Grand Forks Border Bruins

Grand Forks Border Bruins
CityGrand Forks, British Columbia
League
DivisionKootenay
Founded1969 (1969)–70
Home arenaJack Goddard Memorial Arena
ColoursBlack, gold and white
     
OwnerMark Szynkaruk
General managerDave Hnatiuk
Head coachDave Hnatiuk
Websitewww.borderbruins.ca/
Franchise history
1969–2026Grand Forks Border Bruins (KIJHL)
2026-presentGrand Forks Border Bruins (BCHC)

The Grand Forks Border Bruins are a junior ice hockey team based in Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada. They are set to compete in the Kootenay Division in the British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) beginning in the 2026–27 season after playing in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL).[1] They play their home games at the Jack Goddard Memorial Arena.

History

The Border Bruins joined the KIJHL in 1969.[2]

Since 2021, the Border Bruins have been owned by Mark Szynkaruk, a local physician in the community of Grand Forks.[3]

On April 28, 2025, the Border Bruins became the first team in KIJHL history to win the Presidents Cup, Kootenay Conference, Teck Cup, and Mowat Cup in a single playoff run after a 9–6 victory over the Ridge Meadows Flames.[2]

On April 20, 2026, the Border Bruins were named as one of 22 teams joining the BCHC, leaving the KIJHL with the remaining 12 teams.[4]

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Records as of April 28, 2025.[5][6]

SeasonGPWLTOTLPtsGFGAFinishPlayoffs
1969–70321310―2673525th, KHL
1970–71309210―184th, WKHL
1971–72329230―181432475th, WKHL
1972–73Did not participate
1973–743014160―281632061st, WestLost in Finals (Colts)
1974–753414200―281872013rd, West
1975–763411230―221521904th, West
1976–774413310―261782775th, West
1977–784212291―251722435th, West
1978–794015250―302032263rd, West
1979–80403190―623321821st, West
1980–81409301―192163405th, West
1981–82427341―151933686th, West
1982–83429321―192103536th, West
1983–844016240―322272735th, West
1984–85404360―81994017th, West
1985–864220220―402472563rd, West
1986–87Did not participate
1987–88423381―71484365th, West
1988–89456390―121793896th, West
1989–904022180―442271953rd, West
1990–91302271―451981694th, West
1991–923820162―422081883rd, West
1992–93423750―743361151st, West
1993–944013252―281922965th, West
1994–95441826―0361912313rd, West
1995–964223190―462061703rd, West
1996–974122180―451881743rd, Neil Murdoch
1997–985012371―251822825th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
1998–995011363―251662416th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
1999–20004618253―392322416th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2000–015894432231713477th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2001–0250103523251482695th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2002–0350152932351482195th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2003–045083264261282235th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2004–055064202141283245th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2005–065044024141353025th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2006–07521332―7331562575th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2007–08521829―5411642394th, Neil Murdoch: WestDid not qualify
2008–09521139―2241322785th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2009–105064211141192845th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2010–115084101171452675th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2011–12521490241064555th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2012–135284013201302735th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2013–1452163222361862505th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2014–155284013201292935th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2015–1652232405511451843rd, Neil MurdochLost in division finals, 1–4 (Nitehawks)
2016–1747202133461731944th, Neil MurdochLost division semifinals, 1–4 (Nitehawks)
2017–1847152722351311774th, Neil MurdochLost in division semifinals, 1–4 (Leafs)
2018–1949212512451842093rd, Neil MurdochLost in division semifinals, 0–4 (Nitehawks)
2019–2049133114311432335th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2020–21303000519Remaining season cancelled due to COVID-19
2021–22425341213791785th, Neil MurdochDid not qualify
2022–23442516—3531461331st, Neil Murdoch Lost in division semifinal, 1–4 (Thunder Cats)
2023–244428113261791782nd, Neil MurdochWon division semifinal, 4–1 (Leafs)
Lost in division finals, 2–4 (Nitehawks)
2024–254433641712241171st, Neil Murdoch Won division semifinal 4–0 (Castlegar Rebels)
Won division finals 4–0 (Nitehawks)
Won conference finals 4–1 (Kimberley Dynamiters}
Won league finals 4–0 (Revelstoke Grizzlies}
Advance to Provincial Jr A Championships
Won Mowat Cup 4–1 (Ridge Meadows Flames])

Playoffs

Records as of March 16, 2024.[7][8][9]

Season1st Round2nd Round3rd RoundFinals
1997–98Did not qualify
1998–99Did not qualify
1999–00Did not qualify
2000–01Did not qualify
2001–02Did not qualify
2002–03Did not qualify
2003–04Did not qualify
2004–05Did not qualify
2005–06Did not qualify
2006–07Did not qualify
2007–08Did not qualify
2008–09Did not qualify
2009–10Did not qualify
2010-11Did not qualify
2011–12Did not qualify
2012–13Did not qualify
2013–14Did not qualify
2014–15Did not qualify
2015–16W, 4–2, CastlegarL, 1–4, Beaver Valley——
2016–17L, 0–4, Beaver Valley———
2017–18L, 3—4 Nelson———
2018–19L, 0–4 Beaver Valley———
2019–20 Did not qualify
2020–21 Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
2021–22 Did not qualify
2022–23 L, 1–4, Creston Valley — — —
2023–24 W, 4–1, Nelson L, 2–4, Beaver Valley — —
2024–25 W, 4–0, Castlegar W, 4–0, Beaver Valley W, 4–1, Kimberley Dynamiters W, 4–0, Revelstoke Grizzlies

British Columbia Jr A provincial championships

SeasonRecordStandingResult
2024–25 [10]Won, 9–6, Ridge Meadows Flames3–1–0Champions

NHL alumni

List of team alumni to play in the National Hockey League (NHL):

Awards and trophies

List of awards:[11][12][13][14][15][10][16]

Regular Season Neil Murdoch Division champions

  • 2022–23
  • 2024–25

Presidents Cup champions

  • 2024–25

Kootenay Conference champions

  • 2024–25

KIJHL champions

  • 2024–25

Mowat Cup champions

  • 2024–25

Broadcast of the Year

  • Kevin Mckinnon PxP, Cody Thate CC, Les Johnson CO: 2021–22
  • Kevin Mckinnon PxP, Cody Thate CC, Les Johnson CO: 2022–23
  • Kevin Mckinnon PxP, Cody Thate CC, Les Johnson CO, Bronwen Bird SC: 2023–24

Coach of the Year

  • Dave Hnatiuk 2022–23 (Neil Murdoch Div)
  • Dave Hnatiuk 2024–25

Most sportsmanlike player

  • Neil Eisenhut 1984–85
  • Craig Materi 2004–05
  • Chad Bates 2022–23 (Neil Murdoch Division)

Most popular player

  • Kelly English (1994–95)

Most valuable player

  • Peter Smith (2008–09)
  • Levi Astill (2024–25)

Top scorer

  • Spencer Horning (2022–23, Neil Murdoch Div — 47 Points)
  • Levi Astill (2024–25, 91 points)

Rookie of the Year

  • Russel Kosec (2022–23, Neil Murdoch Div — 27 points)
  • Brandon Gray (2024–25, 53 points)

Top defenceman

  • Russel Kosec (2024–25, 42 points)

Most paluable player (playoffs)

  • Tyler Burke (2024–25, 38 points in 21 games)

References

  1. ↑ "BCHC launches as sanctioned Junior A league". British Columbia Hockey Conference. April 20, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Assman, Bowman (April 28, 2025). "Vernon's Tyler Burke helps team to junior hockey B.C. championship". Vernon Morning Star. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Junior hockey: Family doctor takes over ownership of Grand Forks Border Bruins". Global News. May 15, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  4. ↑ "BCHC launches as sanctioned Junior A league". British Columbia Hockey Conference. April 20, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  5. ↑ KIJHL.ca, Final 2013-14 regular season standings. Archived 2014-02-26 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "KIJHL.ca – Year end standings". Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  7. ↑ KIJHL.ca, Current playoff bracket. Archived 2012-05-05 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ "KIJHL.ca – 2013-14 playoff standings". Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  9. ↑ KIJHL.ca, League champions. Archived 2013-02-09 at the Wayback Machine
  10. 1 2 "24-25 Mowat Cup".
  11. ↑ "24-25 KIJHL Playoffs".
  12. ↑ "22-23 KIJHL Regular Season".
  13. ↑ "24-25 KIJHL Regular Season".
  14. ↑ "24-25 KIJHL Awards". February 25, 2025.
  15. ↑ "22-23 KIJHL Awards".
  16. ↑ "Bruins Win Provincial championship". April 28, 2025.
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