Kootenay International Junior Hockey League

Junior ice hockey league

Kootenay International Junior Hockey LeagueCurrent season or competition:
2024–25 KIJHL season

Countries| Canada
USA
Commissioner| Jeff Dubois
Founded| 1966; 58 years ago (1966)
Conferences| Kootenay
Okanagan
No. of teams| 21
Recent Champions| Revelstoke Grizzlies
Most successful club| Cranbrook Colts
Website| www.kijhl.ca

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) is a junior ice hockey league in British Columbia, Canada and Washington state, USA sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The winner of the Teck Cup competes with the champions of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) and until the 2024–25 season, the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) for the Cyclone Taylor Cup, the British Columbia Provincial Title.

## History

[edit]

### Early history: 1966–1980

[edit]

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League was founded in 1966 as the West Kootenay Junior Hockey League. Five teams joined the league in its first year and started play in the 1969–70 season. They included the Trail Jr. Smoke Eaters, the Nelson Plaza Oilers, the Castlegar Apollos, the Grand Forks Border Bruins, and the Rossland Warriors. The Smoke Eaters won the inaugural league championship, advancing to the provincial championship. The next year, Castlegar would withdraw from the league, leaving only four teams. In 1971–1972, the Spokane Valley Kings and Cranbrook Colts joined the league, raising the number of teams to six, and incorporating an American team for the first time. Furthermore, the Nelson Plaza Oilers were renamed the Nelson Leafs. For 1972–73, the league was rebranded the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. In this season, the Kimberley Knights joined the league, while the Grand Forks Border Bruins took a leave of absence. In 1973–74 the league expanded again, incorporating a Fernie-based team. The league did not expand for two years after this point, during a period dominated by the Colts. The next expansion occurred in 1976–77, when the Creston Clippers and the Castlegar Rebels joined the league, and the Rebels won the league championship in their debut season. Columbia Valley joined in 1978–79 season, thus bringing the league to a total of 11 teams, an all-time high.

### 1980–1990

[edit]

In the 1981–82 season, Fernie would withdraw from the league, while the Elk Valley Raiders (Sparwood) would join in their place. The following year, the Beaver Valley Nitehawks would join, bringing the league to a total of 12 teams. Creston would withdraw from the league in 1985, and Nelson, Elk Valley and Grand Forks would do the same in 1986. Elk Valley and Grand Forks would return the next year and Nelson in 1989. The 1980s were largely dominated by the Cranbrook Colts with a 6 championship winning streak.

### 1990–2000

[edit]

In 1990, the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League was formed, creating a level of competition between the two geographic rival leagues. Cranbrook and Kimberley would depart the league in 1991, while the Golden Rockets would enter. The Rossland Warriors would return to the league the following season after a lengthy absence. In 1993–94, the KIJHL gained two new teams in the form of the North Okanagan Kings and the Revelstoke Grizzlies. North Okanagan won the league title in their first year. The following year, Elk Valley and Nelson would depart the league, while the Sicamous Eagles would join. The Eagles, too, won the league in their debut season. In 1996–97, the Castlegar Rebels relocated to Osoyoos, who played one season under the Rebels name, before being renamed the Heat. Castlegar was granted an expansion franchise in 1998–99, who was named the Rebels. In 1999–2000, the Nelson Leafs rejoined the KIJHL, winning the title in their first season back, and the Rossland Warriors relocated for a single season to Summerland. The 1999–2000 Summerland Warriors had the distinction of never having won a game, finishing their only season with a record of 0-45-0, conceding 485 goals in 45 games.

### 2000–2010

[edit]

The 2000–01 season saw the folding of the Summerland Warriors and the creation of the Creston Valley Thunder Cats. In 2001–02, the league was split from two to three divisions, the Neil Murdoch, Eddie Mountain, and Okanagan/Shushwap. Along with the division re-alignment, the North Okanagan Kings relocated to Enderby, becoming the Enderby Ice Kings. The Osoyoos Heat took on the name the Osoyoos Storm, and an expansion franchise was granted to Summerland, which took the name Summerland Sting. 2001–02 also saw the presence of the KIJHL's most accomplished alumnus, Shea Weber, who played for the league champions Sicamous Eagles for this single season. In 2002–03, the Princeton Posse joined the league, becoming the furthest west team in the KIJHL, and the Enderby Ice Kings folded after one season. In 2004–05, the Fernie Ghostriders joined the league from the North American Hockey League, and the following year the Golden Rockets were renamed the Golden Xtreme. They were renamed again the following year, this time becoming the Golden Jets. Also, 2006–07 saw the demise of the Osoyoos Storm, who moved to Kamloops Storm, while retaining the Storm name. In 2007–08, the league was divided into two conferences, which were furthermore split into two divisions each, dropping the Okanagan Shushwap, while creating the Eddie Mountain Conference, East and West Divisions, and likewise with the Neil Murdoch Conference. The Golden Xtreme was again renamed, this time reverting to the Rockets name. Furthermore, the Chase Chiefs joined the league in 2007–08, while the Fernie Ghostriders would capture the league title. There were no team changes in 2008–09, and the Nelson Leafs would capture the league title. In 2009–10, however, the Summerland Sting were forced to relocate to nearby Penticton, taking the name Penticton Lakers. Furthermore, an expansion team was granted to Armstrong, and the North Okanagan Knights were founded.

### 2010–2020

[edit]

50 Years: 1966-2016

In the 2010–11 season, the Osoyoos Coyotes were formed, and won the league title in their debut season, while the Chase Chiefs relocated to Rutland, Kelowna to become the Kelowna Chiefs. The following year, two expansion franchises were granted to Chase and Summerland, and the Chase Heat and Summerland Steam were formed. The 2012–13 season saw no team changes, while the Castlegar Rebels won the league title. The following year, 2013–14, the Penticton Lakers were forced into relocation to 100 Mile House due to low ticket sales, which stemmed from playing in the neighbouring arena to that of the Jr. A Penticton Vees, whose national success offered difficult competition. The new team was branded the 100 Mile House Wranglers. The following year again saw no team changes, and the Kimberley Dynamiters won the league title. In 2015–16, the Grand Forks Border Bruins made the playoffs for the first time in 19 years, a provincial Jr. B record and the 100 Mile House Wranglers won the Keystone Cup; the Cyclone Taylor Cup and the KIJHL Championship in their third only season against the previous year's champion, the Dynamiters. The 2016–17 season marks the KIJHL's 50th anniversary, with the Creston Valley Thunder Cats hosting the Cyclone Taylor Cup. Prior to the 2019–20 KIJHL season, the Okanagan Division was renamed the Bill Ohlhausen Division along with the KIJHL Championship renamed the Teck Cup for sponsorship reasons.

### 2020-present

[edit]

The Teck Cup was not awarded in 2020 due to the league suspended operations amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Jeff Dubois was later named the new commissioner. In June 2023, following the BCHL's decision to leave Hockey Canada sanctioning, the KIJHL applied for Junior A status from BC Hockey, on July 25, 2023, BC Hockey announced that three BC Junior B leagues, the KIJHL, PJHL, and VIJHL, were being promoted to "Junior A Tier 2". BC Hockey further announced that it hired a consulting firm to evaluate all Junior A Tier 2 teams for promotion to "Junior A Tier 1" to form a new league to fill the "Junior A" vacuum left by the BCHL. The Spokane Braves also returned to the KIJHL for the 2023–24 hockey season for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that shortened the KIJHL 2019–20 season, ending their nearly four season hiatus from the KIJHL due to travel restrictions from international travel. The 2023–24 hockey season also raised the limit of 20-year-old players from five to six players per team. The last Junior "B" player transaction from the KIJHL occurred on July 24, 2023, with a defenceman traded from the Grand Forks Border Bruins of the KIJHL to the Regina Capitals of the Prairie Junior Hockey League (PJHL) in Saskatchewan for future considerations.

In 2023, governing body BC Hockey announced plans to restructure its junior hockey framework following the departure of its only Junior A league.[1] 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.[2] The league expected the evaluations to be completed during the 2024–25 season.[3]

On March 22, 2024, it was announced that the Summerland Steam franchise has been sold and relocated to Williams Lake for the 2024-25 season, where they will now be known as the Williams Lake Mustangs and play out of the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Centre.[4]

On 31 March 2024, it was announced that the Merritt Centennials of the BCHL would join the KIJHL under new ownership beginning in the 2024–25 season as part of the Bill Ohlhausen Division. According to the announcement, the team would keep the same name and continue to play out of the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena under a 5-year lease.[5][6][7]

In April 2024 the North Okanagan Knights franchise was announced to have been sold to a Quesnel \- based ownership group where they would be rebranded as the Quesnel River Rush, with these changes the league moved the Revelstoke Grizzlies and the Sicamous Eagles moving from the Doug Birks Division to the Bill Ohlhausen expanding it from four to six teams.

## Teams

[edit]

Conference  | Division  | Team  | City  | Arena

|
|
|
|

Kootenay  | Eddie Mountain  | Columbia Valley Rockies | Invermere, BC | Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena
Creston Valley Thunder Cats | Creston, BC | Johnny Bucyk Arena
Fernie Ghostriders | Fernie, BC | Fernie Memorial Arena
Golden Rockets | Golden, BC | Golden Arena
Kimberley Dynamiters | Kimberley, BC | Kimberley Civic Centre
Neil Murdoch  | Beaver Valley Nitehawks | Fruitvale, BC | Beaver Valley Arena
Castlegar Rebels | Castlegar, BC | Castlegar Rec Centre
Grand Forks Border Bruins | Grand Forks, BC | Jack Goddard Memorial Arena
Nelson Leafs | Nelson, BC | Nelson Community Complex
Spokane Braves | Spokane, WA | Eagles Ice Arena
Okanagan  | Doug Birks  | 100 Mile House Wranglers | 100 Mile House, BC | South Cariboo Recreation Centre
Chase Heat | Chase,BC | Art Holding Memorial Arena
Kamloops Storm | Kamloops,BC | McArthur Island Sports & Events Centre
Williams Lake Mustangs | Williams Lake, BC | Cariboo Memorial Recreation Center
Quesnel River Rush | Quesnel,BC | West Fraser Arena
Bill Ohlhausen  | Kelowna Chiefs | Kelowna, BC | Rutland Arena
Merritt Centennials | Merritt, BC | Nicola Valley Memorial Arena
Osoyoos Coyotes | Osoyoos, BC | Osoyoos Sunbowl Arena
Princeton Posse | Princeton, BC | Princeton District Arena
Revelstoke Grizzlies | Revelstoke, BC | Revelstoke Forum
Sicamous Eagles | Sicamous, BC | Sicamous District Recreation Centre

## Franchise timeline

[edit]

## Team map

[edit]

League map

200km
125miles

Legend

* Kootenay Conference
* Eddie Mountain Division
* 1

Golden Rockets
* 2

Columbia Valley Rockies
* 3

Fernie Ghostriders
* 4

Kimberley Dynamiters
* 5

Creston Thundercats
* Neil Murdoch Division
* 6

Nelson Leafs
* 7

Castlegar Rebels
* 8

Beaver Valley Nitehawks
* 9

Spokane Braves
* 10

Grand Forks Border Bruins
* Okanagan/Shuswap Conference
* Bill Ohlhausen Division
* 11

Osoyoos Coyotes
* 12

Princeton Posse
* 13

Merritt Centennials
* 14

Kelowna Chiefs
* 15

Sicamous Eagles
* 16

Revelstoke Grizzlies
* Doug Birks Division
* 17

Chase Heat
* 18

Kamloops Storm
* 19

100 Mile House Wranglers
* 20

Williams Lake Mustangs
* 21

Quesnel River Rush

## Teck Cup champions

[edit]

Year  | Winning team  | Losing team

|
|

1968 | Trail Smoke Eaters | Nelson Leafs
1969 | Nelson Leafs | Trail Smoke Eaters
1970 | Trail Smoke Eaters | Rossland Warriors
1971 | Trail Smoke Eaters | Rossland Warriors
1972 | Trail Smoke Eaters | Cranbrook Colts
1973 | Cranbrook Colts | Rossland Warriors
1974 | Cranbrook Colts | Grand Forks Border Bruins
1975 | Cranbrook Colts | Trail Smoke Eaters
1976 | Cranbrook Colts | Rossland Warriors
1977 | Castlegar Rebels | Cranbrook Colts
1978 | Castlegar Rebels | Creston Clippers
1979 | Trail Smoke Eaters | Spokane Flames
1980 | Kimberley Knights | Trail Smoke Eaters
1981 | Trail Smoke Eaters | Cranbrook Colts
1982 | Cranbrook Colts | Trail Smoke Eaters
1983 | Cranbrook Colts | Trail Smoke Eaters
1984 | Cranbrook Colts | Spokane Flames
1985 | Cranbrook Colts | Trail Smoke Eaters
1986 | Cranbrook Colts | Trail Smoke Eaters
1987 | Cranbrook Colts | Castlegar Rebels
1988 | Columbia Valley Rockies | Trail Smoke Eaters
1989 | Columbia Valley Rockies | Nelson Leafs
1990 | Columbia Valley Rockies | Nelson Leafs
1991 | Trail Smoke Eaters | Columbia Valley Rockies
1992 | Nelson Leafs | Spokane Braves
1993 | Nelson Leafs | Columbia Valley Rockies
1994 | North Okanagan Kings | Castlegar Rebels
1995 | Sicamous Eagles | Castlegar Rebels
1996 | Castlegar Rebels | Sicamous Eagles
1997 | Beaver Valley Nitehawks | Columbia Valley Rockies
1998 | Revelstoke Grizzlies | Osoyoos Rebels
1999 | Beaver Valley Nitehawks | Revelstoke Grizzlies
2000 | Nelson Leafs | Sicamous Eagles
2001 | Beaver Valley Nitehawks | Revelstoke Grizzlies
2002 | Sicamous Eagles | Beaver Valley Nitehawks
2003 | Beaver Valley Nitehawks | Sicamous Eagles
2004 | Beaver Valley Nitehawks | Columbia Valley Rockies
2005 | Osoyoos Storm | Beaver Valley Nitehawks
2006 | Sicamous Eagles | Beaver Valley Nitehawks
2007 | Fernie Ghostriders | Nelson Leafs
2008 | Fernie Ghostriders | Kamloops Storm
2009 | Nelson Leafs | Kamloops Storm
2010 | Revelstoke Grizzlies | Nelson Leafs
2011 | Osoyoos Coyotes | Castlegar Rebels
2012 | Beaver Valley Nitehawks | Kelowna Chiefs
2013 | Castlegar Rebels | North Okanagan Knights
2014 | Beaver Valley Nitehawks | Kamloops Storm
2015 | Kimberley Dynamiters | Kamloops Storm
2016 | 100 Mile House Wranglers | Kimberley Dynamiters
2017 | Beaver Valley Nitehawks | Chase Heat
2018 | Kimberley Dynamiters | Revelstoke Grizzlies
2019 | Revelstoke Grizzlies | Kimberley Dynamiters
2020 | Not awarded [a]
2021
2022 | Revelstoke Grizzlies | Nelson Leafs
2023 | Kimberley Dynamiters | Princeton Posse
2024 | Revelstoke Grizzlies | Fernie Ghostriders

1. ^ Cancelled due to public health restrictions

## NHL alumni

[edit]

* Greg Adams
* Ron Areshenkoff
* Doug Barrault
* Kris Beech
* Drayson Bowman
* Steve Bozek
* Shane Churla
* Craig Cunningham
* Adam Deadmarsh
* Dallas Drake
* Wade Dubielewicz
* Andrew Ebbett
* Neil Eisenhut
* Ray Ferraro
* Rob Flockhart
* Travis Green
* Jamie Huscroft
* Barret Jackman
* Dane Jackson
* Steve Junker
* Alan Kerr
* Jon Klemm
* Chuck Kobasew
* Jeff Lank
* Tim Lenardon
* Scott Levins
* Bill Lindsay
* Jake Livingstone
* Jake Lucchini
* John Ludvig
* Brad Lukowich
* Jason Marshall
* Derek Mayer
* Steve McCarthy
* Glenn Merkosky
* David Oliver
* Scott Parker
* Steve Passmore
* Rudy Poeschek
* Craig Redmond
* Derek Ryan
* Kevin Sawyer
* Brian Skrudland
* Dan Smith
* Rob Tallas
* Steve Tambellini
* Gord Walker
* Shea Weber
* Mike Zanier

## See also

[edit]

* List of ice hockey teams in British Columbia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "BC Hockey announces new Junior A pathway". bchockey.net. British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
2. ^ "BC Hockey Junior A pathway update". bchockey.net. British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
3. ^ "B.C. Junior A leagues partner with Blackfin Sports Group". bchockey.net. British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
4. ^ jdubois (2024-03-22). "KIJHL approves move to Williams Lake". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
5. ^ "Centennials To Cease BCHL Operations For 2024-25 Season". Merritt Centennials. 31 March 2024.
6. ^ "KIJHL approves Merritt Centennials as expansion club". Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. 31 March 2024.
7. ^ Wasney, Jayden (31 March 2024). "Merritt Centennials to leave BCHL for Kootenay International Junior Hockey League". Global News. Retrieved 1 April 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official Website of the KIJHL

* v
* t
* e

Teams and Leagues eligible for the Cyclone Taylor Cup

KIJHL|

* 100 Mile House Wranglers
* Beaver Valley Nitehawks
* Castlegar Rebels
* Chase Heat
* Columbia Valley Rockies
* Creston Valley Thunder Cats
* Fernie Ghostriders
* Golden Rockets
* Grand Forks Border Bruins
* Kamloops Storm
* Kelowna Chiefs
* Kimberley Dynamiters
* Nelson Leafs
* Osoyoos Coyotes
* Princeton Posse
* Quesnel River Rush
* Revelstoke Grizzlies
* Sicamous Eagles
* Spokane Braves
* Williams Lake Mustangs

PJHL|

* Abbotsford Pilots
* Aldergrove Kodiaks
* Chilliwack Jets
* Coastal Tsunami
* Delta Ice Hawks
* Grandview Steelers
* Langley Trappers
* Mission City Outlaws
* North Vancouver Wolf Pack
* Port Coquitlam Trailblazers
* Port Moody Panthers
* Richmond Sockeyes
* Ridge Meadows Flames
* Surrey Knights
* White Rock Whalers

* BCAHA
* PCJHL
* PJHL
* PNHL
* Cyclone Taylor Cup
* Keystone Cup

* v
* t
* e

Leagues competing for the Keystone Cup

British Columbia|

* Kootenay International Junior Hockey League
* Pacific Junior Hockey League

Alberta|

* Calgary Junior Hockey League
* Capital Junior Hockey League
* Heritage Junior Hockey League
* North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League
* North West Junior Hockey League

Saskatchewan|

* Prairie Junior Hockey League

Manitoba|

* Keystone Junior Hockey League

Ontario|

* Lakehead Junior Hockey League

* Cyclone Taylor Cup
* Russ Barnes Trophy
* Athol Murray Trophy
* Baldy Northcott Trophy
* William Ryan Trophy
* Hockey Canada

* v
* t
* e

Junior ice hockey leagues in North America

Canadian Hockey League|

| Major Junior|

Ontario Hockey League
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
Western Hockey League

|

Hockey Canada|

| Junior A|

* Canadian Junior Hockey League
* Alberta
* Central Canada
* Manitoba
* Maritime
* Northern Ontario
* Ontario
* Quebec
* Saskatchewan
* Superior International

|

Junior B|

* Calgary
* Capital
* Capitale
* Capital Region
* Eastern Ontario
* Chaudiere-Appalaches
* Greater Ontario
* Heritage
* Island
* Keystone
* Kootenays
* Lakehead
* Lac St-Louis
* Laurentides-Lanaudiere
* Metropolitaine
* New Brunswick
* North Eastern Alberta
* North West
* Nova Scotia
* Pacific
* Prairie
* Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
* St. John's

Junior C|

* Calgary
* Hanover Tache
* Hockey Expert
* Laval
* Mauricie
* Montreal
* National Capital
* Noralta
* Nova Scotia
* Nunavut
* Orford-St-Francois
* Prince Edward Island
* Provincial
* Qu'Appelle Valley
* Rive-Nord
* Richelieu Valley
* Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean
* Yamaska-Missisquoi

Other|

* Manitoba Major

USA Hockey|

| Tier I|

* United States Hockey League

|

Tier II|

* North American Hockey League

Tier III|

* North American 3 Hockey League

Independent|

* British Columbia Hockey League
* Vancouver Island
* Can-Am
* EHL (EHL, EHL Premier)
* Greater Metro
* USPHL (NCDC, Premier, Elite)

Related article

List of ice hockey leagues
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