There will be a major shift in the BC Interior’s junior hockey landscape next season.
Eight clubs formerly of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) made a bombshell announcement today that they will branch out to create their own independent league.
The 100 Mile House Wranglers, Castlegar Rebels, Chase Heat, Creston Valley Thunder, Golden Rockets, Kelowna Chiefs, Sicamous Eagles and Spokane Braves are the inaugural members of the Western International Junior Hockey League (WIJHL).
The newly-formed league, which will no longer be affiliated with the KIJHL, BC Hockey or Hockey Canada, will begin play in the fall.
“We are pleased to announce our move to create an independent league starting next season and to operate outside of Hockey Canada’s umbrella going forward,” said Brandon Buliziuk, president of the Creston Valley Thunder and acting co-spokesperson for the WIJHL.
“After lengthy discussions between our eight franchises, we believe this decision to create our own league will provide our players with more opportunities for development going forward.”
The initial WIJHL statement says the move will benefit players by offering them greater development opportunities for players through affiliation agreements with higher levels of hockey.
Although the BCHL is not mentioned in the release, it’s believed that the WIJHL could become a feeder league for the BCHL, which officially separated from Hockey Canada in June 2023.
According to the WIJHL, the move will also allow organizations to make decisions that are in their best interest, increase the player pool to help raise the level of play in the league “and much more.”
Despite the departure from the KIJHL for seemingly greener pastures, the WIJHL’s other acting spokesperson had positive words for the clubs’ former league.
“We would also like to thank our former league partners in the KIJHL for their years of partnership,” said Chase Heat president Darryl Adamson. “We wish them nothing but the best going forward.”
The move leaves 13 teams in the KIJHL and the Summerland Jets, an expansion team meant to join the league for the 2026-27 season, in a bit of limbo.
Information provided by the WIJHL on the new league says further conversations will come with the Jets about the new path and they’ll have the opportunity to join the WIJHL if they choose.
None of the four teams left in the KIJHL playoffs – the Princeton Posse, Williams Lake Mustangs, Beaver Valley Nitehawks and Kimberey Dynamiters – are part of the departure to the WIJHL.
