Current season or competition: 2025–26 KIJHL season | |
 | |
| Countries | Canada USA |
|---|---|
| Commissioner | Jeff Dubois |
| Founded | 1966; 59 years ago (1966) |
| Conferences | Kootenay Okanagan |
| No. of teams | 21 |
| Recent champions | Grand Forks Border Bruins (1 titles) |
| Most successful club | Cranbrook Colts (10 titles) |
| Website | www |
TheKootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) is ajunior ice hockey league inBritish Columbia,Canada andWashington, USA sanctioned byHockey Canada. The winner of theTeck Cup competes with the champions of thePacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) and until the 2024–25 season, theVancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) for theCyclone Taylor Cup, the British Columbia Provincial Title.
The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League was founded in 1966 as theWest Kootenay Junior Hockey League. Five teams joined the league in its first year and started play in the 1969–70 season. They included theTrail Jr. Smoke Eaters, theNelson Plaza Oilers, theCastlegar Apollos, theGrand Forks Border Bruins, and theRossland Warriors. The Smoke Eaters won the inaugural league championship, advancing to the provincial championship. The next year, Castlegar would withdraw from the league, leaving only four teams. In 1971–1972, theSpokane Valley Kings andCranbrook Colts joined the league, raising the number of teams to six, and incorporating an American team for the first time. Furthermore, the Nelson Plaza Oilers were renamed theNelson Leafs. For 1972–73, the league was rebranded theKootenay International Junior Hockey League. In this season, theKimberley Knights joined the league, while the Grand Forks Border Bruins took a leave of absence. In 1973–74 the league expanded again, incorporating aFernie-based team. The league did not expand for two years after this point, during a period dominated by the Colts. The next expansion occurred in 1976–77, when theCreston Clippers and theCastlegar Rebels joined the league, and the Rebels won the league championship in their debut season.Columbia Valley joined in 1978–79 season, thus bringing the league to a total of 11 teams, an all-time high.
In the 1981–82 season, Fernie would withdraw from the league, while theElk Valley Raiders (Sparwood) would join in their place. The following year, theBeaver Valley Nitehawks would join, bringing the league to a total of 12 teams. Creston would withdraw from the league in 1985, and Nelson, Elk Valley and Grand Forks would do the same in 1986. Elk Valley and Grand Forks would return the next year and Nelson in 1989. The 1980s were largely dominated by the Cranbrook Colts with a 6 championship winning streak.
In 1990, theRocky Mountain Junior Hockey League was formed, creating a level of competition between the two geographic rival leagues. Cranbrook and Kimberley would depart the league in 1991, while theGolden Rockets would enter. TheRossland Warriors would return to the league the following season after a lengthy absence. In 1993–94, the KIJHL gained two new teams in the form of theNorth Okanagan Kings and theRevelstoke Grizzlies. North Okanagan won the league title in their first year. The following year, Elk Valley and Nelson would depart the league, while theSicamous Eagles would join. The Eagles, too, won the league in their debut season. In 1996–97, the Castlegar Rebels relocated to Osoyoos, who played one season under theRebels name, before being renamed the Heat. Castlegar was granted an expansion franchise in 1998–99, who was named the Rebels. In 1999–2000, the Nelson Leafs rejoined the KIJHL, winning the title in their first season back, and the Rossland Warriors relocated for a single season to Summerland. The 1999–2000Summerland Warriors had the distinction of never having won a game, finishing their only season with a record of 0-45-0, conceding 485 goals in 45 games.
The 2000–01 season saw the folding of the Summerland Warriors and the creation of theCreston Valley Thunder Cats. In 2001–02, the league was split from two to three divisions, the Neil Murdoch, Eddie Mountain, and Okanagan/Shushwap. Along with the division re-alignment, the North Okanagan Kings relocated toEnderby, becoming theEnderby Ice Kings. The Osoyoos Heat took on the name theOsoyoos Storm, and an expansion franchise was granted toSummerland, which took the nameSummerland Sting. 2001–02 also saw the presence of the KIJHL's most accomplished alumnus,Shea Weber, who played for the league championsSicamous Eagles for this single season. In 2002–03, thePrinceton Posse joined the league, becoming the furthest west team in the KIJHL, and the Enderby Ice Kings folded after one season. In 2004–05, theFernie Ghostriders joined the league from theNorth American Hockey League, and the following year the Golden Rockets were renamed theGolden Xtreme. They were renamed again the following year, this time becoming theGolden Jets. Also, 2006–07 saw the demise of the Osoyoos Storm, who moved toKamloops Storm, while retaining theStorm name. In 2007–08, the league was divided into two conferences, which were furthermore split into two divisions each, dropping the Okanagan Shushwap, while creating the Eddie Mountain Conference, East and West Divisions, and likewise with the Neil Murdoch Conference. The Golden Xtreme was again renamed, this time reverting to theRockets name. Furthermore, theChase Chiefs joined the league in 2007–08, while the Fernie Ghostriders would capture the league title. There were no team changes in 2008–09, and theNelson Leafs would capture the league title. In 2009–10, however, theSummerland Sting were forced to relocate to nearbyPenticton, taking the namePenticton Lakers. Furthermore, an expansion team was granted toArmstrong, and theNorth Okanagan Knights were founded.
In the2010–11 season, theOsoyoos Coyotes were formed, and won the league title in their debut season, while theChase Chiefs relocated toRutland, Kelowna to become theKelowna Chiefs. The following year, two expansion franchises were granted toChase andSummerland, and theChase Heat andSummerland Steam were formed. The 2012–13 season saw no team changes, while theCastlegar Rebels won the league title. The following year, 2013–14, the Penticton Lakers were forced into relocation to100 Mile House due to low ticket sales, which stemmed from playing in the neighbouring arena to that of the Jr. APenticton Vees, whose national success offered difficult competition. The new team was branded the100 Mile House Wranglers. The following year again saw no team changes, and theKimberley Dynamiters won the league title. In 2015–16, theGrand Forks Border Bruins made the playoffs for the first time in 19 years, a provincial Jr. B record and the100 Mile House Wranglers won theKeystone Cup; theCyclone Taylor Cup and the KIJHL Championship in their third only season against the previous year's champion, the Dynamiters. The 2016–17 season marks the KIJHL's 50th anniversary, with theCreston Valley Thunder Cats hosting theCyclone Taylor Cup. Prior to the 2019–20 KIJHL season, the Okanagan Division was renamed the Bill Ohlhausen Division along with the KIJHL Championship renamed theTeck Cup for sponsorship reasons.
The 2019–20 season was cut short and the Teck Cup was not awarded that year due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. Jeff Dubois was named as commissioner. TheSpokane Braves were forced to sit out the 2020–21, 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons due to pandemic-related travel restrictions.
In the 2023–24 season, the league raised the maximum number of 20-year-old players from five to six per team.
In the 2024–25 season, theSummerland Steam franchise relocated toWilliams Lake and became theWilliams Lake Mustangs.[1] TheMerritt Centennials joined as an expansion team after its withdrawal from theBCHL.[2][3][4] TheNorth Okanagan Knights franchise relocated toQuesnel and became theQuesnel River Rush.
In 2025, the league announced that 11 of its 21 teams would be promoted to form a separate "Tier 1" division in the 2026–27 season.[5] This was part ofBC Hockey's plan to restructure its junior framework following the withdrawal of its onlyJunior A league.[6] The years-long restructuring exercise began in 2023 with the level of play being promoted to Junior A Tier 2, followed by an independent evaluation of teams seeking to be promoted to Junior A Tier 1.[7] It was expected that those teams promoted to Tier 1 would eventually apply for membership in theCJHL.[8] The promoted teams would include theBeaver Valley Nitehawks,Columbia Valley Rockies,Fernie Ghostriders,Grand Forks Border Bruins,Kamloops Storm,Kimberley Dynamiters,Merritt Centennials,Nelson Leafs,Osoyoos Coyotes,Princeton Posse andRevelstoke Grizzlies. Seven other teams, including the100 Mile House Wranglers,Quesnel River Rush,Sicamous Eagles,Williams Lake Mustangs,Castlegar Rebels,Creston Valley Thunder Cats andKelowna Chiefs would be considered for possible promotion after further assessments. The announcement stated that theChase Heat,Golden Rockets andSpokane Braves would remain at "Tier 2" through the 2026–27 season.[9]
