The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada. Teams play for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, with the winner moving on to play for the Memorial Cup, Canada's national junior championship. WHL teams have won the Memorial Cup 19 times since the league became eligible to compete for the trophy. Many players have been drafted from WHL teams, and have found success at various levels of professional hockey, including the National Hockey League (NHL).
The Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL), formerly Pacific International Junior Hockey League, (PIJHL) until 2012 is a Canadian junior ice hockey league which operates in the Lower mainland of British Columbia. Although the PJHL has included American teams in the past, the league's twelve franchises all currently reside in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Several National Hockey League stars began their junior hockey careers in the PJHL, but the main focus of the league is player development and education with strong ties to the local hockey community. The PJHL Championship is awarded annually to the league playoff champion and the winner moves on to compete against the champions of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League for the British Columbia Provincial Title, the Cyclone Taylor Cup. The winner of the Cyclone Taylor Cup moves on to compete for the Western Canada Junior "B" Crown, the Keystone Cup.
Jeff Tambellini is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger and current Head Coach and General Manager of the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL. Originally selected 27th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, he joined the National Hockey League in 2005. During his rookie season, he was traded to the New York Islanders. He split his first three professional seasons between the NHL and his clubs' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliates, the Manchester Monarchs and Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In July 2010, Tambellini signed with the Vancouver Canucks and spent a season with the organization.
The Powell River Kings are a junior "A" ice hockey team based in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play their home games at Hap Parker Arena.
The Fernie Ghostriders are a junior 'B' ice hockey team based in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). The Ghostriders play their home games at the Fernie Memorial Arena in Fernie, British Columbia. Barb Anderson is the team's president; Jeff Wagner is the general manager and coach. They are currently captained by Sawan Gill.
The WHA Junior Hockey League was an independent Canadian junior ice hockey league based out of British Columbia, Canada. The league marketed itself as a Junior A league, but was an unsanctioned independent loop with its own rules, processes and procedures, and was marked by franchise instability. Its team logos were based on the old WHA pro league of the 1970s.
The Richmond Sockeyes are a Junior "B" ice hockey team based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. They were named the "Sockeyes" by the original owner and longtime Richmond resident and B.C. hockey volunteer and leader Bruce Allison in 1972. Allison was motivated to bring top-level junior hockey to Richmond while also encouraging local players to play closer to home and stay in school. The first captain of the team was Richmond product Doug Paterson - who is one of the team's current owners. The Sockeyes franchise has had success as a Junior B team, and for several years as a top Junior A team in the PAC-A league and later the BC Junior Hockey League. The Sockeyes have won nine PJHL championships, six Cyclone Taylor Junior B BC Championship titles, two Keystone Cup National Junior B Championship titles, two Mowat Cup BC Junior A Championship titles, a Fred Page Championship as BCHL champions and a Centennial Cup as National Junior A Champions. They also won the Abbott Cup and Doyle Cup in 1987 - defeating Alberta and Saskatchewan Junior A champions on their way to a national title.
The Ridge Meadows Flames are a Junior "B" ice hockey team based in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Harold Brittain Conference of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL). The Flames play their home games at Planet Ice Maple Ridge. Blaine Hallman is the director of Hockey Operations. Derek Bedard serves as the team's General Manager and Governor. Former NHL player, Brent Hughes is the Head Coach. Mike Legg, Brett Sonne and Bobby Vermette serve as the Assistant Coaches. Mackenzie Skapski and Jeff Smith are the Goalie Coaches.
The Surrey Knights are a Junior "B" ice hockey team based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Harold Brittain Conference of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL). The Knights play their home games at the North Surrey Sport and Ice Complex.
The Port Moody Panthers are a junior "B" ice hockey team based in Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada. They were members of the Harold Britain Conference of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) before being relocated to the Tom Shaw Conference for the 2014-15 season. The Panthers play their home games at the Port Moody Recreation Complex arena.
The Mission City Outlaws are a junior "B" ice hockey team based in Mission, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Harold Brittain Conference of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL). The Outlaws play their home games at Mission Leisure Centre. Scott Kieler is the team's general manager.
The Grandview Steelers are a junior "B" ice hockey team based in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Tom Shaw Conference of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL). The Steelers play their home games at Burnaby Winter Club. Aldo Bruno is the team's Vice-president and general manager. Stevan Matic is the team's head coach.
The Delta Ice Hawks are a junior "B" ice hockey team based in Delta, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Tom Shaw Conference of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL). The Ice Hawks play their home games at Ladner Leisure Centre.
The 1997–98 Vancouver Canucks season was the team's 28th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). After missing the playoffs the season before, the team responded by signing Mark Messier to a three-year contract. The signing of Messier did little to improve the team, however, as they finished even worse than the year before, costing Head Coach Tom Renney and General Manager Pat Quinn their jobs. For the first time in NHL history, regular season games were played outside of North America, with the Canucks playing the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in Tokyo, Japan, to open up the regular season. Pavel Bure became the last Canuck to score 50 or more goals in a season. On April 9, 1998, the Canucks scored three short-handed goals in a 6–3 road win over the Calgary Flames.
The Campbell River Storm are a Junior "B" ice hockey team based in Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the North Division of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL). The Storm play their home games at Rod Brind'Amour Arena. Lee Stone has been the coach since 2013. They are captained by defenceman Kyle Jennings.
The Kerry Park Islanders are a Junior "B" ice hockey team based in Mill Bay, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the South Division of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL). The Islanders play their home games at Kerry Park Recreation Center. They are coached by Brandon Cox and Troy Newans
The Peninsula Panthers are a junior "B" ice hockey team based in North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the South Division of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL). The Panthers play their home games at Panorama Recreation Centre. Coreen Zubersky is the team's president, Pete Zubersky is the general manager and Brad Tippett is the head coach.
The Westshore Stingers were a junior "B" ice hockey team based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. They were members of the South Division of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL). The Stingers played their home games at Bear Mountain Arena. John Butler-Smith was the team's last president and general manager; and Bryan Grant was the last coach.
The North Vancouver Wolf Pack is a Junior "B" ice hockey team based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Tom Shaw Conference of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL).
The White Rock Whalers are a junior "B" ice hockey team based in White Rock, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Tom Shaw Conference of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL). The Whalers play their home games at Centennial Arena. Jason Rogers is the teams Director of Hockey Operations.
Matt Samson