Two B.C. junior hockey leagues say they remain committed to the Hockey Canada umbrella after a Vancouver Island junior league announced it was going independent as a feeder program for higher non-sanctioned leagues.
The Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League announced Monday (April 25) that it will operate independently of Hockey Canada and the BC Hockey Conference starting in the
However, representatives from the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and the Pacific Junior Hockey League say both leagues remain committed to Hockey Canada and BC Hockey.
sa国际传媒淭he BCHC and its member leagues are fully committed to operating under the Hockey Canada and BC Hockey umbrella,sa国际传媒� said Jeff Dubois, KIJHL commissioner. sa国际传媒淥ver the past year, we have been making the necessary efforts and investments to elevate to the Junior A level, with the ultimate goal of providing our players with a pathway to compete in the Centennial Cup, Canadasa国际传媒檚 national Junior A championship.sa国际传媒�
In 2022, the KIJHL and PJHL formed the BCHC to advance their level of junior hockey in the province and provide enhanced opportunities for players.
BCHC initiatives over the past two seasons have included the creation of a Department of Player Safety and the establishment of a Top Prospects Game, which has directly led to three recent participants signing in the Western Hockey League.
sa国际传媒淭he BCHC, the PJHL and the KIJHL are well-established and provide exceptional value to our participants, fans and sponsors,sa国际传媒� said Trevor Alto, PJHL commissioner. sa国际传媒淲e look forward to this reputation being further solidified as the impact of todaysa国际传媒檚 announcement is felt throughout the sanctioned Junior A landscape in our province.sa国际传媒�
The VIJHLsa国际传媒檚 decision to leave the Hockey Canada umbrella was made after a board vote by the 11 member teams, which was announced on April 29.
According to a statement, the decision was made to enhance development opportunities for players and give the league more autonomy over its future.
Organizationally, Hockey Canada-sanctioned junior hockey has been in flux ever since the British Columbia Hockey League sa国际传媒� formerly the provincesa国际传媒檚 top-tier Junior A league sa国际传媒� announced it was going independent last year.
Following the BCHLsa国际传媒檚 announcement, Hockey Canada approved the move of B.C.sa国际传媒檚 three former Junior B leagues sa国际传媒� the KIJHL, PJHL and VIJHL sa国际传媒� up into Junior A.
sa国际传媒淲e are very pleased with the progression of the KIJHL and PJHL as they move forward toward a strengthened Junior A in our province,sa国际传媒� said Cameron Hope, BC Hockey CEO. sa国际传媒淭hese leagues have shown a clear, ongoing commitment to prioritizing the safety, development and playing experience of B.C. and Yukon players. We are disappointed with the decision of the VIJHL team owners to operate outside the safe and organized community sport model of sanctioned hockey, but we wish them well.sa国际传媒�
The BCHC is continuing efforts to develop an application and assessment process for KIJHL and PJHL teams to take the next step to full-fledged Junior A hockey, while engaging with Blackfin Sports Group, which is headed up by former Canucks Sports & Entertainment executives.
The BCHC is expected to announce its next steps in early 2025, as the May 1 application deadline is fast approaching.
