The 2024–25 KIJHL season will be the 58th season of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. The regular season will begin on September 20, 2024, with 18 of 21 franchises in action on opening night, the Kelowna Chiefs and defending champions the Revelstoke Grizzlies will start the season the next night while the Ghostriders start their season until the following Friday night. The only rematch of the 2024 Teck Cup Finals will occur on December 7, 2024, in Revelstoke. The season will run until February 22, 2025.[1] The playoffs will begin a week later on February 28, 2025, with 16 teams competing for the Teck Cup.
| 2024–25 KIJHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | KIJHL |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | September - February |
| Number of games | 44 |
| Number of teams | 21 |
| Streaming partner(s) | flohockey.tv |
League changes
editThe first major off-season change occurred on March 22, 2024, when the KIJHL's board of governors approved the sale of the Summerland Steam to a new ownership group including Tyrel and Robin Lucas, Parnell Pinette, Brad Paddison, Gerald Overton, and Aaron and Nathan Zurak. The new ownership moved the team to Williams Lake where they became the Williams Lake Mustangs,[2] a moniker previously used by the RMJHL team that played from 1978 to 1996.[3]
On March 31, 2024, the league announced that the Merritt Centennials, formerly of the BCHL, would join the KIJHL as an expansion franchise in the 2024–25 KIJHL season. The franchise will retain the Centennials moniker, colors, arena and branding.[4]
The second relocation of the 2024 off-season occurred five days later when the North Okanagan Knights were sold to a Quesnel-based ownership group who moved the team north, expanding the league footprint by 100 kilometers into the Shuswap region where they would be rebranded as the Quesnel River Rush.[5]
The Kelowna Chiefs were sold to Kelowna businessman Darren Tymchyshyn.[6]
On May 5, Rebels' forward Nathan Jackman was killed in a car accident.[7]
Transactions
edit| TEAM 1 | Player(s) acquired | TEAM 2 | Player(s) acquired | Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off Season | ||||
| Nelson | Rylan Konecsni (F-2005) | Osoyoos | Tyler Seminoff (D-2004) | June 1st 2024 |
| 100 Mile House | Michael Malinowski (G-2005) | Quesnel | Zachary Gull (F-2004) | |
| Quesnel | Future Considerations | Coastal (PJHL) | Nate Hughes (F-2005), Laszlo Istvanffy (F-2005) | |
| Kelowna | Luke Rishaug (F-2004) | Quesnel | Future Considerations | June 5th 2024 |
| Creston Valley | Future Considerations | Weyburn (SJHL) | Max Chakrabarti (D-2005) | |
| Merritt | Keaton Daley (D-2005) | Williams Lake | Future Considerations | June 7th 2024 |
| Golden Rockets | John Spraggs (D-2004) | Kamloops | Future Considerations | |
| 100 Mile House | Kyle Cyr (F-2005) | Williams Lake | Jackson Altwasser (F-2005) | June 10th 2024 |
| 100 Mile House | Landon Janz (D-2005) | Sicamous | Nicholas Sloane (D-2005) | |
| 100 Mile House | Caden Cygan (F-2005),Nelson Webster (F-2005) | Osoyoos | Kyle Cyr (F-2005),Future Considerations | |
| Princeton | Future Considerations | Estevan (SJHL) | Bryton Morrow (F-2005) | |
| Kamloops | David Andler (F-2005) | Revelstoke | Jake Phillips-Watts (F-2006) | June 11th 2024 |
| Williams Lake | Hunter Sellers (F-2005),Future Considerations | White Rock (PJHL) | Owen Neilson (F-2004) | |
| Kelowna | Spencer Fowle (F-2006) | Mission City (PJHL) | Future Considerations | June 12th 2024 |
| Golden | Gabe Osmond (G-2005) | Grand Forks | Alexander Jessey (G-2005) | June 18th 2024 |
| Kelowna | Jesse Ivanovic (D-2005) | LaRonge (SJHL) | Future Considerations | June 19th 2024 |
| Williams Lake | Carter Boomer (F-2006) | 100 Mile House | Future Considerations | June 21st 2024 |
| Kelowna | Jacob Rausch (D-2004) | Williams Lake | Jacob Schtaif (F-2004), Tyler Schmidt (D-2005) | July 4th 2024 |
| Columbia Valley | Future Considerations | Thunder Bay (SIJHL) | Jameson Franz (D-2004) | July 8th 2024 |
| Castlegar | Benjamin Filiponne (D-2006) | Chiliwack (PJHL) | Future Considerations | July 15th 2024 |
| Osoyoos | Myles Hayne (D-2004) | Kimberley | Future Considerations | July 19th 2024 |
| Chase | Future Considerations | Winnipeg (MJHL) | Cole Whelan (F-2004) | Aug 6th 2024 |
| Kimberley | Bennett Kuhnlein (F-2004) | Revelstoke | Ryder Ponto (G-2005) | Aug 11th 2024 |
| Fernie | Luke Rothfos (F-2004) | Sicamous | Eli Neilsen (D-2004) | Aug 12th 2024 |
| Quesnel | Eli Neilsen (D-2004) | Sicamous | Colton Flemming (D-2004) | |
| Princeton | Brayden Summer (F-2005) | Notre Dame (SJHL) | Future Considerations | |
| Sicamous | Future Considerations | Weyburn (SJHL) | Hayden Evans (F-2006) | Aug 13th 2024 |
| Golden | Future Considerations | Waywayseecappo (MJHL) | Deegan Wapass (F-2005) | Aug 14th 2024 |
| Chase | Future Considerations | Chilliwack (PJHL) | Luke Roberts (G-2005) | Aug 15th 2024 |
| Creston Valley | Jordan Gale (D-2005) | Osoyoos | Lucas Hughes (F-2005) | |
| Chase | Future Considerations | 100 Mile House | Brodie Gohmann (F-2005) | Aug 16th 2024 |
Regular season
edit
- Kootenay Conference
- Eddie Mountain Division
- Golden Rockets1
- Columbia Valley Rockies2
- Fernie Ghostriders3
- Kimberley Dynamiters4
- Creston Thundercats5
- Neil Murdoch Division
- Nelson Leafs6
- Castlegar Rebels7
- Beaver Valley Nitehawks8
- Spokane Braves9
- Grand Forks Border Bruins10
- Okanagan/Shuswap Conference
- Bill Ohlhausen Division
- Osoyoos Coyotes11
- Princeton Posse12
- Merritt Centennials13
- Kelowna Chiefs14
- Sicamous Eagles15
- Revelstoke Grizzlies16
- Doug Birks Division
- Chase Heat17
- Kamloops Storm18
- 100 Mile House Wranglers19
- Williams Lake Mustangs20
- Quesnel River Rush21
On July 3rd 2024 the KIJHL announced the regular season schedule as well as the new division format in the Okanagan Conference, the Revelstoke Grizzlies and Sicamous Eagles would move from the Doug Birks Division to the Bill Ohlhausen joining the Centennials, Chiefs, Coyotes, and Posse. While the River Rush and Mustangs would take their spots in Birks along with the Storm, Heat, and Wranglers. The KIJHL season will be 44 games long for each team. The KIJHL erroneously reported that each team would play 10 out-of-conference games but in reality the 10 clubs in the Kootenay will in fact play 11.[9] Each team's schedule can be broken down as follows:
- Neil Murdoch Division
- 1 game against each Doug Birks team (5 total: 5 away)
- 1 game against each Bill Ohlhausen team (6 total: 6 home)
- 2 games against all-but-one Eddie Mountain team (9 total: 4 home, 5 away)
- 6 games against the other Neil Murdoch teams (24 total: 12 home, 12 away)
- Eddie Mountain Division
- 1 game against each Doug Birks team (5 total: 5 home)
- 1 game against each Bill Ohlhausen team (6 total: 6 away)
- 2 games against all-but-one Neil Murdoch team (9 total: 5 home, 4 away)
- 6 games against the other Eddie Mountain teams (24 total: 12 home, 12 away)
- Doug Birks Division
- 1 game against each Neil Murdoch team (5 total: 5 home)
- 1 game against each Eddie Mountain team (5 total: 5 away)
- 2 games against each Bill Ohlhausen team (12 total: 6 home, 6 away)
- 5 or 6 games against the other Doug Birks division teams (22 total: 11 home, 11 away)
- Bill Ohlhausen Division
- 1 game against each Neil Murdoch team (5 total: 5 away)
- 1 game against each Eddie Mountain team (5 total: 5 home)
- 2 games against each Doug Birks team (10 total: 5 home, 5 away)
- 4-5 games against the other Bill Ohlhausen teams (24 total:12 home, 12 away)[1]
The season will begin on September 20th
| TEAM | First game of season | Home Opener |
|---|---|---|
| Eddie Mountain Division | ||
| Columbia Valley Rockies | Sept 20th V Golden | Sept 20th V Golden |
| Creston Valley Thunder Cats | Sept 20th V Kimberley | Sept 20th V Kimberley |
| Fernie Ghostriders | Sept 27th V Kimberley | Sept 27th V Kimberley |
| Golden Rockets | Sept 20th @ Columbia Valley | Sept 27th V Nelson |
| Kimberley Dynamiters | Sept 20th @ Creston | Sept 21st V Columbia Valley |
| Neil Murdoch Division | ||
| Beaver Valley Nitehawks | Sept 20th @ Spokane | Sept 28th V Kelowna |
| Castlegar Rebels | Sept 20th V Nelson | Sept 20th V Nelson |
| Grand Forks Border Bruins | Sept 20th V Princeton | Sept 20th V Princeton |
| Nelson Leafs | Sept 20th @ Castlegar | Sept 21st V Castlegar |
| Spokane Braves | Sept 20th V Beaver Valley | Sept 20th V Beaver Valley |
| Doug Birks Division | ||
| 100 Mile House Wranglers | Sept 20th V Osoyoos | Sept 20th V Osoyoos |
| Chase Heat | Sept 20th V Kamloops | Sept 20th V Kamloops |
| Kamloops Storm | Sept 20th @ Chase | Sept 21st V Chase |
| Quesnel River Rush | Sept 20th V Merritt | Sept 20th V Merritt |
| Williams Lake Mustangs | Sept 20th V Sicamous | Sept 20th V Sicamous |
| Bill Ohlhausen Division | ||
| Kelowna Chiefs | Sept 21st V Osoyoos | Sept 21st V Osoyoos |
| Merritt Centeniels | Sept 20th @ Quesnel | Sept 27th V Kamloops |
| Osoyoos Coyotes | Sept 20th @ 100 Mile | Oct 5th V 100 Mile |
| Princeton Posse | Sept 20th @ Grand Forks | Sept 27th V Sicamous |
| Revelstoke Grizzlies | Sept 21st @ 100 Mile | Oct 4th V Creston |
| Sicamous Eagles | Sept 20th @ Williams Lake | Sept 28th V Merritt |
BCHC Prospects game
editThe BCHC prospects game will be the third edition of the game, a matchup between the best young players in the KIJHL and PJHL who formed the BCHC on September 22nd 2022.[10] The game is used to showcase the best talent in the league to higher leagues, including the WHL. Whilst there has been no official announcement as of August 9th the game is expected to be played at a PJHL arena as the Kamloops Storm of the KIJHL hosted the 2023 game.[11]
Playoffs
editThe 2025 'Quest for the Teck cup' will begin on February 28th 2025 with the top four teams in each division making the playoffs, 1st will play 4th and 2nd will play 3rd in the division semi-finals. The winners will meet in the division final. The winners of those series will meet in the conference finals (Eddie Mountain V Neil Murdoch in the Kootenay and Doug Birks V Bill Ohlhausen in the Okanagan/Shuswap). The winners of the conference finals will meet in the Teck Cup Final. All series will be best-of-seven with games 1,2,5,and 7 being hosted by the team with the superior regular-season record. Barring any unforeseen circumstances this format, which was also used last year, will be the same format as the previous season's for the first time since the 2018 and 2019 playoffs.
Mowat Cup
editThe Mowat Cup is the British Columbia Jr. A hockey championship between the champions of all the leagues in BC, a new format for the completion is expected as the previous format of the winners of the KIJHL, PJHL, and VIJHL plus a fourth host team would no longer be feasible due to the VIJHL becoming an independent league as an affiliate for the BCHL in a manner similar to Jr. B.[12] However an announcement is expected to be made around the time of the BCHC prospects game.
References
edit- ^ a b "KIJHL - Kootenay International Junior Hockey League". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ jdubois (22 March 2024). "KIJHL approves move to Williams Lake". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Williams Lake Mustangs hockey team [RMJHL] statistics and history at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ jdubois (31 March 2024). "KIJHL approves Merritt Centennials as expansion club". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ jdubois (5 April 2024). "KIJHL approves move to Quesnel". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ jdubois (2 May 2024). "KIJHL approves Chiefs ownership change". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ jdubois (8 May 2024). "KIJHL mourns passing of Nathan Jackman". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Transactions". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ jdubois (3 July 2024). "KIJHL releases 2024-25 regular season schedule". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ jdubois (22 September 2022). "KIJHL, PJHL announce creation of BCHC". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ bradydouglas (28 September 2023). "2023 BCHC Prospects Game Announcement". www.pjhl.net. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "VIJHL ANNOUNCES DECISION TO BECOME INDEPENDENT LEAGUE". www.vijhl.com. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
Further reading
edit- "KIJHL releases 2024-25 schedule, hosts AGM in Nelson". The Nelson Daily. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- Kelly, Austin (1 June 2024). "Quesnel's new KIJHL hockey team is getting ready for first season". Williams Lake Tribune. Black Press Media. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- Crawley, Trevor (30 April 2024). "KIJHL remains committed to Hockey Canada after Vancouver Island league splits". Surrey Now-Leader. Black Press Media. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- Hastings, Marty (31 March 2024). "Merritt Centennials to withdraw from BCHL; expansion Centennials to join KIJHL". CFJC Today. Pattison Media. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- "Another Okanagan KIJHL team heading north". Penticton Herald. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- Moore, Wayne (13 February 2024). "Williams Lake, Quesnel councils discussing relocation of Kelowna Chiefs". castanet.net. Retrieved 15 August 2024.