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30-787: Of the five teams that joined the KIJHL in 1969, the Grand Forks Border Bruins are the only team that has stayed in the KIJHL since the beginning of the league, 49 years ago. The 2015-16 KIJHL season marked the first time Grand Forks made the playoffs in 18 seasons, defeating the Castlegar Rebels 4-2 in the Division Semifinals. As of June 1st, 2021 the Grand Forks Border Bruins transferred ownership entering into private enterprise. They are currently owned and operated by Dr. Mark Szynkaruk

60-442: A local physician in the community of Grand Forks B.C. Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Records as of February 17, 2024. 7 Records as of March 16, 2024. Most Sportsmanlike Most Popular Most Valuable Player Kootenay International Junior Hockey League The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL)

90-712: A mission to advance their level of competitive hockey in British Columbia. The British Columbia Hockey Conference’s inaugural season (22/23) included two major projects: the creation of a Department of Player Safety and a Prospects Game that will highlight its top young players. In 2023, governing body BC Hockey announced plans to restructure its junior hockey framework following the departure of its only Junior A league . 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

120-584: 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

150-818: 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. The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League

180-404: 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

210-679: The Cariboo Memorial Recreation Centre . 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. In April 2024

240-524: 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

270-620: 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. 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

300-656: 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

330-775: 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. On November 26, 2024, The KIJHL announced via facebook That

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360-650: The North Okanagan Knights were founded. 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

390-821: 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

420-648: 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

450-570: The 1,300-seat West Fraser Centre. Before moving to Quesnel in 2024, the team was based in Armstrong, British Columbia and was known as the North Okanagan Knights. The Knights joined the KIJHL in 2009, but finished dead-last in the Okanagan Division with a record of 11–35–0–4, missing the playoffs. In 2010–11 , the Knights joined the new Doug Birks Division, but finished last again, losing 4-1 in

480-615: The BCHC had created social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) as "thebchc" deepening the social media presence of the BCHC. North Okanagan Knights The Quesnel River Rush is a junior ice hockey team based in Quesnel, British Columbia , Canada . The team plays in the Bill Ohlhausen Division of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) . The team plays its home games at

510-729: 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

540-625: 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. On September 22, 2022, The KIJHL and PJHL announced the creation of the BCHC (British Columbia Hockey Conference) which represents a partnership between two of Western Canada’s premier junior "B" hockey leagues with

570-586: 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,

600-411: The Okanagan Division, following the relocation of the Okanagan Division's Penticton Lakers to 100 Mile House . They finished fourth in their new division, but defeated the division champions Summerland Steam in seven games in the first round, before losing to Osoyoos . In 2014–15, the Knights struggled immensely, finishing with a record of 6–41–1–4, and failed to make the playoffs. The following year,

630-715: 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

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660-522: 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. 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,

690-415: The first round of the playoffs to Revelstoke . For 2011–12, the Knights improved to third place in the Doug Birks Division, with a record of 35–16–0–1, before losing to Kamloops in the first round of the playoffs. The following year the Knights won the Doug Birks Division for the first time, and reached the league championship series, losing in six games to Castlegar . For 2013–14, the Knights were moved to

720-585: 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,

750-572: The league to a total of 11 teams, an all-time high. 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

780-598: 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

810-590: 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

840-595: The next year and Nelson in 1989. The 1980s were largely dominated by the Cranbrook Colts with a 6 championship winning streak. 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

870-574: Was expected that those teams promoted to Tier 1 would eventually apply for membership in the CJHL . The league expected the evaluations to be completed during the 2024–25 season. 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

900-757: 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

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