History
The most recent provincial Jr. B champions to come from the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League are the Campbell River Storm in 2015, the Peninsula Panthers in 2011, the Victoria Cougars in 2007, and the Campbell River Storm again in 1999 during their dynasty of the league. The only team in VIJHL history to ever win the Keystone Cup as Western Canadian champions are the 2015 Campbell River Storm. This has been accomplished multiple times by teams in the rival Pacific Junior Hockey League and Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
In 2012, the VIJHL announced the addition of two new franchises, the Nanaimo Buccaneers and the Westshore Wolves. The Buccaneers are the namesake of a team that played in the VIJHL in the 1970s. The Wolves are not new to the area either, but are replacing an unsuccessful team, the Westshore Stingers, that folded on December 4, 2010. On May 29, 2021, the league announced two additional teams. The Lake Cowichan Kraken and the Port Alberni Bombers.
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]
The league announced that it will become an independent league for the 2024-25 season and will no longer be affiliated with Hockey Canada or BC Hockey. [4]
The British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) is an independent Canadian Junior ice hockey league with 22 teams in British Columbia and Alberta. It was classified as a Junior 'A' league within the Hockey Canada framework until it became independent in 2023. Since becoming independent, the league characterizes itself simply as a Junior ice hockey league.
Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 15- to 20-year-old players. National Junior teams compete annually for the IIHF World Junior Championship. The United States men's national junior ice hockey team are the defending champions from the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) is a Junior A Tier 2 ice hockey league in British Columbia, Canada sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The winner of the Teck Cup competes with the champions of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League(VIJHL) for the Cyclone Taylor Cup, the British Columbia Provincial Title.
The Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL), is a Junior A Tier 2 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 fifteen franchises all currently reside in the districts of Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, and the Sunshine Coast. 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 provincial title, the Cyclone Taylor Cup. From 1983 to 2017, the winner of the Cyclone Taylor Cup moves on to compete for the Western Canada Junior "B" Crown, the Keystone Cup.
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.
The Fernie Ghostriders are a Junior 'A' 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; Ty Valin is the general manager and coach. They are currently captained by Taylor Haggerty.
The Kimberley Dynamiters are a Junior 'A' Ice Hockey team based in Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). They play their home games at Kimberley Civic Centre.
The Richmond Sockeyes are a Junior "A“ 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 Victoria Cougars are a junior "B" ice hockey team based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the South Division of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL). The Cougars play their home games at Archie Browning Arena, located in Esquimalt, British Columbia.
The Campbell River Storm are a Junior "A" 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. Jordan Rauser has been the coach since 2023. They are captained by forward Davis Frank.
The Creston Valley Thunder Cats are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Creston, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). The Thunder Cats play their home games at Johnny Bucyk Arena. Kelly Everett is the team's president, Bill Rotheisler is the general manager and coach.
The Comox Valley Glacier Kings are a junior "A” ice hockey team based in Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the North Division of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL). The Glacier Kings play their home games at Comox Valley Sports Centre, which has a capacity of 1,400. David Webb is the team's president. Mike Nesbitt is the coach and General Manager, and they are captained by forward Logan Furlong 2023-24. The Glacier Kings were the hosts of the 2013 Cyclone Taylor Cup.
The Peninsula Panthers are a Junior "A" 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 Tyler Stanton is the head coach.
The Saanich Predators are a junior "A” ice hockey team based in Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the South Division of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL). Formerly known as the Saanich Braves, they play their home games at George Pearkes Arena. Norm Kelly is the team's president and general manager, Cody Carlson is the coach and they are captained by forward Jack Westhaver
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 Victoria Grizzlies are a junior "A" ice hockey team based in Victoria, British Columbia. They are members of the Island Division of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play their home games at The Q Centre. The franchise was founded in 1994 as the Victoria Salsa.
Rugby League British Columbia, formerly known as British Columbia Rugby League, is a non-profit organization and a member of Canada Rugby League. RLBC operates a domestic rugby league football competition in British Columbia, Canada that currently features six teams with the addition of the Whistler Wolves for the 2020 season. The RLBC, with its clubs, additionally host events and competitions involving junior club teams and women's team to expand the sport of Rugby League in the province.
The 100 Mile House Wranglers are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in 100 Mile House, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Doug Birks Division of the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). The Wranglers play their home games at the South Cariboo Rec Centre. Tom Bachynski is the team's governor and Levi Stuart coach. They are currently captained by no one.
The Nanaimo Buccaneers are a junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The original Buccaneers were founded and owned by Cliff McNabb, and Jimmy Dawes in 1966-67. They play in the North Division of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. They were one of two expansion teams in 2012 in the VIJHL returning to the league after 30+ years, and play their home games at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
The Westshore Wolves are a Junior B Ice Hockey team based in Colwood, British Columbia, Canada. They are a member of the South Division of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. The Wolves entered the VIJHL in 2012, replacing a former franchise, the Westshore Stingers. They play their home games at The Q Centre under head coach Derek Sweet-Coulter.
