BC Elite Hockey League

Last updated
BC Elite Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Founded2004
No. of teams14
Country Canada
Most recent
champion(s)
Okanagan Rockets
Related
competitions
Telus Cup
Official website www.bcehl.net

The British Columbia Elite Hockey League (BCEHL) is the highest level of provincial youth ice hockey league in British Columbia, Canada. The league is governed by BC Hockey and was inaugurated in 2004 as the British Columbia Hockey Major Midget League (BCMML).

Contents

The league currently consists of 9 integrated teams (U15, U17, U18) and 5 U18 women's teams. Players range from 14 to 17 years old. [1] BCEHL is part of BC Hockeys' "High Performance" program to develop the best U18 players around the province. The U18 league champion goes on to compete with the top Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL) U18 team to represent the Pacific region at the annual Telus Cup, Canada's national U18 championship. The Okanagan Rockets are the current 2023 champions, [2] and the 2022 Vancouver North East Chiefs [3] were the last team to represent the BCEHL at the Telus Cup.

History

Originally established in 2004–05 as the British Columbia Major Midget League [4] for players under 18 years of age, a female division was initialized in 2007–08 and played under the umbrella of the Female Midget AAA League. In 2018, a U16 AAA league was created (now the U17 AAA league), followed by a U15 AAA league in 2019. These four divisions (Female U18 AAA, U18 AAA, U17 AAA and U15 AAA) now comprise the BCEHL.

On September 16, 2021, the league was announced as being renamed the British Columbia Elite Hockey League. [5]

Current teams

Integrated

Female

Former teams

U18 League champions

YearChampionPacific ChampionshipResult in Telus Cup
2025Okanagan RocketsDefeated Calgary Flames [6] Fifth [7]
2024Vancouver North East ChiefsLost to Calgary Buffaloes
2023Okanagan RocketsLost to Calgary Flames
2022Vancouver North East ChiefsDefeated Calgary BuffaloesSixth
2021Was not playedWas not playedCancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020Okanagan RocketsWas not playedCancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019Cariboo CougarsLost to Calgary Buffaloes
2018Fraser Valley ThunderbirdsLost to Lethbridge Hurricanes
2017Cariboo CougarsLost to Leduc Oil KingsSixth
2016Valley West HawksLost to Lloydminister Bobcats
2015Vancouver North East ChiefsLost to UFA Bisons
2014Okanagan RocketsDefeated Red Deer ChiefsBronze
2013Vancouver North West GiantsLost to Red Deer Chiefs
2012Vancouver North West GiantsLost to Red Deer Optimist Rebels
2011Vancouver North West GiantsDefeated Red Deer Optimist RebelsFourth
2010Vancouver North West GiantsLost to Red Deer Optimist Rebels
2009Vancouver North West GiantsLost to Calgary Buffaloes [8]
2008Cariboo CougarsLost to Calgary Buffaloes [9]
2007Vancouver North West GiantsN/A [a] Fourth
2006Okanagan RocketsLost to Calgary Buffaloes [11]
2005Thompson BlazersLost to SSAC Boston Pizza Athletics
  1. The Giants earned an automatic bye into the Telus Cup because the Red Deer Optimist Rebels were hosting the tournament [10]

Telus Cup

The Vancouver North West Giants (2007, 2011), Okanagan Rockets (2014) and the Vancouver North East Chiefs (2022) are the only teams to have represented the league at the Telus Cup. Upon the Giants' winning the BC MML championship in 2007, a regional final with the AMHL was not necessary as Red Deer was hosting the Telus Cup that year. [12] The Giants finished fourth in the Telus Cup tournament in 2007 before returning four years later; they again finished fourth in 2011. The 2014 Rockets, meanwhile, won the bronze medal.

Prior to the inauguration of the BC MML, the national midget championship was held in British Columbia twice – hosted by Kelowna in 1996 and Prince George in 2001. The Burnaby Winter Club Travellers represent the only B.C. team to win the national championship, defeating the Gouverneurs de Ste-Foy from Quebec in 1982, as well as winning bronze in 1980. [13]

Timeline of franchises (since 2004)

Source: [14]

BC Elite Hockey League

Former memberCurrent member

See also

References

  1. "Q&A". BC Hockey Major Midget League. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
  2. "Past Championships and Awards | BC Elite Hockey League". www.bcehl.net. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  3. "Rosters | 2022 TELUS Cup". www.hockeycanada.ca. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  4. "Program & History | BC Elite Hockey League". www.bcehl.net. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  5. "BC Hockey AAA Leagues Rebrand as British Columbia Elite Hockey League". BC HOCKEY. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  6. "Alberta Elite Hockey League U18 AAA". www.u18aaa.ca. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
  7. "Standings | 2025 TELUS Cup". www.hockeycanada.ca. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
  8. "Pacific Midget Regional's - Game 3". BC Hockey . Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  9. "National Playoff Bracket" (PDF). Hockey Canada . Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  10. "National Playoff Bracket" (PDF). Hockey Canada . Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  11. "Road to the Telus Cup" (PDF). Hockey Canada . Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  12. "2007 Telus Cup". Hockey Canada . Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  13. "Telus Cup". Hockey Canada . Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  14. "Elite Prospects - BCEHL U18 - Season 2023-2024". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2023-09-14.