British Columbia Hockey Conference
 | |
| Countries | Canada |
|---|---|
| Commissioner | Jeff Dubois |
| Founded | 2026 |
| First season | 2026–27 |
| Divisions |
|
| No. of teams | 22 |
| Website | bchchockey |
The British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) is an upcoming British Columbia-based Junior A ice hockey league administrated by BC Hockey. The league was formed in 2026 with 22 teams set to be competing in the league's first season in 2026–27.[1][2]
History
BCHL departure from CJHL and Hockey Canada
In 2021, the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), the top Junior A league in British Columbia, announced their departure from the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL).[3]
In May 2023, the BCHL announced that they would be splitting from Hockey Canada and become an independent league. The decision was made as the league was looking to attract 16- and 17-year-old players who were capable of playing Major Junior but wanted to retain their NCAA eligibility.[4] The BCHL's departure from Hockey Canada sanctioned competition meant that British Columbia was without a sanctioned Hockey Canada Junior A league.[5]
KIJHL and PJHL
In 2022, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) and Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL), two Junior B leagues, formed an organization called the British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) to coordinate a joint player safety department and a top prospects game between the two leagues.[6]
In December 2023, BC Hockey began the process of restructuring Junior A hockey in British Columbia. The three Junior B leagues (PJHL, KIJHL and VIJHL) were designated as "Junior A Tier 2", with plans to evaluate teams seeking to be promoted to "Junior A Tier 1".[7]
On March 18, 2025, the PJHL announced that for the 2025–26 season, the league would split into two, with seven teams in Junior A Tier 1 and eight in Junior A Tier 2.[8] This proposal was rejected by a vote of member clubs, but the league realigned its divisions along the lines of the proposed split.
Formation of league
On April 21, 2026, the BC Hockey, along with the KIJHL and PJHL, announced the launch of the British Columbia Hockey Conference as a sanctioned Junior A league. The league will start in 2026–27, and feature 22 teams split into three divisions.[9][1] The KIJHL will cease to exist following the departure of 14 teams to the BCHC after losing eight teams to the new Western International Junior Hockey League (WIJHL) earlier in 2026.[10][11] The BCHC plans to apply for membership to the CJHL to bring British Columbia back into the national system of Junior A.[1]
Teams
The 2026–27 BCHC season will feature 22 teams in four divisions.[1][12]
- Interior Division
- Merritt Centennials9
- Revelstoke Grizzlies11
- Kamloops Storm12
- Williams Lake Mustangs13
- Quesnel River Rush14
- Valley Division
- Chilliwack Jets15
- Langley Trappers17
- Summerland Jets10
- Princeton Posse8
- Osoyoos Coyotes7
- Mainland Division
- Ridge Meadows Flames16
- Port Coquitlam Trailblazers18
- Burnaby Steelers19
- Delta Ice Hawks20
- Richmond Sockeyes21
- Coastal Tsunami22
| Interior Division | ||||
| Team | City | Arena | Founded | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamloops Storm | Kamloops | MacArthur Island Arena | 1976 | 2026 |
| Merritt Centennials | Merritt | Nicola Valley Memorial Arena | 1961 | 2026 |
| Quesnel River Rush | Quesnel | West Fraser Centre | 2009 | 2026 |
| Revelstoke Grizzlies | Revelstoke | Revelstoke Forum | 1993 | 2026 |
| Williams Lake Mustangs | Williams Lake | Cariboo Memorial Recreation Centre | 2011 | 2026 |
| Kootenay Division | ||||
| Team | City | Arena | Founded | Joined |
| Beaver Valley Nitehawks | Fruitvale | Beaver Valley Arena | 1981 | 2026 |
| Columbia Valley Rockies | Invermere | Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena | 1978 | 2026 |
| Fernie Ghostriders | Fernie | Fernie Memorial Arena | 1991 | 2026 |
| Grand Forks Border Bruins | Grand Forks | Jack Goddard Memorial Arena | 1967 | 2026 |
| Kimberley Dynamiters | Kimberley | Kimberley Civic Centre | 1972 | 2026 |
| Nelson Leafs | Nelson | Nelson and District Community Complex | 1965 | 2026 |
| Valley Division | ||||
| Team | City | Arena | Founded | Joined |
| Chilliwack Jets | Chilliwack | Sardis Sports Complex | 2020 | 2026 |
| Langley Trappers | Langley | George Preston Recreation Centre | 2017 | 2026 |
| Princeton Posse | Princeton | Princeton & District Multipurpose Arena | 1993 | 2026 |
| Osoyoos Coyotes | Osoyoos | Osoyoos Sunbowl Arena | 2010 | 2026 |
| Summerland Jets | Summerland | Summerland Arena | 2026 | 2026 |
| Mainland Division | ||||
| Team | City | Arena | Founded | Joined |
| Burnaby Steelers | Burnaby | Burnaby Winter Club | 1967 | 2026 |
| Coastal Tsunami | Gibsons | Gibsons & Area Community Centre | 2024 | 2026 |
| Delta Ice Hawks | Delta | Sungod Recreation Centre | 1997 | 2026 |
| Port Coquitlam Trailblazers | Port Coquitlam | Port Coquitlam Community Centre | 2023 | 2026 |
| Richmond Sockeyes | Richmond | Minoru Arena | 1972 | 2026 |
| Ridge Meadows Flames | Maple Ridge | Planet Ice Maple Ridge/Cam Neely Arena | 1972 | 2026 |
Playoff Structure[13]
The top four teams from each division will qualify for the 2027 BCHC Playoffs, with four best-of-seven rounds determining the first-ever BCHC Provincial Junior A Champion.
Teams will compete within their divisions through the opening two rounds of the postseason. Following the division playoffs, the League Semi-Finals will feature:
- Mainland Division Champion vs. Valley Division Champion
- Interior Division Champion vs. Kootenay Division Champion
The winners of those series will advance to the 2027 Mowat Cup Final, where the BCHC champion will be crowned.
Future
The Summerland Jets are expected to only play one season in the BCHC as they were only originally granted tier 2/junior B status[14], but was forced into the league by the eight other tier two teams creating the independent WIJHL. It is also expected that if the former KIJHL teams who left Hockey Canada wanted to rejoin the KIJHL, the door is open.[15]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "BCHC launches as sanctioned Junior A league". KIJHL.ca. April 22, 2026. Archived from the original on April 23, 2026. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
- ↑ Hastings, Marty (April 22, 2026). "B.C. Hockey Conference commissioner Dubois talks new Junior A league, addresses WIJHL split". CFJC Today Kamloops. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ Moore, Wayne (April 9, 2021). "BC Hockey League has given notice it wants to leave the CJHL and go it alone". castanet.net. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Modernizing Junior Hockey in Canada" (PDF). bchl.ca. British Columbia Hockey League. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ↑ Crawley, Trevor (May 1, 2023). "BCHL splits from Hockey Canada, forms independent league". Langley Advance Times. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ jdubois (September 22, 2022). "KIJHL, PJHL announce creation of BCHC". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ "BC HOCKEY JUNIOR A PATHWAY UPDATE | BC Hockey". BCHockey.net. December 18, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ Zillich, Tom (March 18, 2025). "PJHL move to 2 tiers will divide 15 junior hockey teams next season". Langley Advance Times. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ Thibert, Haven (April 22, 2026). "New BCHC league to bring all B.C. Junior A teams under one banner". 102.9 Rewind Radio – East Kootenay. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ Kline, Betsy (March 31, 2026). "8 teams leave Kootenay Junior Hockey League to form independent league". coastmountainnews. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ Keen, Jon (April 22, 2026). "New BCHC Junior "A" League Unveiled". Radio NL – Kamloops News. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ jdubois (July 24, 2026). "BCHC Releases 2026-27 Regular Season Schedule, Divisional Alignment & Playoff Format". Retrieved August 20, 2026.
- ↑ jdubois (July 24, 2026). "BCHC Releases 2026-27 Regular Season Schedule, Divisional Alignment & Playoff Format". Retrieved August 20, 2026.
- ↑ "KIJHL returning to Summerland for 2026–27 season". www.kijhl.ca. February 12, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
- ↑ Media, Pattison. "B.C. Hockey Conference commissioner Dubois talks new Junior A league, addresses WIJHL split". CFJC Today Kamloops. Retrieved June 2, 2026.