge of governing amateur hockey at all levels in British Columbia and Yukon Territory. It comprises approximately 150 minor hockey associations, 55,000 players, 4,500 referees, and 20,000 official volunteers.

## History

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Founded in 1919 as the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association, BC Hockey has seen many changes and substantial growth over the years. The organization continues to strive to provide training and resources for volunteers so that they may better serve the amateur hockey community.

In 2023, the "junior A" British Columbia Hockey League withdrew from BC Hockey and Hockey Canada to become an independent league. The league cited improved recruitment opportunities for 16 and 17 year old players in Canada as well as anticipated improved interest from Americans and players outside of North America as important reasons for the decision.[1] BC Hockey then announced plans to restructure its junior hockey framework.[2] The three Junior B leagues (PJHL, KIJHL and VIJHL) were summarily designated as "Junior A Tier 2", with plans to conduct an independent evaluation of those teams seeking to be promoted to "Junior A Tier 1". It was expected that those teams promoted to Tier 1 would eventually apply for membership in the CJHL.[3] The league expected the evaluations to be completed during the 2024-25 season.[4] In April 2024, the VIJHL announced that it would also withdraw from the Hockey Canada framework and become an independent farm league for the BCHL beginning in the 2024-25 season.[5][6]

In the 2024–25 season, Hockey Canada and its four western affiliates – BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, Hockey Saskatchewan and Hockey Manitoba – will pilot the Western Canadian Development Model (WCDM). Under the WCDM, junior leagues will adopt most of the Western Hockey League rulebook, excluding some sections, and restrictions on 15-year-old affiliate players in the Western Hockey League will be loosened. Players that will be 18-years of age or older in the calendar year will be allowed to choose whether to use full-face protection or half-face protection, whilst younger players will be required to use full-face protection.[7]

## Governance

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The organization is overseen by a board of directors composed of 9 elected members.[8]

### Notable executives

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* Doug Grimston (1900–1955), BCAHA president from 1942 to 1947, and Canadian Amateur Hockey Association president from 1950 to 1952[9]

## Leagues

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* Kootenay International Junior Hockey League
* Pacific Junior Hockey League
* BC Elite Hockey League \- U18 "AAA"
* Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association

### Independent teams

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* Fort St. John Flyers Senior "AAA" (North Peace Hockey League)
* Powell River Regals Senior "AA"

### Defunct Leagues

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* British Columbia Senior Hockey League
* Cariboo Hockey League
* Central Interior Hockey League
* Okanagan Mainline League
* Pacific Coast Junior Hockey League
* Pacific Northwest Hockey League
* Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League
* West Kootenay League
* Western International Hockey League

## See also

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* List of ice hockey teams in British Columbia

## References

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1. ^ "BCHL pulls out of Hockey Canada, becomes an independent league". The Province. May 1, 2023.
2. ^ "BC Hockey announces new junior A pathway". bchockey.net. British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
3. ^ "BC Hockey junior A pathway update". bchockey.net. British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
4. ^ "B.C. junior A leagues partner with Blackfin Sports Group". bchockey.net. British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
5. ^ Ewen, Steve (April 30, 2024). "Vancouver Island Junior B loop cuts ties with Hockey Canada, joins forces with BCHL". The Province. Postmedia. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
6. ^ "VIJHL announces decision to become independent league". vijhl.com. Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. April 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
7. ^ Ewen, Steve (July 12, 2024). "Feud for thought: Rivals Hockey Canada and BCHL provide duelling announcements". The Province. Postmedia. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
8. ^ "About BC Hockey".
9. ^ "BC Hockey 100 Great Moments: BC Hockey Presidents". BC Hockey. January 14, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2020.

## Further reading

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* Zillich, Tom (March 18, 2025). "PJHL move to 2 tiers will divide 15 junior hockey teams next season". Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News. Black Press Media. Retrieved March 31, 2025.

* "KIJHL league structure to change for 2026-27 season". kijhl.ca (Press release). Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.

* Lypka, Ben (March 18, 2025). "Fraser Valley teams split by PJHL alignment set for next season". The Chilliwack Progress. Black Press Media. Retrieved March 31, 2025.

* Peters, James (March 18, 2025). "KIJHL to separate into two tiers in 2026; Storm and Cents to play Tier 1". CFJC Today Kamloops. Pattison Media. Retrieved March 31, 2025.

* Vaski, Corvin (March 20, 2025). "KIJHL to split into separate tiers in the 2026-27 season". KamloopsBCNow. Retrieved March 31, 2025.

* "BCHC and BC Hockey announce alignment of junior A leagues for the 2025–26 season". bchockey.net (Press release). Saanichton, BC: BC Hockey. Retrieved March 31, 2025.

* Cobb, Ian (March 10, 2025). "Details announced for the 2025 Mowat Cup". East Kootenay News Online Weekly. Retrieved March 31, 2025.

## External links

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* BC Hockey official website
* PIJHL official website

* v
* t
* e

Members and events of Hockey Canada

Member branches|

* BC Hockey
* Hockey Alberta
* Hockey Saskatchewan
* Hockey Manitoba
* Hockey Northwestern Ontario
* Ontario Hockey Federation
* Hockey Eastern Ontario
* Hockey Québec
* Hockey New Brunswick
* Hockey PEI
* Hockey Nova Scotia
* Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador
* Hockey North

Associate bodies|

* Canadian Junior Hockey League

Interbranch events|

| Men's|

* Allan Cup
* Centennial Cup
* Telus Cup
* Canada Winter Games
* Aboriginal Championships

|

Women's|

* Clarkson Cup
* CIS Championship
* Esso Cup
* Under-18 Championship
* Canada Winter Games
* Aboriginal Championships

Regional|

* ANAVET Cup
* Doyle Cup
* Dudley Hewitt Cup
* Fred Page Cup
* Keystone Cup
* Don Johnson Memorial Cup
* Maritime-Hockey North Junior C Championship
* Brewers Cup

National teams|

* Men's (rosters)
* Men's U–20 (rosters)
* Men's U–18
* Men's sledge
* Women's (rosters)
* Women's U–18
* Women's sledge

International events|

| HC organized|

* World U-17 Hockey Challenge
* World Junior A Challenge
* World Sport School Challenge
* Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup

|

IIHF organized|

* Olympic Winter Games
* Paralympic Games
* Youth Olympic Games
* Ice Hockey World Championships
* IIHF World Women's Championships
* IIHF World Junior Championship
* IIHF World U18 Championships
* IIHF World Women's U18 Championships
* 4 Nations Cup
* Meco Cup

Other|

* World Cup of Hockey
* Hlinka Gretzky Cup
* Spengler Cup
* Universiade
* Sledge World Championships

* Canada
* Ice hockey
* Hockey Hall of Fame
* International Ice Hockey Federation

Authority control databases |

* VIAF

|

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