British Columbia Hockey League

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British Columbia Hockey League
Current season or competition:
2023–24 BCHL season
Countries
Region(s)British Columbia, Alberta
CEOChris Hebb
Former name(s)
  • Okanagan-Mainline Junior "A" Hockey League (OMJHL) (1961–67)
  • British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCJHL) (1967–95)
Founded1961; 63 years ago (1961)
No. of teams22
Recent ChampionsPenticton Vees (2022–23)
Most successful clubPenticton Vees (14)
Websitewww.bchl.ca Edit this at Wikidata

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.

History[edit]

1961 to 1993[edit]

In 1961, the heads of four junior "B" hockey teams in the Okanagan region of British Columbia got together and formed the first Junior "A" league in British Columbia's history. The Okanagan-Mainline Junior "A" Hockey League (OMJHL) originally consisted of the Kamloops Jr. Rockets, the Kelowna Buckaroos, the Penticton Jr. Vees, and the Vernon Jr. Canadians.

Early expansion[edit]

In 1967, the league expanded out of the Okanagan region, bringing in the New Westminster Royals and the Victoria Cougars of the original (1962–1967) Pacific Coast Junior Hockey League. With the expansion, the league decided that since it was no longer solely in the Okanagan region that it need a new name, becoming the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCJHL). A year later, the Vancouver Centennials joined the league. In the 1970s, the Victoria Cougars jumped to the Western Hockey League and the New Westminster team was forced to fold due to the relocation of the Estevan Bruins into their arena. In 1972, the Bellingham Blazers and the Nanaimo Clippers expanded the league to eight teams.

In the early 1970s, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association separated the two tiers of Junior A hockey. The BCJHL, being a Tier II league, was then disallowed from competing for the Memorial Cup, which had traditionally been the National Junior A Championship trophy. Consequently, the Tier II Junior A leagues across Canada agreed to compete for a new trophy called the Centennial Cup.

Rivalry with the PJHL[edit]

The 1970s also saw the rise of a rival league for the BCJHL, the Pacific Coast Junior Hockey League (PCJHL), which briefly existed in the 1960s and was resurrected for the 1971–72 season. The PCJHL was promoted to a Junior "A" league for the 1973–74 season and changed its name to the Pacific Junior A Hockey League. The PJHL champions competed with the BCJHL champions for the provincial championship, the Mowat Cup.

The existence of the two Junior A leagues in British Columbia caused an unusual turn of events in the 1977–78 season postseason. The BCJHL sent their regular season champion, the Merritt Centennials, to play as the BC representative in the Pacific region (BC and Alberta) interprovincial Doyle Cup, excusing them from the BCJHL playoffs. The BCJHL continued their league playoffs without them, crowning Nanaimo as the playoff champion after Penticton Jr. Vees refused to finish the playoff finals due to a series of brawls in the third game of the series. Meanwhile, the Merritt Centennials won the Doyle Cup and advanced to the Abbott Cup (the Western Canada Championship) against the winner of the ANAVET Cup, the Western region champion Prince Albert Raiders of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The Centennials lost to the Raiders, four games to one.

Merger with the PJHL[edit]

The PJHL and the BCJHL merged for the 1979–80 season.

During the 1980–81 season, the Coastal division season was interrupted by a strike at BC Ferries in late January. Since the mainland teams could no longer reach the island teams, the Coastal Division stopped playing, and began extended playoff rounds in place of the regular season.

National champions[edit]

In 1986, the Penticton Vees became the BCJHL's first Junior A national championship team, defeating the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League's Cole Harbour Colts by a score of 7–4 to win the Centennial Cup. A year later, the BCJHL's Richmond Sockeyes won the league's second consecutive national title.

1993 to 2021[edit]

From 1993 to 2021, the league was a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League, an association of Junior A leagues across Canada that would play for the National Junior A Championship. The winner of the BCHL Fred Page Cup (not to be confused with the CJHL Fred Page Cup) would continue on to play the Alberta Junior Hockey League champions in the Doyle Cup for the right to compete for the national championship. The BCJHL was renamed the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) in 1995.

Further expansion and relocations[edit]

The Burnaby Bulldogs joined as an expansion team in 1998 and moved to Port Alberni in 2002. The Coquitlam Express and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks joined in 2001. The Williams Lake TimberWolves joined in 2002 and folded in 2010.

The Chilliwack Chiefs moved to Langley in 2006 and were later renamed the Langley Rivermen. That team replaced the Langley Hornets who moved to West Kelowna and were later renamed the West Kelowna Warriors. In 2011, the Quesnel Millionaires moved to Chilliwack and were renamed the Chilliwack Chiefs.

The Wenatchee Wild joined in 2015 and ownership moved operations up to the WHL in 2023, following the BCHL move to go independent. The Cranbrook Bucks joined the league in 2020.

2021 to present[edit]

Withdrawal from CJHL and Hockey Canada[edit]

In March 2021, the BCHL withdrew its membership from the Canadian Junior Hockey League.[1][2][3]

On May 1, 2023, the BCHL decided not to renew its agreement with governing body Hockey Canada, and thus became an independent league. The reasons for the decision included the aim of allowing BCHL teams to recruit players under the age of 18 from outside BC Hockey's territorial jurisdiction.[4]

Expansion into Alberta[edit]

On January 20, 2024, the league announced that five teams from the Alberta Junior Hockey League would join the BCHL in the 2024-25 season, namely, the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders, and Spruce Grove Saints.[5] In the interim, it was decided that the five Alberta-based teams would play out the rest of the 2023-24 season as a separate division under the aegis of the BCHL, and that there would be a year-end competition with the winner of the Alberta-based teams playing the winner of the BC-based teams.[6][7]

Current franchises[edit]

For the 2023-24 season, the league's 17 teams were organized into two divisions, or conferences; with 9 teams making up the Coastal Division, and 8 teams making up the Interior Division. The league has yet to announce the structure for the 2024-25 season when it will add five Alberta-based teams.[8]

Conference Team City Arena Joined BCHL
Coastal Alberni Valley Bulldogs Port Alberni Weyerhaeuser Arena 1998 as Burnaby Bulldogs

2002 as Alberni Valley Bulldogs

Chilliwack Chiefs Chilliwack Chilliwack Coliseum 2011
Coquitlam Express Coquitlam Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex 2001
Cowichan Valley Capitals Duncan Cowichan Community Centre 1980
Langley Rivermen Langley George Preston Recreation Centre 1990
Nanaimo Clippers Nanaimo Frank Crane Arena 1972
Powell River Kings Powell River Hap Parker Arena 1988
Surrey Eagles Surrey South Surrey Arena 1976
Victoria Grizzlies Victoria The Q Centre 1967
Interior Cranbrook Bucks Cranbrook Western Financial Place 2020
Merritt Centennials Merritt Nicola Valley Memorial Arena 1961
Penticton Vees Penticton South Okanagan Events Centre 1961
Prince George Spruce Kings Prince George Kopar Memorial Arena 1972
Salmon Arm Silverbacks Salmon Arm Shaw Centre 2001
Trail Smoke Eaters Trail Cominco Arena 1987
Vernon Vipers Vernon Kal Tire Place 1961
West Kelowna Warriors West Kelowna Royal LePage Place 1994
Alberta Blackfalds Bulldogs Blackfalds Eagle Builders Centre 2024
Brooks Bandits Brooks Centennial Regional Arena 2024
Okotoks Oilers Okotoks Okotoks Centennial Arena 2024
Sherwood Park Crusaders Sherwood Park Sherwood Park Arena 2024
Spruce Grove Saints Spruce Grove Grant Fuhr Arena 2024

Timeline of teams[edit]

  • 1961 – Okanagan-Mainline Junior Hockey League founded with Kamloops Jr. Rockets, Kelowna Buckaroos, Penticton Jr. Vees, and Vernon Jr. Canadians
  • 1962 – Vernon Jr. Canadians become Vernon Blades
  • 1963 – OMJHL changes name to Okanagan Junior Hockey League
  • 1963 – Penticton Jr. Vees leave league
  • 1964 – Penticton returns as Penticton Broncos
  • 1964 – Kamloops Jr. Rockets become Kamloops Kraft Kings
  • 1967 – OJHL changes name to British Columbia Junior Hockey League
  • 1967 – Vernon Blades become Vernon Essos
  • 1967 – Kamloops Kraft Kings become Kamloops Rockets
  • 1967 – New Westminster Royals and Victoria Cougars join from Pacific Coast Junior A Hockey League
  • 1969 – Vancouver Centennials join league
  • 1970 – Chilliwack Bruins join league
  • 1971 – New Westminster Royals and Victoria Cougars leave league
  • 1972 – Vancouver Centennials become Vancouver Villas
  • 1972 – Nanaimo Clippers and Bellingham Blazers join league
  • 1973 – Kamloops Rockets move and become White Rock Centennials and then Merritt Centennials
  • 1973 – Vancouver Villas leave league
  • 1973 – Langley Lords join league
  • 1973 – Vernon Essos become Vernon Vikings
  • 1975 – Penticton Broncos become Penticton Vees
  • 1975 – Bellingham Blazers become Maple Ridge Blazers
  • 1976 – Kamloops Braves and Abbotsford Flyers join league
  • 1976 – Maple Ridge Blazers become Bellingham Blazers
  • 1976 – Chilliwack Bruins become Maple Ridge Bruins
  • 1976 – Langley Lords become Langley Thunder
  • 1977 – Maple Ridge Bruins move, renamed Revelstoke Bruins
  • 1977 – Kamloops Braves become Kamloops Chiefs
  • 1978 – Kamloops Chiefs become Kamloops Rockets
  • 1978 – Bellingham Blazers become Bellingham Ice Hawks
  • 1978 – Chilliwack Colts and Delta Suns join league
  • 1979 – Penticton Vees become Penticton Knights
  • 1979 – Revelstoke Bruins and Kamloops Rockets merge to become Revelstoke Bruins/Rockets
  • 1979 – Richmond Sockeyes and Nor'Wes Caps join league from Pacific Junior A Hockey League
  • 1979 – Delta Suns, Langley Thunder, and Vernon Canadians leave league
  • 1980 – Vernon rejoins league as Vernon Lakers
  • 1980 – Cowichan Valley Capitals and Coquitlam Comets join league
  • 1980 – Revelstoke Bruins/Rockets change name to Revelstoke Rockets
  • 1980 – Bellingham Ice Hawks move, renamed Vancouver Blue Hawks
  • 1980 – Chilliwack Colts cease operations mid-season
  • 1981 – Langley Eagles join league
  • 1981 – Coquitlam Comets and Nor'Wes Caps cease operations
  • 1982 – Esquimalt Buccaneers and Shuswap/Salmon Arm Totems join league
  • 1982 – Nanaimo Clippers cease operations
  • 1982 – Vancouver Blue Hawks move, renamed Burnaby Blue Hawks
  • 1983 – Revelstoke Rockets renamed Revelstoke Rangers
  • 1983 – Esquimalt Buccaneers move, renamed Nanaimo Clippers
  • 1983 – Kelowna Buckaroos move, renamed Summerland Buckaroos
  • 1983 – New Westminster Royals cease operations
  • 1984 – Cowichan Valley Capitals move, renamed Sidney Capitals
  • 1984 – Vernon Rockets renamed Vernon Lakers
  • 1985 – Delta Flyers and Kelowna Packers join league
  • 1985 – Burnaby Blue Hawks and Revelstoke Rangers cease operations
  • 1985 – Merritt Centennials renamed Merritt Warriors
  • 1985 – Abbotsford Flyers renamed Abbotsford Falcons
  • 1985 – Salmon Arm Totems renamed Salmon Arm/Shuswap Blazers
  • 1986 – Sidney Capitals move, renamed Juan de Fuca Whalers
  • 1987 – Salmon Arm/Shuswap Blazers renamed Salmon Arm Tigers
  • 1987 – Merritt Warriors renamed Merritt Centennials
  • 1987 – Langley Eagles move, renamed Chilliwack Eagles
  • 1988 – Summerland Buckaroos and Abbotsford Falcons cease operations
  • 1988 – Juan de Fuca Whalers move, renamed Cowichan Valley Whalers
  • 1988 – New Westminster Royals rejoin league
  • 1988 – Delta Flyers move, renamed Powell River Paper Kings
  • 1989 – Kelowna Packers renamed Kelowna Spartans
  • 1989 – Chilliwack Eagles move, renamed Ladner Penguins
  • 1989 – Cowichan Valley Whalers renamed Cowichan Valley Capitals
  • 1989 – Salmon Arm Tigers cease operations
  • 1990 – Penticton Knights renamed Penticton Panthers
  • 1990 – Victoria Warriors join league
  • 1990 – Ladner Penguins move, renamed Bellingham Ice Hawks
  • 1990 – Richmond Sockeyes move, renamed Chilliwack Chiefs
  • 1990 – Cowichan Valley Capitals cease operations
  • 1991 – New Westminster Royals move, renamed Surrey Eagles
  • 1993 – Cowichan Valley Capitals rejoin league
  • 1993 – Victoria Warriors cease operations
  • 1994 – Victoria Salsa, Langley Thunder, Royal City Outlaws join league
  • 1995 – Bellingham Ice Hawks sell franchise rights to Trail Smoke Eaters of the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League; Trail joins BCHL
  • 1995 – Vernon Lakers renamed Vernon Vipers
  • 1995 – Kelowna Spartans cease operations
  • 1996 – Royal City Outlaws sell franchise rights to Prince George Spruce Kings; both Prince George and the Quesnel Millionaires of the RMJHL join the BCHL
  • 1996 – Surrey Eagles renamed South Surrey Eagles
  • 1998 – Burnaby Bulldogs join league
  • 1998 – Powell River Paper Kings renamed Powell River Kings; Langley Thunder renamed Langley Hornets
  • 2001 – Coquitlam Express and Salmon Arm Silverbacks join league
  • 2002 – Williams Lake TimberWolves join league
  • 2002 – Burnaby Bulldogs move to Alberni Valley
  • 2003 – South Surrey Eagles renamed Surrey Eagles
  • 2004 – Penticton Panthers renamed Penticton Vees
  • 2005 – Coquitlam Express move to Burnaby
  • 2006 – Langley Hornets move, renamed Westside Warriors
  • 2006 – Chilliwack Chiefs move to Langley
  • 2006 – Victoria Salsa renamed Victoria Grizzlies
  • 2007 – Williams Lake TimberWolves take leave of absence from league
  • 2009 – Williams Lake TimberWolves active in league
  • 2010 – Williams Lake TimberWolves declared "not in good standing"; operations suspended
  • 2010 – Burnaby Express move to Coquitlam
  • 2011 – Quesnel Millionaires move, become Chilliwack Chiefs
  • 2011 – Langley Chiefs renamed Langley Rivermen
  • 2012 – Westside Warriors renamed West Kelowna Warriors
  • 2015 – Wenatchee Wild join league from the North American Hockey League
  • 2020 – Cranbrook Bucks join the league as an expansion team
  • 2023 – Wenatchee Wild join the WHL
  • 2024 – Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders, and Spruce Grove Saints switch from the AJHL to the BCHL

League championships[edit]

Each season the top eight teams from each conference advance to the playoffs. The postseason consists of four rounds, all consisting of a series of best-of-seven games, with the Coastal and Interior Conference playoff champions meeting in the league finals to play for the Fred Page Cup.

Year League champion League runner-up
Memorial Cup era
1962 Kamloops Rockets Kelowna Buckaroos
1963 Kamloops Rockets Kelowna Buckaroos
1964 Kamloops Rockets Kelowna Buckaroos
1965 Kelowna Buckaroos Kamloops Kraft Kings
1966 Kamloops Kraft Kings Kelowna Buckaroos
1967 Penticton Broncos Kelowna Buckaroos
1968 Penticton Broncos Kelowna Buckaroos
1969 Victoria Cougars Penticton Broncos
1970 Vernon Essos Victoria Cougars
Modern era
1971 Kamloops Rockets Vancouver Centennials
1972 Vernon Essos Penticton Broncos
1973 Penticton Broncos Chilliwack Bruins
1974 Kelowna Buckaroos Langley Lords
1975 Bellingham Blazers Kelowna Buckaroos
1976 Nanaimo Clippers Penticton Vees
1977 Nanaimo Clippers Penticton Vees
1978 Merritt Centennials Penticton Vees
1979 Bellingham Blazers Kamloops Rockets
1980 Penticton Knights Nanaimo Clippers
1981 Penticton Knights Abbotsford Flyers
1982 Penticton Knights New Westminster Royals
1983 Abbotsford Flyers Kelowna Buckaroos
1984 Langley Eagles Penticton Knights
1985 Penticton Knights Burnaby Blue Hawks
1986 Penticton Knights Richmond Sockeyes
1987 Richmond Sockeyes Kelowna Packers
1988 Vernon Lakers Richmond Sockeyes
1989 Vernon Lakers New Westminster Royals
1990 New Westminster Royals Vernon Lakers
1991 Vernon Lakers Powell River Paper Kings
1992 Vernon Lakers Bellingham Ice Hawks
1993 Kelowna Spartans Powell River Paper Kings
1994 Kelowna Spartans Cowichan Valley Capitals
1995 Chilliwack Chiefs Powell River Paper Kings
1996 Vernon Vipers Langley Thunder
1997 South Surrey Eagles Vernon Vipers
1998 South Surrey Eagles Penticton Panthers
1999 Vernon Vipers Chilliwack Chiefs
2000 Chilliwack Chiefs Vernon Vipers
2001 Victoria Salsa Merritt Centennials
2002 Chilliwack Chiefs Vernon Vipers
2003 Vernon Vipers Chilliwack Chiefs
2004 Nanaimo Clippers Salmon Arm Silverbacks
2005 Surrey Eagles Vernon Vipers
2006 Burnaby Express Penticton Vees
2007 Nanaimo Clippers Vernon Vipers
2008 Penticton Vees Nanaimo Clippers
2009 Vernon Vipers Powell River Kings
2010 Vernon Vipers Powell River Kings
2011 Vernon Vipers Powell River Kings
2012 Penticton Vees Powell River Kings
2013 Surrey Eagles Penticton Vees
2014 Coquitlam Express Vernon Vipers
2015 Penticton Vees Nanaimo Clippers
2016 West Kelowna Warriors Chilliwack Chiefs
2017 Penticton Vees Chilliwack Chiefs
2018 Wenatchee Wild Prince George Spruce Kings
2019 Prince George Spruce Kings Vernon Vipers
2020 Not awarded[a]
2021 Not awarded[b]
2022 Penticton Vees Nanaimo Clippers
2023 Penticton Vees Alberni Valley Bulldogs
  1. ^ The 2020 playoffs were cancelled by Hockey Canada after the first round due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]
  2. ^ The league decided that they would not hold playoffs for the 2020–21 season because continued public health restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

National championships[edit]

The Centennial Cup (known as the Royal Bank Cup from 1996 to 2018) is the Canadian Junior Hockey League championship tournament. It was awarded to BCHL teams 14 times in its history. BCHL teams are no longer eligible to play in the tournament since the league withdrew from the CJHL in 2021.

BCHL records[edit]

Individual records

  • Most goals in a season: 105, Brett Hull, Penticton, 1983–84
  • Most assists in a season: 111, Bob Ginetti, Burnaby, 1986–87
  • Most points in a season: 188, Brett Hull, Penticton, 1983–84
  • Most goals in a season, defenceman: 38, Campbell Blair, Vernon, 1986–87
  • Most assists in a season, defenceman: 77, Bruce Harris, Bellingham, 1978–79; Ian Kidd, Penticton, 1984–85
  • Most points in a season, defenceman: 109, Campbell Blair, Vernon, 1986–87
  • Most goals in a season, rookie: 84, John Newberry, Nanaimo, 1979–80
  • Most assists in a season, rookie: 103, Doug Berry, Kelowna, 1974–75
  • Most points in a season, rookie: 185, John Newberry, Nanaimo, 1979–80
  • Most shorthanded goals in a season: 14, Greg Hadden, New Westminster, 1988–89
  • Most powerplay goals in a season: 32, Dan Bousquet, Penticton, 1993–94
  • Longest consecutive shutout streak: 250 minutes, 25 seconds, Brad Thiessen, Prince George, 2005–06

Team records

Notable alumni[edit]

Brett Hull, a National Hockey League Hall of Famer, played for the Penticton Knights and holds the BCHL record for most goals in a season (105), which he set in 1983–84.[11] Other NHLers who played in the BCHL include Chuck Kobasew of the Penticton Panthers, Scott Gomez of the Surrey Eagles, Carey Price of the Quesnel Millionaires, Willie Mitchell of the Kelowna Spartans, Shawn Horcoff of the Chilliwack Chiefs, and Paul Kariya of the Penticton Panthers.

List of NHL alumni[edit]

Names in bold indicate inductees of the Hockey Hall of Fame

Withdrawal from Hockey Canada[edit]

In March 2021, the league withdrew its membership from the Canadian Junior Hockey League.[12][13][14] The league cited a financial dispute as one of the reasons. It said that there was a long-standing practice of the NHL compensating Hockey Canada when their players are drafted by the NHL. If the draft pick comes from a Major Junior club, the team receives compensation from Hockey Canada. However, if the draft pick comes from a Junior A club, compensation is awarded to the CJHL, not the club.[15]

On May 1, 2023, the BCHL made the controversial decision not to renew its agreement with governing body Hockey Canada, and thus became an independent league. The reasons for the decision included the aim of allowing BCHL teams to recruit players under the age of 18 from outside BC Hockey's territorial jurisdiction.[16] Under Hockey Canada regulations:

Players seventeen (17) years of age and below must register in the Member where their Parent(s) reside, unless the Player is registered in a Hockey Canada School With Residence or Hockey Canada Accredited School, and registers with one (1) of that school’s Teams.

— Hockey Canada, By-laws, Regulations and History, regulation c(1), (June 2023)[17]

The residential qualification does not apply to CHL Major Junior clubs, therefore they are able to recruit 16- and 17-year-old players from any jurisdiction in Canada. Players who sign with CHL clubs become ineligible to play college hockey in the United States because they are considered to be professionals by the NCAA. Therefore, the BCHL sought to become a viable alternative for elite 16- and 17-year-old players who are capable of playing Major Junior but want to retain their NCAA eligibility.[18] Beginning in the 2023-24 season, BCHL teams are required to have at least three players under the age of 18 on their roster.[19]

As a consequence of becoming an independent, or non-sanctioned, league, anyone—including players, coaches, trainers, managers and referees—involved with the BCHL after the 30 September cut-off date, is barred from participating in any sanctioned games and programs for the remainder of the season under Hockey Canada's Non-Sanctioned Leagues policy.[20] Players who are cut from BCHL rosters after 30 September will have limited options to play elsewhere. Further, BCHL teams cannot recruit affiliate players, i.e. players from a lower tier league that may be selected to play a limited number of games at the higher level, from leagues that are within the Hockey Canada framework.[21][22]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "BCHL rumoured to be unhappy with national Junior A body, looking to go out on its own". TheProvince.com. March 25, 2021.
  2. ^ "BCHL confirms exit". Castanet.net. April 9, 2021.
  3. ^ "CJHL STATEMENT REGARDING BCHL". Canadian Junior Hockey League. April 9, 2021.
  4. ^ "BCHL pulls out of Hockey Canada, becomes an independent league". The Province. May 1, 2023.
  5. ^ "BCHL agrees to terms with five Alberta-based teams". bchl.ca. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  6. ^ "BCHL announces finalized franchise agreements and integration with five Alberta-based teams". bchl.ca. British Columbia Hockey League. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  7. ^ "BCHL announces Alberta playoff format and BC postseason refresher". bchl.ca. British Columbia Hockey League. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  8. ^ "BCHL-Alberta FAQ". bchl.ca. British Columbia Hockey League. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  9. ^ "CJHL Announces Official Cancellation For Remainder Of 2019-20 Season". CJHL. March 13, 2020.
  10. ^ "BCHL announces season will end with no playoffs, plans for alternate set of pod awards". BCHL. April 28, 2021.
  11. ^ "All-Time Stats Leaders". bchl.ca. British Columbia Hockey League. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  12. ^ "BCHL rumoured to be unhappy with national Junior A body, looking to go out on its own". TheProvince.com. March 25, 2021.
  13. ^ "BCHL confirms exit". Castanet.net. April 9, 2021.
  14. ^ "CJHL STATEMENT REGARDING BCHL". Canadian Junior Hockey League. April 9, 2021.
  15. ^ "Modernizing Junior Hockey in Canada" (PDF). bchl.ca. British Columbia Hockey League. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  16. ^ "BCHL pulls out of Hockey Canada, becomes an independent league". The Province. May 1, 2023.
  17. ^ "By-laws, Regulations and History" (PDF). hockeycanada.ca. Hockey Canada. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Modernizing Junior Hockey in Canada" (PDF). bchl.ca. British Columbia Hockey League. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  19. ^ "BCHL announces roster rules and important dates for 2023-24". bchl.ca. British Columbia Hockey League. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Non-Sanctioned Leagues policy" (PDF). hockeycanada.ca. Hockey Canada. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  21. ^ "BCHL FAQ". bchl.ca. British Columbia Hockey League. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  22. ^ "By-laws, Regulations and History" (PDF). hockeycanada.ca. Hockey Canada. Retrieved 24 January 2024.

External links[edit]