British Columbia Hockey League facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
British Columbia Hockey League

Formerly	BCJHL (1967–1995) OJHL (1964–1967) OMJHL (1961–1963)
Association	Independent
Classification	Junior
Sport	Ice hockey
Founded	1961; 64 years ago (1961)
CEO	Chris Hebb
No. of teams	21
Country	Canada
Headquarters	Langley, British Columbia
Region	British Columbia Alberta
Most recent champion(s)	Brooks Bandits (2024–25)
Most titles	Penticton Vees (14)

The British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) is a top-level Junior ice hockey league. It has 21 teams. These teams are located in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. The BCHL is an independent league. This means it operates on its own. Before 2023, it was part of Hockey Canada.

History of the BCHL

How the League Started

The BCHL began in 1961. It was first called the Okanagan-Mainline Junior "A" Hockey League (OMJHL). Four Junior "B" hockey teams from the Okanagan region of British Columbia formed it. These teams were the Kamloops Jr. Rockets, Kelowna Buckaroos, Penticton Jr. Vees, and Vernon Jr. Canadians. They wanted to create a higher level of play.

Growing the League

In 1967, the league grew. It added teams from outside the Okanagan. The New Westminster Royals and Victoria Cougars joined. Because it was no longer just in the Okanagan, the league changed its name. It became the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCJHL). The Vancouver Centennials joined a year later.

In the 1970s, some teams left or folded. New teams like the Bellingham Blazers and Nanaimo Clippers joined. This brought the league to eight teams.

Hockey Canada changed how Junior A hockey worked. The BCJHL became a "Tier II" league. This meant its champion could no longer compete for the Memorial Cup. So, a new trophy was created for Tier II leagues. It was called the Centennial Cup.

Rivalry and Mergers

Another Junior A league, the Pacific Coast Junior Hockey League (PCJHL), became a rival in the 1970s. It later changed its name to the Pacific Junior A Hockey League (PJHL). The champions of the BCJHL and PJHL played each other. They competed for the Mowat Cup, which was the provincial championship.

In 1979, the PJHL and BCJHL decided to join forces. They merged into one league.

Winning National Titles

The BCJHL saw its first national championship in 1986. The Penticton Vees won the Centennial Cup. They beat the Cole Harbour Colts 7–4. The next year, the Richmond Sockeyes won the national title too. This showed how strong the BCJHL teams were.

Changes from 1993 to 2021

From 1993 to 2021, the league was part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). This group included Junior A leagues across Canada. The winner of the BCHL's Fred Page Cup would then play the Alberta Junior Hockey League champions for the Doyle Cup. The Doyle Cup winner would then compete for the national championship. In 1995, the BCJHL officially changed its name to the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).

New Teams and Moves

Many teams joined or moved during this time.

• The Burnaby Bulldogs joined in 1998. They moved to Port Alberni in 2002.
• The Coquitlam Express and Salmon Arm Silverbacks joined in 2001.
• The Williams Lake TimberWolves joined in 2002 but stopped playing in 2010.
• The Chilliwack Chiefs moved to Langley in 2006. They became the Langley Rivermen.
• The Langley Hornets moved to West Kelowna and became the West Kelowna Warriors.
• In 2011, the Quesnel Millionaires moved to Chilliwack and became the Chilliwack Chiefs.
• The Wenatchee Wild joined in 2015. They moved to the Western Hockey League in 2023.
• The Cranbrook Bucks joined the league in 2020.

The BCHL Today

Becoming Independent

In March 2021, the BCHL left the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Then, on May 1, 2023, the BCHL made a big decision. It chose not to renew its agreement with Hockey Canada. This made the BCHL an independent league.

One main reason was to have more control over their schedule. Another reason was to recruit younger players. Under Hockey Canada rules, players aged 17 and under had to play where their parents lived. This rule did not apply to Major Junior teams. So, Major Junior teams could recruit young players from anywhere in Canada. The BCHL wanted to attract talented 16 and 17-year-old players. These players wanted to keep their eligibility for college hockey in the United States.

Because the BCHL became independent, anyone involved with it after September 30 could not play in Hockey Canada-sanctioned games. This meant BCHL teams could not get players from lower leagues that were still part of Hockey Canada. To help with this, the BCHL allowed teams to have more players on their main roster.

Expanding to Alberta

On January 20, 2024, the BCHL announced exciting news. Five teams from the Alberta Junior Hockey League joined the BCHL. These teams were the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders, and Spruce Grove Saints. They joined for the 2024-25 season. For the rest of the 2023-24 season, these five Alberta teams played in their own division under the BCHL.

Starting in the 2024-25 season, these five Alberta teams and the Cranbrook Bucks formed the East division of the Interior conference. The Prince George Spruce Kings moved to the Coastal Conference's East division.

Working with the VIJHL

The BCHL also made a deal with the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL). This started in the 2024-25 season. The VIJHL also became an independent league. This means BCHL teams can call up players from any VIJHL team.

Current Teams

The BCHL has 20 teams. They are divided into two main groups called conferences. These are the Coastal Conference and the Interior Conference. Each conference has an East and West division.

BCHL Championships

At the end of each regular season, the top eight teams from each conference play in the playoffs. They compete to win the Fred Page Cup. This is the league championship trophy.

National Championships Won by BCHL Teams

The Centennial Cup is the national championship for Junior A hockey in Canada. It was also known as the Royal Bank Cup for many years. BCHL teams won this cup 14 times. However, since the BCHL left the Canadian Junior Hockey League in 2021, its teams can no longer play in this tournament.

• 1986: Penticton Knights
• 1987: Richmond Sockeyes
• 1990: Vernon Lakers
• 1991: Vernon Lakers
• 1993: Kelowna Spartans
• 1996: Vernon Vipers
• 1998: South Surrey Eagles
• 1999: Vernon Vipers
• 2006: Burnaby Express
• 2009: Vernon Vipers
• 2010: Vernon Vipers
• 2012: Penticton Vees
• 2016: West Kelowna Warriors
• 2018: Chilliwack Chiefs

BCHL Records

Individual Player Records

• Most goals in one season: 105 by Brett Hull for Penticton in 1983–84.
• Most assists in one season: 111 by Bob Ginetti for Burnaby in 1986–87.
• Most points in one season: 188 by Brett Hull for Penticton in 1983–84.
• Most goals in one season by a defenceman: 38 by Campbell Blair for Vernon in 1986–87.
• Most assists in one season by a defenceman: 77 by Bruce Harris for Bellingham in 1978–79, and by Ian Kidd for Penticton in 1984–85.
• Most points in one season by a defenceman: 109 by Campbell Blair for Vernon in 1986–87.
• Most goals in one season by a rookie (first-year player): 84 by John Newberry for Nanaimo in 1979–80.
• Most assists in one season by a rookie: 103 by Doug Berry for Kelowna in 1974–75.
• Most points in one season by a rookie: 185 by John Newberry for Nanaimo in 1979–80.
• Most shorthanded goals in one season: 14 by Greg Hadden for New Westminster in 1988–89.
• Most powerplay goals in one season: 32 by Dan Bousquet for Penticton in 1993–94.
• Longest time without letting in a goal (shutout streak): 250 minutes, 25 seconds by Brad Thiessen for Prince George in 2005–06.

Team Records

• Longest winning streak in a season: 42 Games by Penticton Vees in 2011–2012.
• Most wins in a season: 54 by Penticton Vees in 2011–2012. Also 52 wins by New Westminster Royals in 1989–90 and Vernon Vipers in 1998–99.
• Most points in a season: 110 by Penticton Vees in 2011–2012.
• Most goals scored in a season: 498 by Penticton Knights in 1984–85.
• Fewest goals allowed in a season: 130 by Penticton Knights in a 48-game schedule (1981–82). Also 115 by Powell River Kings in a 60-game schedule (2010–11).

Famous Players from the BCHL

Many players who played in the BCHL went on to play in the National Hockey League (NHL). Brett Hull, a famous player in the Hockey Hall of Fame, played for the Penticton Knights. He holds the BCHL record for most goals in a season with 105. Other NHL players who started in the BCHL include:

• Chuck Kobasew (Penticton Panthers)
• Scott Gomez (Surrey Eagles)
• Carey Price (Quesnel Millionaires)
• Willie Mitchell (Kelowna Spartans)
• Shawn Horcoff (Chilliwack Chiefs)
• Paul Kariya (Penticton Panthers)

List of NHL Alumni