The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) has submitted an application to BC Hockey to have the league and its members reclassified to the Junior A level, following their annual general meeting held on Jun. 17 in Sicamous.
If approved, it would mean all 20 KIJHL teams would adopt new operating standards designed to sa国际传媒渆nhance the player experience league-wide,sa国际传媒� in the 2023/24 season, according to a press release from the league.
The application to BC hockey comes after an sa国际传媒渆xhaustive consultation processsa国际传媒� with the leaguesa国际传媒檚 partners in minor hockey, which included letters of support from all four regional minor hockey districts in which KIJHL teams operate, in addition to 19 separate minor hockey associations.
KIJHL Chairman Brett Holt said that the BCHLsa国际传媒檚 departure to independent hockey has left sa国际传媒渁 major hole in sanctioned junior hockey programming in our province.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淲ith the BCHL departing to independent hockey, we believe that we are in existing place right now to offer a solid alternative, an opportunity for really affordable, grassroots hockey. and just building on what wesa国际传媒檝e been doing for 55 years,sa国际传媒� Holt told the Bulletin.
sa国际传媒淣ot having a sanctioned Junior A league in B.C. creates a significant void that we are well-positioned to help fill. It was very exciting to witness the positive feedback from our partners at the minor hockey level and their enthusiasm to see increased Junior A playing opportunities for B.C. athletes.sa国际传媒�
READ MORE:
The transition to Junior A would be sa国际传媒渞ather seamless,sa国际传媒� Holt said.
sa国际传媒淲e have pretty good programs in place now where athletes are on the ice an hour and a half every day, we have fitness programs and we have education bursary programs and our own dressing rooms and whatnot,sa国际传媒� he said.
sa国际传媒淲hat it does do is create an opportunity for BC hockey players to continue on the affordable growth path of playing hockey in BC. And that just builds on where we are, so it gives the minor hockey groups in BC Hockey an opportunity to continue their evolution into Junior A.sa国际传媒�
When asked if there would be concerns about player recruitment to a KIJHL Junior A league, given the allure of the BCHL and its pipeline to Div 1 NCAA hockey, Holt said there are not.
sa国际传媒淲e have always moved players on to college hockey as well,sa国际传媒� Holt said. sa国际传媒淎nd what we are actually seeing are there a number of B.C.-based players that are waiting for this decision to come into a KIJHL Junior A program versus leaving the province into one of the other leagues.sa国际传媒�
Holt explained the league has been in consultation with BC Hockey since June 1, around when the BCHL went independent, and have been working with them and their partners in minor hockey, and have received tremendous support from the four minor hockey districts in which all the KIJHL teams operate and 19 separate minor hockey associations.
BC Hockey will now take this to their board for a vote, and Holt says the league hopes for a decision in early July so they can implement these changes for the coming season.
If they succeed in becoming Junior A, they would then work with the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) and go throught their process to be inclluded in that league, which would then have a number of different impacts for future championships.
The KIJHLsa国际传媒檚 regular season is set to begin on Friday, Sept. 22, with all 20 teams playing a 44-game schedule.
paul.rodgers@kimberleybulletin
Like us on and follow us on Twitter
